A letter to patients and caregivers — Improving US healthcare is a team sport
The thing about US healthcare that bothers me most is the waste: the nuclear stress tests on demented patients in diapers, the MRIs for every case of back and knee pain, the egregious pre-op tests for low-risk surgeries, the mega-workups for simple cases of AF, the disease mongering in the name of prevention, and most tragically, the replacement of simple bedside observation with expensive scans and labs. Hardly a day passes that I do not see at least one wasteful thing done in the name of good patient care. Not fraud, just extra stuff–the BS.
It’s weird; in the US we are used to spending a lot and getting a lo...
Source: Dr John M - August 7, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr John Source Type: blogs
Five lessons from the Niacin failure
This week the New England Journal of Medicine published two studies on the role of niacin in preventing future cardiac events. The short story is that niacin was ineffective and associated with significant harm. A number of excellent summary pieces have been written, and I will reference them at the end.
The purpose of writing my thoughts on this matter is to put these unsurprising results into a larger context of health, and also to consider the changing role of the physician.
Lesson 1: Association does not equal causation
For years, medical experts have observed that patients with high HDL levels (good cholesterol) had ...
Source: Dr John M - July 17, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr John Source Type: blogs
New Evidence Fuels Concerns About The Safety Of Niacin
The string of failures– for HDL therapies in general and for niacin in particular– continues unabated. The publication of the main results of the HPS2-THRIVE trial, along with new information from the AIM-HIGH trial, provide no evidence of a beneficial effect for niacin but do fuel concerns that it may cause serious adverse effects. … Click here to read the full post on Forbes. (Source: CardioBrief)
Source: CardioBrief - July 16, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: Policy & Ethics Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes AIM-HIGH HDL HPS2-THRIVE LDL niacin triglycerides Source Type: blogs
Another Failed HDL Therapy Trial
Despite robust epidemiological evidence suggesting that HDL has a strong protective effect against cardiovascular disease, there has been no good evidence showing that HDL-based therapies are beneficial. Large trials of drugs that raise HDL levels, including niacin and CETP-inhibitors, have failed to demonstrate improvements in outcome. Some observers gleaned hope from several small studies of drugs that mimic HDL activity but these studies have been too small to offer convincing evidence. Now a new study– the largest to ever study an HDL mimetic– has failed to find even a glimmer of benefit. Results of the CH...
Source: CardioBrief - April 30, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: MI/ACS People, Places & Events Policy & Ethics HDL HDL cholesterol Source Type: blogs
Why I don't Always Follow Guidelines, My Response To Barron Lerner
Barron Lerner thinks he understands doctor's motives. In his recent article in the Atlantic he laments that physicians act on tradition and emotion over adopting new science. In defense of his position, he sites the example of how cardiologists use angioplasty and coronary artery bypass to treat coronary disease. He states:cardiologists have been remarkably slow to abandon the old hypothesis, continuing to perform hundreds of thousands of bypass operations and angioplasties annually not only in the setting of heart attacks (when they are appropriate) but also to try to prevent them.He, of course, makes th...
Source: In My Humble Opinion - April 6, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: Jordan Grumet Source Type: blogs
Shame on the Chicago Tribune
A blatantly pro-wheat piece ran in the Chicago Tribune that bashes the anti-grain movement. Read it here.
Written by dietitian, Marsha McCullough, it is full of the oversimplifications and partial truths echoed by the wheat industry. (So it smells and looks like something either paid for by the wheat industry to be placed in the Tribune, or Ms. McCullough was paid to write. That’s how the big lobbies work. They generally cannot rely on “organic” commitment.)
“Those with an allergy to wheat or other grains must avoid them. And the one percent of the population with celiac disease and the six percen...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - April 4, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Wheat Belly counterattacks Source Type: blogs
Grain bashing: It’s easy
When I chose to pick on grains, I found it exceptionally easy. There is no shortage of warts, scars, and defects in this class of plants co-opted into the service of the human diet.
I chose to pick on wheat first, as it is the worst of grains with more complex genetics and thereby a greater panel of unique proteins; it is among the most changed by the efforts of geneticists and agribusiness; and it plays such a dominant role in the human diet, comprising 20% of all calories worldwide, as much as 50% or more of calories for many people.
But just because other grains are not wheat does not make them good. After all, all gr...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - March 28, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Corn Grains Source Type: blogs
Best Pre Workout Supplements
It can be very tough on your body when you’re in the gym day after day. Of course it’s great for you and boosts your overall health and fitness, but it can be tough on your body. You need to take extra care of yourself and provide your muscles with what they need to get through those tough workouts. Even if you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet, you may need some extra help. Pre workout supplements are an excellent option to keep your body working at its best as well as to take your workout to the next level. But with so many products on the market, what should you be looking for in a supplement?
