The Environmental Working Group is out with its sunscreen guide, as usual, they don’t recommend a lot of the products – only one in five.

There are not federal safety guidelines, so that left the group to do its own analysis about what is safe and effective. In all, the group rated more than 1,700 sunscreens, lip balms, and SPF moisturizers and makeup.

On the list of sunscreens the researchers liked included such brands as Alba, Badger, Kiss My Face and Sun Bunnies. Some ingredients they liked included zinc, titanium dioxide and avobenzone. They also like water-resistant creams that were 30 SPF.

Some things they didn’t like were oxybenzone, Vitamin A and added insect repellent. They also didn’t like sprays, powders and any SPF above 50 because they were dangerous or ineffective.

Of course, they also recommended staying out of the sun.

See the whole report here.

AP photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer, Consumer health, Environmental health
        

It’s the third day of the extreme heat, and state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene officials are warning everyone to take precautions.

There is a heat advisory today from noon to 8 p.m. in Maryland’s capital region, as well as the central and southern regions.

“Each consecutive day of severe heat increases the health risks for our most vulnerable Marylanders, especially seniors, children and anyone with serious underlying health conditions,” said Frances Phillips, the state health department’s deputy secretary for public health services, in a statement. “We urge everyone to take precautions for their families, pets and any neighbors who might be at higher risk because of their health or home conditions.”

State officials said 51 people went to emergency rooms in Maryland because of dehydrations but there have been no confirmed heat-related deaths so far this season. Last summer, there were 32 deaths. In 2009, there were 6, in 2008 there were 17 and in 2007 there were 21.

Local health departments, including Baltimore’s, have opened cooling centers. To find one, click here.

Officials say to keep a closer eye on the vulnerable, including infants and young children, young athletes, seniors and those with health conditions. They also recommend asking your doctor if you need to take extra care in hot weather if you are on prescription medication.

For everyone else, stay inside as much as possible, on lower floors if possible. If you go out, try and aim before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Wear light colored and loose fitting clothes, drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks if you are outside. Don’t leave the kids or pets in the car.

Baltimore Sun file photo/Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

Join us June 1 at noon EST at baltimoresun.com/healthchat for a live chat on hand pain issues with Dr. Paul Christo a pain specialist at Johns Hopkins. Many people suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis of the wrist, ganglion cysts and other conditions. Recently, research out of The University College London said crossing your arms will confuse the brain and relieve pain. If you have questions on these or other topics, then mark your calendar.

Christo is director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also has a radio talk show Saturday nights on WBAL.

Can't make the chat? Email questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

A low-carbohydrate diet that has some extra fat won’t harm a person’s arteries, according to new research.

The diets – known as the Atkins, South Beach and Zone diets – remain popular and researchers say some have worried the extra fat was a heart-heath issue.

“Overweight and obese people appear to really have options when choosing a weight-loss program, including a low-carb diet, and even if it means eating more fat,” said Kerry Stewart, a Johns Hopkins exercise physiologist and the studies’ lead investigator, in a statement.

Stewart, a professor of medicine and director of clinical and research exercise physiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Heart and Vascular Institute said his research looked at the low-carb, higher fat diet and the high-carb, lower fat diet. Stewart believes his team’s analysis is the first direct comparison of either kind of diets’ effects on vascular health. He studied 46 people trying to lose weight with diet and moderate exercise.

The results will be presented June 3 at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Denver. It found a group of 23 men and women weighing an average of 218 pounds showed no change in vascular health after losing 10 pounds. They also appeared to lose weight faster than those who were on the higher-carb, lower-fat diet. 

Stewart said the study can reassure both camps that weight loss is effective and the low-carb, higher-fat diet doesn’t seem to pose heart risks, at least in the short term. He also said an over-emphasis on low-fat diets may be contributing to the obesity epidemic by encouraging over-consumption of high-carb foods that are less filling.

He also emphasized that moderating the number of calories, rather than the specific diet, and exercising was important for diet and heart health.

Getty Images photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

I wrote today about how Under Armour is putting a fashion spin on its sports attire.

No more plain black and white shorts and shirts for the Baltimore company. The colors are bolder and so are the styles - we're talking zebra print pants here.

