tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37135889139143017842024-03-06T03:41:21.174-05:00Epidemiology CaféImagine a river with a constant stream of floating people needing to be rescued. You will find the doctor pulling them out one by one. Zoom out. you will find the epidemiologist upstream, playing with p-values and maneuvering multivariate analyses to figure out how to stop the people from jumping in at all.Edhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445529465839755903noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-48572237101029520402010-06-04T11:27:00.002-04:002010-06-04T11:34:50.088-04:00Some links - I know, againWe're all about to leave for the CSTE Annual Conference in Portland, OR. So there's not too much time for a full blog post.<br /><br />However, here are some links for some plane reading:<br /><ul><li>A <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5920a3.htm?s_cid=mm5920a3_x">May MMWR article</a> discusses attitudes toward mental illness. It's an interesting read. Hopefully the public will give more well-needed sympathy to those suffering from mental illness after more attention is given to the subject.</li><li>Jerome Groopman <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/05/31/100531fa_fact_groopman">discusses toxic chemicals</a> in a recent New Yorker article.</li><li>You may have already seen this NY Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/health/30salt.html">article about salt</a>.</li><li>Ah, how to allocate the huge pot of cash from the health care reform law to the public health community? Is there such thing as too much money? <a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Columns/2010/May/052010Gould.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20khn%20%28All%20Kaiser%20Health%20News%29">Robert Gould discusses</a> in Kaiser Health News.</li><li>This is a long report, but the executive summary of <a href="http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10182r.pdf">this GAO report about food safety</a> weaknesses should prove to be interesting.</li></ul>Happy reading!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-37787684614421774642010-05-27T13:29:00.002-04:002010-05-27T13:36:20.975-04:00Interesting linksThings are crazy here while we prepare for the CSTE Annual Conference, but here are a couple of links to satisfy your public health craving:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/639298.html">Big Decline in Heart Attacks If All States Had Smoking Bans</a> - an interesting article from Bloomberg saying that heart attacks would drop by 18,000 per year. Isn't that an incentive to implement smoking bans. 39 states currently have some sort of smoking ban. </li><li><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704113504575264421687548864.html">No Benefit in Delayed Immunization</a> - That's right, folks, another immunization article asserting that vaccinating your kids against deadly and debilitating infectious diseases is a good thing! This one is from the Wall Street Journal.</li><li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/health/policy/25autism.html">British Medical Council Bars Doctor Who Linked Vaccine With Autism</a> - Dr. Andrew Wakefield has been banned from practicing medicine after his widely known Lancet journal article was retracted recently. This New York Times article discusses the recent news.</li><li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/business/27bugs.html?hp">In E. Coli Fight, Some Strains Are Largely Ignored</a> - I will admit that I haven't finished reading this article, but it basically discusses how some strains of e. coli are tested for in labs and some are not, and the implications of this situation. Should be a good read.<br /></li></ul>Happy reading, readers!Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-53555933468122830632010-05-18T09:14:00.005-04:002010-05-18T09:36:26.964-04:00Links and LymeFirst, some web links:<br /><ol><li>The <a href="http://www.producesafetyproject.org/">Produce Safety Project</a> is calling for food safety reform, says <a href="http://www.cattlenetwork.com/U-S--Food-Regulation-Should-Take-Reform-Lesson-From-Europe--Report-Says/2010-05-11/Article_Latest_News.aspx?oid=1073381&fid=CN-LATEST_NEWS_">this article</a> in Cattle Network (yes, Cattle Network). The <a href="http://www.producesafetyproject.org/admin/assets/files/Building_the_Science.pdf">report </a>recommends improved data collection, creating a cabinet-level agency for food safety, and use best practices from Europe.</li><li>A little food safety reminder, speaking of reform: We can all reduce our risk of foodborne illness with a little supermarket safety, and <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/13/uttm/main6478479.shtml">this article</a> from CBS News can tell you how.