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Friday, March 20, 2009
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The Battle for Virtual Scans
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The recent industry hype surrounding virtual scans, more specifically virtual colonoscopies, is due in part to the healthcare battle thrown into the mix. However, this seems to be more than just the recent Medicare opt-out. I think much of the headlines and industry commentary is ignited from new aged medicine and traditional methods. Could this be a neuvo-doctor who is into preventative remedies versus one who perfers more invasive measures? Possibly, but what I do know is how popular virtual scans have become in recent years.
Conversely some doctors and now Medicare are urging patients against the yearly scans, claiming the scans cause more harm than good. I'd prefer to hear what you all though, do you feel that virtual scans do their duty properly? If so; how so?
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
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Trans Fatty Acids May Increase Colorectal Cancer Risks
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Research in the American Journal of Epidimiology has shown that people who regularly consume trans fatty acids increase their risks of developing precancerous colorectal tumors by 86%. Colorectal cancer affects hundreds of thousands of Americans annually, so taking health precautions and lifestyle changes coupled with regular colonoscopy screenings can hopefully decrease risks and breed early detection practices.
Natural News reported on the study, "Between 2001 and 2002, researchers from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill interviewed 622 people about their diet, lifestyle and demographic information between, then gave each of them a complete colonoscopy. They found that participants with the highest intake of trans fat were 86 percent more likely to have colorectal adenomas than those with the lowest trans fat consumption."
Trans fatty acids have long been considered some of teh worst types of food to consume regularly. Physicians urge patients to take better health caution and care by removing excessive amounts of trans fatty foods from your diet.
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Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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Petition to Reverse Medicare Rule
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Lawmakers have gathered and began a petition to reverse the Medicare regulation which was passed a few weeks ago. 40 Members of Congress have signed a letter asking for the reverse the decision made by CMS. Medicare no longer pays in full for virtual colonoscopies. However congress is saying there is a lack of substantial evidence backing their decision that virtual scans do not aid in prevention and do not improve healthcare.
The letter said, "...Medicare coverage for virtual colonoscopies could increase screening rates for colon cancer. According to the letter, screening rates for colon cancer increased by 70% at National Naval Medical Center after the center added virtual colonoscopies as an option for patients. Medicare coverage of virtual colonoscopies as a "minimally invasive screening test for colon cancer would not just encourage more patients to undergo screening, but it would potentially close or eliminate the gap in colorectal cancer screening between whites and minority populations."
Less than half of Americans over 50 get screened for colon cancer, so lawmakers are hoping that with provisions that allow the scan to be paid for, more people will get checked regularly, which aids in early diagnosis.
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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Colon Cancer Increase in African American Community
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Colorectal cancer in 2008 took the lives of over 50,000 people in the United States. Virtual colonoscopies have played a pivotal role in attempting to prevent colon cancer related deaths, however the numbers are still increased for African Americans. The reason behind this association and link is still relatively unknown amongst medical professionals, which is why experts are urging African Americans over 45 to get annual scans and check-ups.
In Medical Procedure News the website said, "The American Gastroenterological Association now recommends that African Americans undergo colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45, according to Romnee Clark, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and researcher at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center."
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Thursday, March 12, 2009
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Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
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It's quite ironic that during a month where we are urged to get healthy and maintain our colon health, there are huge disputes in the government about preventing colon cancer. In the last month Medicare opted out of paying for virtual colonoscopies, however many physicians and researchers staunchly support virtual scans, and encourage people to use virtual scans as opposed to traditional methods.
ABC News reported on the dispute, "The good news is that with improving technology, CTC has become much more effective at finding polyps that are more commonly associated with a higher risk of becoming cancer. And that technology continues to improve. Unlike traditional colonoscopy, a CTC does not require anesthetic and has a much lower risk of perforating the bowel, which can happen with the traditional study more often than most people realize."
Rather than disputing the ways we can prevent colorectal cancer, we should be educating the public about treatments, procedures and ways to stay healthy. All that should matter during this month is promoting and promulgating awareness and education.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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Lung Cancer Awareness
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We always take note of breast cancer awareness month and heat disease month, but for some reason lung cancer awareness is always shunned or not publicized. Some say this is because the numbers of lung cancer survivors are so low. This may be true, alongside the fact that the stigma attached to lung cancer is smoking. Regardless of why someone has or has had lung cancer, we need to start spreading the awareness and education because over 500 people a day are diagnosed with lung cancer. The best possible form of treatment is successful when caught early, meaning we have to educate the public about prevention and early detection via virtual CT scans.