The story begs the question about whether it matters what you look like when you work out.

Do cute leggings and sports bras make a woman feel more confident about her body and therefore work out harder? Do shirts that show off a man's chest make him want to pump a few more pounds? You hear of people all the time losing weight and rewarding themselves with a cute workout outfit. It's better than a reward of chocolate cake, right?

Or is it all just a marketing ploy. Plenty of athletes have a "who cares" attitude about what they wear to the gym or to go for a run. A plain T-shirt and shorts works just as well. Why waste the money to look good if you're just going to get sweaty and gross?

To be fair, Under Armour said they are still upgrading the technology and fit of their clothes even as they become more fashion forward.

What do you all think? Do you need to look cute when you workout?

Posted by Andrea Walker at 5:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Many of you probably want to eat healthier, but get confused by what exactly it is you should be eating.

Critics say the Food Pyramid doesn't help matters.

Federal health officials hope to change that when Thursday they plan to introduce what they call a simpler "icon," the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a press statement last week.

The agency didn't say what the icon would be, but several news organizations have quoted sources saying it would be a plate divided into sections.

The new eating tool was prompted by the White House Child Obesity Task Force which called for simple, actionable advice to equip consumers with information to help them make healthier food choices,” according to the USDA release.

Many health experts say that the food pyramid is too complicated.

Check back here this week to see what the USDA introduces.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Johns Hopkins Medicine and the nation’s largest drug store Walgreens have agreed to work together to improve care for those with chronic diseases.

Officials will use (anonymous) patient population data to conduct research into disease management and prevention and determine better methods of treatment. They also plan to train the Walgreens workers.

“By collaborating with Johns Hopkins Medicine, we will access some of the best expertise in health care to develop research, protocols and training programs designed to improve patient outcomes through our nationwide network of accessible community pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physicians and other clinicians,” Kermit Crawford, Walgreens president of pharmacy, health and wellness, said in a statement.

The focus will be on chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease, said Dr. Fred Brancati, professor of medicine and director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Such arrangements aren’t unusual for Hopkins, which has worked with other corporations to improve health care of workers and employees.

“It makes sense medially, and under health care reform, it makes sense financially,” he said of the Walgreen’s agreement.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Business of health
        

Baltimore native Mark Jeter has been sharing his battle with stomach cancer through this blog.

This week he talks about shrinking tumors and his improving condition.

Read his previous posts here.

First, let me thank all of my friends and those who have been following me on this blog.

Sorry for my absence, but things have been happening so fast and, to my surprise, good for me.

I have had my third treatment of chemo since I last posted, so now I am on my 5th chemo treatment and a lot has happen between now and then. After my 4th treatment I went to get a pet scan and had it looked at by two doctors. To there surprise, one of the cancer tumors has completely disappeared and the other one has shrunk in size. That means no surgery for me at this point.

I went through the 4th chemo treatment with no side effects and no problems at all. I did indeed find a little magic trick that helps with the sickness. It's now my 5th chemo treatment and I have some side effects from this one, but with the help of my little trick it makes life easier to deal day by day.

Now, the doctors are saying that after my 6th treatment I will go into surgery to remove anything they can find, so that I will have a fighting chance.

The funniest thing is that while going through this chemo treatment I have gained 10 pounds. They kept thinking I was retaining fluid so they tried to give me meds to remove the fluid. But to there surprise it was all that good eating of the people who kept me fed with love. I started out at 207 pounds and now I am 218 pounds.

Thank you all for the love, comments, ideas and just taking the time to read my blog posts.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Mark Jeter's Cancer Journey
        

Gov. Martin O’Malley made his picks for the board that will oversee the state’s new Health Benefit Exchange, where the uninsured will go to buy coverage under health care reform.

Consumers are supposed to be able to compare rates, benefits and quality among insurers. The state passed a law creating the exchange and its structure earlier this year. It will launch in 2014.

The board will include: Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association; Lisa Dubay, an Urban Institute Senior Fellow; Darrell Gaskin, an associate professor and a health economist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Jennifer Goldberg,  assistant director of Advocacy for Health Care at the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau; Enrique Martinez-Vidal, vice president at AcademyHealth and director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Coverage Initiatives program; and Thomas Saquella, former President of the Maryland Retailers Association.