<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.kidk.com/news/local/93636829.html">This article</a> raises the red flag that only 58% of Idaho's 2-year-olds are vaccinated to current recommendations. This situation is not exclusive to Idaho; <a href="http://www.blacklistednews.com/news-2823-0-8-8--.html">other pockets</a> of the U.S. have extremely low vaccination rates.</li><li>It's that time of year when the risk of contracting Lyme disease increases with our outdoor activities. Read some articles about Lyme disease and how to prevent contracting it: 1 from <a href="http://www.fortgordonsignal.com/news/2010-05-14/News_Update/Lets_talk_Lyme_Disease.html">The Signal</a>, 1 <a href="http://www2.wspa.com/news/2010/may/13/statehouse-rally-raise-awareness-lyme-disease-ar-162886/">about a rally</a> to promote Lyme disease awareness, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/">a page</a> from CDC, and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3tamqetPAFeAet6C3FJWt6qremK0HwRW_uWvhJ88lwTC4Sy4WU4xv7pA_8I97_21yX9f5_jVucM6CbiXu6aiZfEBJ7ptvZb-mp4wWfngUA7geeAUYB6dnLyQUHKasXRr-M43N1Yvgq7Q/s1600/Fight+the+Bite.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 107px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3tamqetPAFeAet6C3FJWt6qremK0HwRW_uWvhJ88lwTC4Sy4WU4xv7pA_8I97_21yX9f5_jVucM6CbiXu6aiZfEBJ7ptvZb-mp4wWfngUA7geeAUYB6dnLyQUHKasXRr-M43N1Yvgq7Q/s200/Fight+the+Bite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472602505457872098" border="0" /></a>the <a href="http://www.aldf.com/">American Lyme Disease Foundation</a>, an advocacy organization. The bottom line is cover up and use a bug spray with DEET to prevent tick bites.</li><li>And while we're at it, here's some <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm">info</a> about West Nile Virus and CDC's "Fight the Bite!" campaign. Bug spray, guys! It's worth it!</li></ol>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-1320556208707427392010-05-13T08:09:00.002-04:002010-05-13T08:23:05.429-04:00Health care reform: Public health gets into the mixNow that the health care reform bill is law, the money is out there and waiting to be spent. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care law, previously <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:h.r.03590:">H.R. 3590</a>, provided for a $15 billion prevention fund. Nonprofit organizations and public health officials are now looking to allocate those funds, and there is quite a bit of competition for the money.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37024496/ns/health-health_care/">This article</a> from MSNBC and <a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2010/May/08/prevention-money-fight-health-reform-law.aspx">this one</a> from Kaiser Health News discusses some of the pulls from different organizations. Paul Jarris, Exec Director of <a href="http://www.astho.org">ASTHO</a> (Association for State & Territorial Health Officials), is pushing for a big chunk of the fund to go directly to state and local health departments, who are hurting from the economy, having to cut back services and experiencing severe capacity problems. <a href="http://www.astho.org/Display/AssetDisplay.aspx?id=4631">This table</a> from ASTHO shows the various public health funding opportunities in the law.<br /><br />Take a look - it's a lot of money, and a lot of organizations and agencies deserve some of it. But... a lot don't. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-48069777265121022422010-05-04T14:29:00.002-04:002010-05-04T14:47:19.235-04:00H1N1 - vaccine, lessons learned<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6425HW20100503?type=domesticNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews">Reuters has posted an article</a> saying there are 71 million doses of H1N1 vaccine left in the U.S. That's right, readers, <span style="font-style: italic;">million.</span> Holy cow! (Or should I say chicken... get it?)<br /><br />And <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2010-04-26-editorial26_ST_N.htm?cid=xem-emc-nd">here</a> is a USA Today editorial on 5 lessons to be learned from the pandemic. Some points are well-taken; for example, the feds can't do it all. State and local health departments and other responders are vital to the fabric of our public health infrastructure and are critical to maintain in order to bolster preparedness.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-levi/ten-lessons-learned-from_b_211778.html">Here</a> are lessons learned from Jeffrey Levi, of Trust for America's Health, as posted on The Huffington Post. He, again, mentions public health department resources and the need to increase resources to be able to adequately respond to a situation such as the H1N1 pandemic.