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27 Mar 2011 21:03

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U.S.: Tuberculosis cases reach their lowest level ever in the U.S.

  • 11,181 total number of tuberculosis cases found in the U.S. in 2010
  • 3.9% the decline in that number from 2009 — an already low year
  • 3.6 number of cases of TB per 100,000 people — it’s almost beat source
  • » Some clouds on that silver lining: While levels are at their lowest in recorded history, officials hoped to have killed TB for good in the U.S. by 2010, by having less than 1 case per 100,000 people. “The rate we have now is 36 times higher than that,” said Dr. Kenneth G. Castro, who is in charge of the CDC’s tuberculosis-defeating efforts. And certain groups — particularly minorities, AIDS sufferers and immigrants from other countries — are much more susceptible to TB. Over time, some strains of tuberculosis have gotten more resistant, too.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Mar 2011 15:02

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Tech: New research may foreshadow leap in heart disease prevention

  • 13 gene regions linked to heart disease by scientific research source
  • » Cracking the heart disease code: As anybody with a family history, or personal history of heart disease knows, it’s a frightening and pervasive concern. It should come as thrilling news, then, that a group of scientists believe they’ve located thirteen different gene regions that may indicate a vulnerability to heart attack. Though the knowledge is admittedly limited, and is likely years from practical application in a doctor’s office, advancements like these are what give us hope for a brighter, healthier future, with fewer people unexpectedly dropping dead.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Mar 2011 14:55

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U.S.: Memo to America: Simple as it sounds, sleep is important

  • 1 in 3 number of Americans surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control who reported inadvertently falling asleep at least once in a day
  • 1 in 20 number of Americans surveyed who admitted to falling asleep while behind the wheel of their car at least once in a month source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Jan 2011 11:18

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Biz: Wal-Mart: We’re going to make our foods healthier, kids

  • Wal-Mart is in a unique position as a big-time grocer. With 140 million people who shop at their stores each week, their products can have a major effect on the food that people eat – both good and bad. So, as a way to take advantage of that, the mega-corp announced it would be making some changes to the foods it stocks, in line with Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity campaign:
  • 25% the amount of salt Wal-Mart plans to remove from its processed foods by 2015 (good job!)
  • 10% the amount of sugar the retail chain plans to remove from those foods, which is a great idea source
  • » Also good to note: They’ll also be ditching such unhealthy things as trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils. They made this announcement while chief executive Bill Simon was randomly hanging out with Michelle today. “No family should have to choose between food that is healthier for them and food they can afford,” Simon said. So, has the federal government ditched their pro-cheese program yet?
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Dec 2010 21:47

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Biz: Walgreens offers great deal for those without health insurance

  • 350,000 free flu shots for the uninsured source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Dec 2010 14:25

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Culture: Weight Watchers devotees collectively freak out about points

  • I don’t want to be forced to choose veggies. I do NOT like veggies or fruit. I feel like I am being forced to ‘diet,’ and that is what I DO NOT WANT.
  • Some whiny baby on a Weight Watchers forum • Complaining about the changes to the company’s well-known points system, which previously scored processed foods and unprocessed foods about the same way. Now, the new system encourages eaters to have fewer processed foods and as many fruits and vegetables as they’d like. Seeing a bunch of people on a weight-loss plan collectively freak out is kind of entertaining. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Nov 2010 11:08

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U.S.: Lame-duck Senate passes food-safety bill with bipartisan love

  • good A food-safety regulation bill, made necessary in the wake of multiple salmonella crises, passed the Senate with bipartisan support.
  • bad The bill may not benefit organic or small-scale farmers, who could be treated to similar levels of scrutiny to the agricultural giants.
  • worse The bill was held up for months by GOP Senator Tom Coburn, who apparently thinks you should eat contaminated peanut butter. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

16 Nov 2010 22:17

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Politics: Dick Cheney’s dramatic change in appearance only took months


  • Dick Cheney, February 2010Earlier this year at CPAC, the former vice president gave a notable speech that put him in front of the public eye very notably. Soon after, his well-documented health problems crept back, leading to a lengthy hospital stay in July that led to months of speculation.
  • Dick Cheney, today At George W. Bush’s groundbreaking for his presidential library, Cheney showed up looking a heckuva lot thinner and a tad bit like C. Montgomery Burns. What happened? He lost a ton of weight in the hospital. But he’s reportedly doing a lot better. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Nov 2010 20:27

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U.S.: Yo smokers: Want a shot against lung cancer? Get an early CT scan

  • 20% higher survival rate with CT scans over x-rays source
  • » The results were so positive that the National Lung Screening Trial actually ended early because the results so obviously favored CT scans for early detection. While it’s not a cure for cancer, it definitely offers lung cancer sufferers a chance at survival they didn’t have before.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Oct 2010 11:44

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Offbeat: Can gargling salt walter help ease the common cold?

  • YES now excuse us, we need a drink or something source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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