Three other board members will be the secretary of the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, the commissioner of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the executive director of the Maryland Health Care Commission. Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the health secretary, will serve as the initial chairman.

Continue reading "Panel named to oversee health insurance exchange" »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Health care reform
        

With all the political chatter, are you struggling with what actually is changing with Medicare because of the health care reform law signed last year?

Consumer Reports is offering a free guide called “Medicare: 6 Thing You Need to Know Now.” Call 1-855-CR-GUIDE or click here to download a copy. 

“This guide will help people navigate the changes in Medicare and take full advantage of new services available under the law,” Jim Guest, president of Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

The guide is 15 pages and includes information on drug discounts and free health screenings for wellness, mammograms and prostate cancer. It also includes information on annual out-of-pocket costs and changes for those with higher incomes. There’s also information on enrollment dates and contact information in each state for when you have questions.

If you're looking for the government's website on health care reform, click here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: geriatrics
        

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission announced Wednesday that it will fund 36 new projects worth $10.4 million.

The competitive grants, funded by the legislature, will focus this year on regenerative medicine by including research that addresses conditions such as osteoporosis, traumatic brain injuries, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, schizophrenia, ALS, autism, DNA damage and intestinal tissue generation.

Ten awardees have proposed collaborations with private biotech companies. Two of the projects are collaborations with the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine studying red blood cell production and traumatic axonal injuries, which are common and potentially deadly brain injuries.

The largest number of awards, 27, was given to researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Kennedy Krieger researchers won 3 awards, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, won 5, and the University of Maryland, College Park, won 1.

Last year, the panel funded 42 projects totaling $11.7 million. The program was created in 2006 to fund cutting edge research in the state involving human stem cells.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Medical studies
        

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, with more than 230 million people around the globe and 26 million people in this country suffering. A new exhibit at the Maryland Science Center in the Inner Harbor gives people an up-close look at the disease and how to prevent it.

Called Diabetes: A Deeper Look, the exhibit uses dozens of interactive displays to explain the disease’s risk factors and means of prevention and management. 

For example, visitors can take a stroll through a giant blood vessel (see above), made of more than 40,000 LED lights pulsating to the sound of a heartbeat. They can see how much sugar is in their soft drinks. And a full-size model of a body shows how parts are impacted when someone doesn’t produce enough insulin.

Other displays from the American Diabetes Association answer common questions about prevention. The Science Center will also host public event on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the latest research from June-August.

For more information, call 410-685-5225 or go to marylandsciencecenter.org.

Photo courtesy of the Maryland Sciene Center

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Diabetes
        

Freshman Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, wants to keep seeing patients and performing surgeries while he's in office but ethics rules prohibit collecting money from outside employment, according to this story in Politico.

Paul is an ophthamologist and said he'd lose his skills if he stops practicing. And giving away services is tough considering he still has to pay for expensive equipment and liability insurance.

Others have tried in the past to get the ban lifted, including Sen. Tim Coburn, an obstetrician and Oklahoma Republican. But the Senate hasn't budged on pay, though the lawmakers can work in not-for-profit hospitals and not be personally compensated.

What do you think? Would allowing these doctors to accept pay open the floodgates? Is doctoring okay but not consulting, or selling real estate or practicing law?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News roundup
        

Maryland leads the nation in insuring the dental needs of children with private insurance or Medicaid are met, according to a new report from a division of the Pew Charitable Trusts.

The state met seven of eight benchmarks, including the share of Medicaid-enrolled children getting dental care, the percentage of residents with fluoridated water and pay to medical providers for early preventive care.

This top ranking comes four years after the death of Deamonte Driver, a Prince George’s teen who had an untreated tooth infection, and the formation of a committee to address the failings. The Maryland Dental Action Coalition recently released a report outlining improvements in care and the next steps.

The state, for example, had raised the number of low-income kids who received dental services from about 11 percent in 2000 to about 42 percent in 2009.