<br /><blockquote>Overall, the county is significantly more prepared to respond to a pandemic now than we were a few short years ago, but there are still major gaps in our core public health capabilities that must be addressed if we're going to be able to protect the American public from future threats.</blockquote><a href="http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/panflu/news/apr2310pandemic-jw.html">Here</a> are lessons learned from CIDRAP, the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. This article also highlights infrastructure and capacity but touches on risk factors for pregnant women and obese populations as well.<br /><br />And <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/opinion/13wenzel.html?scp=1&sq=h1n1%20lessons%20learned&st=cse">here</a> is a previously-posted Op-Ed by Richard Wenzel in the NY Times about what has been learned from the H1N1 pandemic.<br /><br />Happy reading, and feel free to post your own lessons learned!<br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-33420204215127225232010-05-03T09:36:00.001-04:002010-05-03T09:37:25.773-04:00Qatar's growing health problemsThe <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/world/middleeast/27qatar.html?scp=2&sq=qatar&st=cse">NY Times reports</a> on chronic disease and other health problems suffered by Qataris in the Middle East. Very interesting how the American lifestyle has spread to other countries that are gaining in wealth.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-72274531249229406462010-04-21T16:25:00.000-04:002010-04-21T16:25:10.375-04:00amednews: Child vaccine rates hinge on educating parents :: March 15, 2010 ... American Medical News<a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/03/15/prsb0315.htm">amednews: Child vaccine rates hinge on educating parents :: March 15, 2010 ... American Medical News</a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-7786673186625610552010-04-15T14:58:00.002-04:002010-04-15T15:10:52.201-04:00Maternal Deaths Decline Sharply Across the GlobeGreat, some good news in public health! The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/health/14births.html?hp">NYTimes reports</a> that maternal deaths are declining worldwide. The interesting point brought up in the article is that some advocates want to keep the news relatively quiet for fear of funding drying up because the problem is perceived as solved. The author of the study insisted that the new data are really positive and need to be shared with the world!<br /><blockquote>The data dispelled the belief that the statistics had been stuck in one dismal place for decades, he said. So money allocated to women’s health is actually accomplishing something, he said, and governments are not throwing good money after bad.</blockquote>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-80113803176622774182010-04-13T08:51:00.003-04:002010-04-13T08:56:54.470-04:00What We Learned From H1N1's First Year<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/opinion/13wenzel.html?pagewanted=2&hp">This article</a> by Richard Wenzel of the Virginia Commonwealth University discusses what we learned in the past year about H1N1. It brings up some interesting points, like the discrepancy in recommendations about masks, reducing risk of transmission, and community mitigation strategies.<br /><blockquote>It is not an easy task, but our public health authorities need to become clearer about the lexicon of uncertainty.</blockquote>And Wenzel ends the article with a reality and a call to action:<br /><blockquote>But the struggle between people and pathogens is a part of life itself. We cannot continue to be surprised every time a new virus emerges. Instead, we must use the lessons we’ve learned during the year since H1N1 arrived to develop more effective public health responses.</blockquote><br /><blockquote></blockquote><br /><blockquote></blockquote>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-52415988542020146532010-04-09T14:32:00.001-04:002010-04-13T08:56:42.166-04:00FDA Conducting Fewer Inspections of Food Makers<a href="http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/19623">FDA Conducting Fewer Inspections of Food Makers</a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-65240038290782751942010-04-06T15:51:00.007-04:002010-04-06T16:04:54.396-04:00National Public Health Week!It's been awhile since I did a posting of interesting links. Enjoy!<br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.nphw.org/nphw10/home1.htm">National Public Health Week is this week!</a> Go public health!