Two San Francisco based women are starting an awareness foundation, "launched an edgy new ad campaign designed to educate the public. Billboards and bus signs are now up in five major U.S. cities - San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York - using space donated by CBS Outdoor, an advertising division of CBS. "Lung cancer is so underfunded, and these billboards have been designed to stop people and make them think," Von Driska says."
During tough financial times it is obvious not many people can afford or have the luxury to constantly get checked up, however it is vital that if you are of high risk you do allocate and budget the money for preventative screening methods. Don't be one of the 500 unlucky people a day diagnosed.
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Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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Screening Veterans for Lung Cancer
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Biomoda a medical diagnostic company has been approved to screen veterans for lung cancer with virtual CT lung scans. The clinic coupled with the Federal Drug Administration is hoping to impart the idea of early detection and screening regularly for various cancers like lung and colorectal.
MSNBC reported on this new study and funding saying, "Our initial study is directed at military veterans who are at high risk for developing lung cancer. If our screening reveals early-stage cancer in one of our volunteers, that person's chance of being alive five years from now goes from 15 percent to 80 percent, all because of early diagnosis and treatment." It is our intent in this pilot program to identify five to ten such cases and have a dramatic impact on saving lives here in New Mexico now."
In lieu of the recent decision by the Obama Administration and Medicare to ban paying for virtual colonscopies, this new approval may shift the protocol for insurance companies providing payment for prevenative screening.
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Monday, March 09, 2009
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Texas Heart Bill
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In the past month Medicare has opted out of paying for virtual heart scans for patients. However in the wake of this new legislation, Texas is looking to take health insurance and heart attack prevention into it's own hands. After all, everything is bigger in Texas. If the new bill is passed after being heard on March 10th, Texas insurers would be obliged to cover preventative heart scans. The Houston based Society for Heart Attack Prevention and Eradication (SHAPE) presented the bill to Texas legislature.
PR Web reported on the possible new regulations, "We are delighted to hear that Texas legislature surprisingly requested an immediate hearing on the bill," said Dr. Morteza Naghavi, founder of SHAPE and Chairman of the SHAPE Task Force who is invited to testify at the Texas house of representative. "We are also pleased to know that the American Heart Association has elected to support the bill as well. This is truly groundbreaking landmark legislation, much like the legislation for mammography," said Dr. Naghavi."
If this bill passes in court tomorrow, it would boost the virtual body scan industry significantly. This should also be taken into consideration by high risk patients, those of you with high heart disease risks should consider getting annual check-ups considering heart attacks are the silent killer.
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Thursday, March 05, 2009
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Heart Attack Risk may be Associated with Heartburn Meds
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Patients who have once had a heart attack are said to nearly double their risk of a second heart attack if they use the blood thinning drug Plavix coupled with heartburn medications like Prilosec. Patients taking blood thinners are often times at higher risk for heart attacks or coronary artery disease so it is vital to their health that they get their heart and arteries checked regularly.
Reuters reported saying, "A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association tracked 8,205 U.S. patients who were treated for a heart attack or chest pain known as unstable angina and given Plavix and aspirin. Two-thirds of these patients also took a PPI, primarily Prilosec, and had almost double the risk of having another heart attack or bout of unstable angina compared to those not taking a PPI, the researchers said."
The dangerous interaction between these drugs is still considered preliminary in research, so prior to making any hasty decisions be sure to talk to your physician. Till then tend to your heart and body by getting virtual heart scans.
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Wednesday, March 04, 2009
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Depression and Heart Disease
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Depression is generally known to adversely affect one's mental health, but studies show that depression may also be linked to your heart ache and heart troubles. And no I'm not referencing your love life. Depression may double the risk of developing heart disease. Typically we associate diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure with heart disease and heart attack, but depression may have just as harmful of affects.
USA Today reported on this new breakthrough, "Mounting evidence has found that depression makes people more vulnerable to heart trouble. Recent studies, though, find that some genes that increase the risk of heart disease also may make people more prone to depression, which has raised the question of whether the depression-heart disease link is genetic."
For patients struggling with depression this may give you yet another reason to get help. Also, it is essential that these types of high risk patients seek out regular virtual heart scans to ensure that their arteries are plaque-free.
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