Maryland upped the amount that Medicaid paid dentists, and simplified the system, which officials cited as a reason for improvements. Elsewhere, according to this Tribune story, Medicaid kids are having a hard time making appointments. And indeed, the rest of the nation had a mixed report card.

Twenty seven states earned a grade of A or B while 23 states got a C or lower. Almost half the states improved from last year, but the report said 16 million kids around the country still are going without basic dental care.

The report’s authors noted that having insurance is not enough to ensure children have access to care. The report sought to assess whether the states had policies to promote access ahead of the more than 5 million kids who will gain coverage by 2014 under the health care reform law.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Oral Health
        

Everyone probably knows how physically demanding it is to wait tables or work in a restaurant. But just how mentally demanding do you think it is? 

The owner of Sotto Sopra, the mainstay Italian place on Charles Street, thinks it's plenty tough on the mind. That's why he's added meditation and Tai Chi to staff training.

Chef-owner Riccardo Bosio says the entire front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house staff will participate in an hour-long session after lunch service on Saturday. They will learn proper movement and mind-set to handle “what can be a prolonged high-stress situation with focus and grace.”

Bosio believes this not only will help the staff, but will mean better service.

Heard of other ways restaurants are coping with us, the customers?

AFP/Getty file photo of World Tai Chi Day

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Mental health
        

Muscle atrophy in older people is a big problem, but a common blood pressure drug shows promise in regenerating muscle and also in protecting against its wasting away from inactivity.

The drug, losartan, worked on geriatric mice muscle and tests on humans are in the works.

“The goal of the investigation was to find a way to prevent a bad situation from getting worse in the case of old muscle that's injured or not used,” said Dr. Ronald Cohn, an assistant professor of pediatrics and neurology in Hopkins’s McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine. “As pleased as we were to see that losartan therapy in mice had a positive effect on muscle regeneration, we were most surprised and excited by its striking prevention of disuse atrophy.”

Seniors can have muscle loss and weakness, called sarcopenia, from inactivity, injury or illness. As people age, other studies have shown that activity in a certain protein increases and that means less muscle repair. Losartan promotes muscle regeneration by blocking a protein receptor and tamping down the activity.

There hasn’t been a lot of other attention to this condition, with research more focused on preservation of bone. This research was reported in the May 11 journal Science Translational Medicine.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: geriatrics
        

Saint Agnes Hospital today celebrated the grand opening of its new patient tower.

The 200,000-square-foot "South Tower' building is part of a $200 million renovation at the West Baltimore hospital.

Other improvements include new main entrance with a custom Mary Ann Mears sculpture in the rotunda, five new state-of-the-art operating rooms and 120 private rooms.

The new tower will be open to patients May 22.

Key features of the new tower are:

• Private rooms designed by physicians and nurses to improve patient safety, privacy and staff efficiency

• An expansive new main lobby with floor to ceiling glass windows and a circular drive with a porte-cochere

• Five additional operating rooms

• A seven-story lighted cross, the largest of its kind in Maryland

• Three family waiting areas per floor

• Decentralized nurses stations, increasing efficiency and access

Saint Agnes also has plans for a new 60,000-square-foot medical office building and expanded Cancer Institute, a new parking garage and completion of the Hackerman-Patz House, which broke ground in March and is expected to be completed next spring.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

A group of health advocates from around the country have embarked on a campaign to stop Ronald McDonald from making your kids fat.

The group of 550 people have taken out full-page ads challenging McDonald's to stop marketing junk food to kids. They've also written a letter to the corporation. Check out here who signed on in Maryland.

The letter comes as First Lady Michelle Obama has made childhood obesity a major part of her mission.

Public health groups for years have criticized food companies for marketing sugary snacks and other unhealthy foods to kids using cartoon characters, free toys and other methods.

In recent months, the federal government has stepped up its efforts to address the issue. The Federal Trade Commission recently recommended new guidelines on marketing unhealthy food to kids.

McDonald's has pledged in the past to voluntarily reduce kid's exposure to commercials and other marketing techniques. They've also started offering healthy options such as milk and apples.

But some health advocates claim the number of McDonald's ads has actually increased.