Each supp...
Source: Mental Nurse - March 20, 2014 Category: Nurses Authors: Author035 Tags: Health Beta Alanine pre workout Source Type: blogs
Which anti-aging ingredients REALLY work? The Beauty Brains Show episode 21
Have you ever wondered which anti-aging ingredients are proven to work? This week we review the science behind 5 of the top ingredients. Plus, find out why Germany wants to ban retinol!
If you’re a fan of our free podcast you can show your support by buying our new book!
Click here to get your copy for only $2.99
(That’s less than three songs on iTunes!)
Click below to play Episode 21: “Which anti-aging ingredients REALLY work” or click “download” to save the MP3 file to your computer.
SHOW NOTES
Beauty Science News: Will retinol be banned from skin care?
We discuss an article from...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 11, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry RomanowskiThe Beauty Brains Tags: Best Podcast Source Type: blogs
Statins
By David Spero
According to new guidelines, everyone with diabetes should take a statin drug to lower cholesterol. It doesn't matter how low his cholesterol already is. This makes little sense to me. See what you think.
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association just released these new guidelines. In one way they look like an improvement. According to Harlan Krumholz MD, the guidelines say doctors should be treating people, not just cholesterol numbers. Only those at "high risk" of heart disease and stroke should be treated.
"The question is not whether a drug makes your lab tests better," says ...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - November 20, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: David Spero Source Type: blogs
Statin Insanity
The medical student was confused. "Well, that's not good."He was seeing, in black and white, the benefits and harms of statin medicines. After years of systematic inculcation about the power of cholesterol reduction, this was the first time he had seen the numbers."I don't get it. I thought cholesterol was the big player in heart attacks."Not really. Three-quarters of people having a first heart attack, for instance, have normal cholesterol levels."Seriously?"Indeed. In fact, 50 years ago during the Framingham Heart Study, researchers first suggested that cholesterol may be a weak risk factor for heart disea...
Source: PharmaGossip - November 16, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Good Cholesterol Helps Control Glucose
By Diane Fennell
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as HDL or "good" cholesterol, helps control blood glucose levels by improving the function of skeletal muscles and reducing fat levels, according to research recently published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association.
Rates of cardiovascular disease are significantly increased in people who have Type 2 diabetes; low levels of HDL cholesterol and one of its major components, apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), serve as a strong predictor for the development of cardiovascular disease. To investigate this connection, scientists in Germany and ...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - November 8, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: Diane Fennell Source Type: blogs
Pura d’or Hair Loss Prevention Premium Organic Shampoo: Look at the label
Believe it or not this hair loss prevention shampoo is a top beauty seller on Amazon.com. Let’s look at the label to see if it has a chance in hell of actually preventing hair loss.
The good news is the shampoo uses one of the mildest cleansing ingredients you can buy – sodium cocoyl isethionate. The bad news is it costs $22 for 16 ounces which is expensive. There are other shampoos based on the same ingredient which you can get for much cheaper.
More good news: if you read the claims carefully you’ll see that it really is just a shampoo and not a drug product. More bad news: they throw in all sorts o...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - August 31, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: thebeautybrains Tags: Questions Source Type: blogs
Quick, Delicious, and Lean: Cooking with Lamb Videos
Quick Wasabi Lamb Chops Recipe: http://www.LeanOnLamb.com
I had a blast earlier this year working with the Tri-Lamb Group and fellow RD Janice Bissex creating delicious, easy recipes perfect for entertaining that feature….you guessed it…lamb! I’m so excited to announce that the videos we created that accompany these recipes recently launched!
You can watch all four videos here, and can see the video for the Lamb Korma recipe I created below:
Why Do I Love Lamb?
Most people don’t realize that lamb is a lean protein choice, rich in nutrients and taste. A 3 oz. portion has only 175 calories, on averag...
Source: Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog - August 27, 2013 Category: Nutritionists and Food Scientists Authors: rebeccascritchfield Tags: cooking eating healthy food nutrition recipes healthy recipes lamb korma lamb recipes lamb videos Source Type: blogs
Exhibit A on how hubris in medicine can be deadly…Let’s take a time out for skepticism
Thanks for all the support on my last post. It’s striking how sometimes pointing out the obvious gets a lot of attention. I have a quick follow-up post. The purpose is to show you a real-life and current example of how medical hubris might have killed thousands of patients.
My friend and colleague, Dr. Wes Fisher, sets it up with an important comment on my last post. In good medical blogger fashion, it was short and to the point:
This post [on hubris] should make everyone pause and think about the sanity of irrefutable checklists and the appropriateness of ‘Cheesecake Factory’ medicine – especially when origina...
Source: Dr John M - July 31, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr John Source Type: blogs
