American Council on Science and Health, 2011: Week 46

The presence of linked articles here are merely a way of showing what is going on, whether I agree or disagree with the positions presented. Rich Kozlovich

CANCER

Hormonal water tied to prostate cancer?
Birth control pills are one of the most effective methods of preventing unintended pregnancy - so one wonders how the pills could give men cause for concern.

My Take – I was caught between placing this under CANCER or SCARE MONGERING. But since the audience that would be most concerned about this would most likely pick up on “prostate cancer” fastest, I chose CANCER.

DIET

Weight-loss therapy: A family affair
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a psychotherapeutic approach used to modify problematic behaviors, is recognized as a viable means of encouraging weight loss in obese and overweight patients. Now, a study by Italian researchers has found that the positive behavioral changes in these patients can even extend to their family members.

Cholesterol checks in kids: Good sense or too much information?
New guidelines from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) make a surprising recommendation: There should be general one-time screening of children ages nine to 11 for high cholesterol.

A grain of prevention?
Is eating more whole grains also an effective way to lower the toll of colorectal cancer in the U.S.?

FITNESS

Run from too much advice
Given all the different advice out there about how to start running and how to most effectively train for fitness, it's hard to know which way is best. However, in an article for The New York Times, Gina Kolata writes that the best advice is probably to just listen to your own body.

GENERAL HEALTH

Virtual screening: Colonoscopy without the hassle
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

HEART

Clean teeth, healthy heart?
A new, large study suggests that receiving regular dental cleanings may be linked to a lower heart attack risk.

[X]arelto marks the spot
The results of a double-blind, controlled clinical trial - the gold standard in medical testing - bring welcome news to patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), meaning those with acute angina or heart attack.

Can I have some more (statins), please?
Nearly one-fourth of patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) are not being treated with a statin drug, despite the overwhelming evidence of benefit.

Stemming the tide of heart failure
New research shows promise for the use of the heart's own stem cells in treating heart failure.

Lipitor vs. Crestor: A Draw
The evidence supporting the benefits of using statins to reduce cardiovascular events has been well documented, especially in the prevention of subsequent events in people who have suffered a heart attack (secondary prevention).

LEGIMATE WARNINGS

Be careful: What’s in your drink might not be what you think
Intentional drugging is not often talked about, yet the results of a new Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report reminds all of us - especially women - of the dangers associated with leaving your drink unattended.

PHARMA

FDA antibiotic regulations under the microscope
The FDA has just rejected two petitions to ban a long list of antibiotics used in food animal production.

SCARE MONGERING

Attack of the Killer Cosmetics?
In an excellent refutation of junk science, the Competitive Enterprise Institute's Angela Logomasini has torn down, point by point, claims made in a recent report from the Oregon Environmental Council.

TOBACCO

ACSH & ACS encourages smokers to kick the habit
Today marks the 36th annual Great American Smokeout - a yearly event sponsored by the American Cancer Society that encourages smokers to quit for at least one day in the hope that it will eventually lead to quitting for good.

Why we can’t ignore tobacco harm reduction
"More than two-thirds of American smokers want to quit, but only a fraction actually do, underscoring a need for more services, messages, and access to medications to help them kick the habit," writes Betsy McKay of The Wall Street Journal.

THIS AND THAT

E.U. fears X-ray scanners, among other things
True to form, the E.U. continues down the path of hyper-caution and decided Monday to ban the use of X-ray body scanners in all European airports "in order not to risk jeopardizing citizens' health and safety," the European Commission stated.

VACCINES

TDAP vaccine: It’s not just for kids
Most grown-ups think about the TDAP vaccine (against tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis), if at all, only when they glance over childhood immunization records, and forget about it thereafter. Yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now advising older adults to think again.


If there is a health scare today, the American Council on Science and Health will most likely have the answer by tomorrow; and for members it will appear in your e-mail. No effort on your part, except to read the answer. All that the ACSH is interested in are the facts and they are prepared to follow them wherever they lead. Who can ask for more?  Please Donate Now!

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