McDonald's shareholders today will vote on a resolution to look at what impact the fast food chain has on people's health.

The issue brings up a debate that has become very common around the issue of obesity. Should companies be responsible for the health of children, or is it a personal responsibility? Maybe parents shouldn't take their kids to McDonald's? But then it may be hard to resist that cute little face begging for that Happy Meal. And what about poor neighborhoods where there are few other dining options?

What do you guys think?

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Dozer was a last-minute entry in the Maryland Half Marathon last Sunday.

The three-year-old goldendoodle busted out of his yard and joined the more than 2,000 runners going past his house at about the 5 mile marker.

He was spotted at several points on the race, with runners and spectators unaware he was unescorted. Organizers snapped this shot of him crossing the finish line – at 2 hours and 14 minutes. (If he ran the whole thing, it would have been a very respectible time of just over 10-minute miles.)

Dozer’s owners were frantically looking for him, according to University of Maryland officials. The race benefited Maryland’s Greenebaum Cancer Center. The dog returned Monday morning with muddy feet and limping.

Dozer’s been to the vet and is fine, the owners reported to Maryland.

Normally, running races as a "bandit" or unregistered, is frowned upon.  But this race's co-chairmen, Michael Greenebaum and Jon Sevel, plan this week to give Dozer a medal and some dog treats.

He’s deserves it. Since the race, he’s raised more than $800 on his runner’s page set up at www.ummsfoundation.org/dozer.

See more photos from the race here. 

Photo courtesy of the University of Maryland

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer
        

Hospitals may be misleading their patients about the superiority of robotic surgery over conventional surgery, according to new research from Johns Hopkins.

Robotic surgery is the latest high tech thing, and many facilities are investing heavily in equipment that they then tout on their websites. But much of the information and images are provided by the manufacturers, said Dr. Marty Makary, an associate professor of surgery at Hopkins’s School of Medicine and the study leader.

Four in 10 hospital websites out of 400 analyzed were publicizing the use of robotic surgery for minimally invasive surgery, and most said it’s better, though there have been no randomized, controlled studies, Makary said. And the hospitals don’t even say to what surgery the robotics are being compared.

“The public regards a hospital's official website as an authoritative source of medical information in the voice of a physician,” Makary said in a statement. “But in this case, hospitals have outsourced patient education content to the device manufacturer, allowing industry to make claims that are unsubstantiated by the literature. It's dishonest and it's misleading.”

Use of robotics has grown 400 percent in the last four years for common procedures such as gynecological, heart and prostate surgeries, Makary said. He said manufacturers can’t back up claims that robotics are more precise and make smaller incisions and lead to shorter hospitals stays and less pain. 

Makary, reporting online in the Journal for Healthcare Quality, said they take more time so they keep patients under anesthesia longer. They also are more expensive.

Anyone have robotic surgery?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Surgery
        

Join us here May 18 at noon for a live chat on thoracic outlet syndrome with Dr. Paul Christo of Johns Hopkins. The condition, which affects approximately 8 percent of the population, involves compression of nerves between the base of the neck and armpit, causing neck pain, headache, numbness and weakness down the arm. Meredith Cohn did an article last year about using botox to treat the condition. Christo is director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also has a radio talk show Saturday nights on WBAL.

Can't make the chat? Send a question in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to read the transcript. We have an archive of all of our pain live chats at baltimoresun.com/healthchat.

Baltimore Sun file photo

Posted by Kim Walker at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Think you're being healthy and saving some calories by ordering the salad or oatmeal?

Don't be so sure, says the non-profit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

The group recently tested the nutritional content of some items that fast food establishments are promoting as healthy. The group found they were far from it. Some of the items were packed with more fat, sodium, and sugar than anyone should eat in an entire day.

The group found the worst offenders were Wendy’s Baja Salad with almost twice the recommended amount of sodium for an entire day and McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal with more calories than a hamburger and more sugar than many candy bars.

 “Your health and your waistline will thank you for saying no to these so-called healthy foods,” PCRM nutrition education director Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., said in a statement. “Fast-food chains hope to cash in on consumer ignorance with labels like “fat-free” and “low calorie.”

