Some web links related to health issues.
Did you know that doctors are monitored according to whether they
prescribe medications? If I don't follow the cholesterol guidelines
by prescribing statins, insurers will send letters scolding me. If
I don't talk to you about the cholesterol-lowering effects of
walnuts and oat bran, nobody cares. Physicians even get paid more
when a drug is prescribed. A medical encounter that generates a
prescription is considered more complex, which qualifies for higher
reimbursement. In contrast, if a physician uses some of the very
limited time with patients to talk about antioxidants and omega-3
fatty acids, they get nothing more.
...
My solution is to give physicians, insurers and especially patients
an alternative food-based option for cholesterol lowering that could
compete with drugs on every level. These foods taste great and are
formulated using only health-promoting ingredients. They are dosed
and measured and as easy to prescribe and use as medications. Most
important, they yield clinically meaningful cholesterol reductions
as confirmed by a clinical trial.
...
As with medications, not everyone's cholesterol will respond equally
to a food intervention. Some people should be on statins even if
their cholesterol is perfect.
We may finally have found the long-elusive cause of Alzheimer's disease: Porphyromonas gingivalis, the key bacteria in chronic gum disease.
That's bad, as gum disease affects around a third of all people. But the good news is that a drug that blocks the main toxins of P. gingivalis is entering major clinical trials this year, and research published today shows it might stop and even reverse Alzheimer's. There could even be a vaccine.
Also see Does gum disease have a key role in Alzheimer's? and other reasons gum disease is bad for your health.Protects against aging-associated diseases
Researchers found evidence that fasting affects circadian clocks in the liver and skeletal muscle, causing them to rewire their metabolism, which can ultimately lead to improved health and protection against aging-associated diseases.
Nonprofit hospitals across the United States are seeking donations from the people who rely on them most: their patients.
Many hospitals conduct nightly wealth screenings - using software that culls public data such as property records, contributions to political campaigns and other charities - to gauge which patients are most likely to be the source of large donations.
Those who seem promising targets for fund-raising may receive a visit from a hospital executive in their rooms, as well as extra amenities like a bathrobe or a nicer waiting area for their families.
Some hospitals train doctors and nurses to identify patients who have expressed gratitude for their care, and then put the patients in touch with staff fund-raisers.