KFC’s grilled chicken, was also singled out. Marketed to health-conscious consumers as a “better-for-you” alternative over the chain’s high-fat fried chicken, the group said the chicken contains a carcinogen called PhIP that has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer and other cancers.

The five worst “healthy” fast food items are:

Wendy’s Baja Salad - contains 1,990 milligrams of sodium—more than should be consumed in an entire day.

McDonald’s Fruit & Maple Oatmeal - Contains more sugar than a Snickers Bar.

Subway Fresh Fit 6” Turkey Breast Sub - With standards such as cheese and mayo, this “low-fat” sandwich jumps to 24 grams of fat. Contains processed meat, which is linked to increased cancer risk.

Sonic Strawberry Smoothie - Contains more sugar than five Twinkies.

KFC Kentucky Grilled Chicken - Contains PhIP, a chemical classified as a carcinogen by the federal government.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

What problem do women have in that bikini? Other women.

A new poll from Fitness magazine shows 80 percent of women polled during a swimsuit survey said they think other women are judging them.

About 48 percent wouldn't even get into a bikini until they'd lost 20 pounds or more. 

More than 1,000 women were polled for the June issue out May 17.  

“The survey results shed light on the complicated relationship women have with their bodies and how much time is spent worrying about what other women think,” said Betty Wong, editor-in-chief of Fitness, in a statement. “It is so important to make sure women are empowered to embrace their imperfections and celebrate their bodies-no matter what shape or size.”

Of course, all those pictures of skinny celebrities in their swimsuits doesn't help. The poll showed that women want their bodies -- 37 percent wanted Jennifer Aniston's body specifically. (Though a couple of curvier women made that list, too, including Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce.) 

See more results on the next page.

Continue reading "Women feel judged, lack confidence in a bikini" »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

States aren’t adequately protecting consumers from bad doctors, according to a new study from the advocacy group Public Citizen.

The group looked at state medical boards and found the rate at which doctors are disciplined has dropped during the past decade: In 2010, the boards took 2.97 serious actions per 1,000 physicians, down three percent from last year and 20 percent from 2004, a peak year when the rate was 3.72 per 1,000 physicians.

If the rate had stayed consistent from 2004, there would have been 745 more actions last year. (The rates are an average based on the past three years.)

Maryland’s board took 79 serious actions last year for a rate of 2.55 – for a rank among the states of 39th. That was an improvement in rank from previous years. It was 43rd in 2009, down from 48 in 2003, the group said.

The least active state last year was Minnesota, with a rate of 1.29. Others near the bottom were South Carolina, Wisconsin and Connecticut.

The most active state was Louisiana, with a rate of 5.98. Others near the top were Alaska, Ohio and Oklahoma.

“One reason for medical boards’ declining rate of discipline is likely tighter state budgets,” said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, in a statement. “The ability of certain states to rapidly increase or decrease their rankings, even when calculated based on three-year averages, can only be due to changes in practices at the board level.”

So, is it possible that fewer doctors acted improperly? 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health care professionals
        

Those infected with HIV are way less likely to pass on the virus to sexual partners if they take oral antiretroviral drugs before their immune systems are compromised, a series of studies supported by the National Institutes of Health shows.

The studies -- including two conducted in Thailand and Malawi by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers -- involved 1,700 mostly heterosexual couples where one partner was infected but realtively healthy.

“These data conclusively demonstrate that beginning HIV treatment early is a natural form of HIV prevention,” said David Celentano, principal investigator for the Thailand study site and the Charles Armstrong Chair and Professor of Epidemiology at the Bloomberg school, in a statement.
The data showed that the drugs reduced transmission by 96 percent, an unprecedented level of impact.

The studies were conducted at 13 sites around the globe. Only 39 infections were found among previously uninfected partners. There was only one case of HIV infection among couples where the HIV-infected partner had begun drug therapy immediately.

“Previous data about the potential value of antiretrovirals in making HIV-infected individuals less infectious to their sexual partners came largely from observational and epidemiological studies,” said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, in a statement. “This new finding convincingly demonstrates that treating the infected individual—and doing so sooner rather than later—can have a major impact on reducing HIV transmission.”

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: HIV/AIDS