<br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DuBggj7Zd3A&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DuBggj7Zd3A&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /> <br /></span></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Norovirus</span>: Tara Parker-Pope has <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/getting-rid-of-norovirus/?src=mv">an article</a> in the NYT about noro and how difficult it is to get rid of it. Take a look, and see <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-qa.htm">CDC's page about noro</a> for more information.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Superbugs</span>: This has been awhile, but it's an interesting <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/opinion/07kristof.html?sudsredirect=true">Nick Kristof piece</a> about antibiotics and the rise of superbugs and the implications of those superbugs. </li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">HIV prevalence in DC</span>: Some promising news about the HIV epidemic in Washington, D.C. is explained in <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/29/AR2010032902984.html">this article</a>.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Travel's impact on pandemics:</span> An interesting <a href="http://www.thestar.com/travel/article/789091--travel-s-impact-on-pandemics-analyzed?bn=1">Canadian study</a> will analyze the impact of travel and travel restrictions on the H1N1 pandemic.</li></ol>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-86168758315276245822010-04-05T14:41:00.005-04:002010-04-05T15:00:50.680-04:00Summer's here!Wow has it been a long time since I've posted. Sorry about that! It's been busy here at CSTE, and we've been working quite hard on everything from international influenza consultations to CDC/CSTE <a href="http://www.cste.org/dnn/ProgramsandActivities/FellowshipProgram/tabid/259/Default.aspx">Applied Epidemiology Fellowship</a> interviews to <a href="http://www.cste.org/conference/">Annual Conference</a> planning.<br /><br />Now it's April 5, and in Atlanta that means summer is here! Some summer public health tips:<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Food safety</span><br />Summer means picnics, baseball games, hikes, and lots of outdoor eating. Keep yourself salmonellosis free this summer, and follow tips from organizations like <a href="http://www.foodsafety.gov/">this one</a>. The basics are clean, separate, cook, and chill. And if you do have a foodborne illness, notify your local health department!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOB0w6vqDZVudclQzdupVh6aVcaUQifTVe0MeVWW9fp3OpvO79Z-Rrl8QsLO47q6RMlIEDDcRYKDqIZvvJ96caUmXlT4D-BR2UucH647Z74Z_xXWAoKr6_Q4WWpdcEFUSI65wND-izfGf/s1600/foodsafetybasics_lg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOB0w6vqDZVudclQzdupVh6aVcaUQifTVe0MeVWW9fp3OpvO79Z-Rrl8QsLO47q6RMlIEDDcRYKDqIZvvJ96caUmXlT4D-BR2UucH647Z74Z_xXWAoKr6_Q4WWpdcEFUSI65wND-izfGf/s320/foodsafetybasics_lg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456727601209254530" border="0" /></a></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Tick/bug bites</span><br />Summer means bug bites, that's a fact, and there are a few things to do to keep yourself healthy and hopefully bite-free. <a href="http://cbs2chicago.com/wireapnewsil/With.warm.weather.2.1604502.html">This article</a> gives some tips: stay on well-traveled paths, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants in the woods, wear DEET-containing bug repellants, and check yourself, children, and pets carefully after walking in the woods. Here is some <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/">info from CDC</a> about vectorborne and rickettsial diseases. Finally, some "<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm">Fight the Bite!</a>" info about West Nile Virus.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Fun in the sun</span><br />Use sunscreen - cover that delicate skin! Use <a href="http://www.bam.gov/sub_yoursafety/yoursafety_sunproof.html">safe sun practices</a> to avoid the dreaded sunburn.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDJYIB-Nmy25RX9vLBmtorYsWSpAPtyWSfT-ZGaq3Py0QwMmkfHQzXwn722BDfem-ti52q1Lvh7PKhdUb45_8cuqvd2Oo1ZSltxCWkZqGbkNPcQv78o2kX1xVA67mNgVQVJvlXNEM_Udy/s1600/something_about_mary_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDJYIB-Nmy25RX9vLBmtorYsWSpAPtyWSfT-ZGaq3Py0QwMmkfHQzXwn722BDfem-ti52q1Lvh7PKhdUb45_8cuqvd2Oo1ZSltxCWkZqGbkNPcQv78o2kX1xVA67mNgVQVJvlXNEM_Udy/s320/something_about_mary_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456729050387592258" border="0" /></a></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Be safe</span><br />And, last but not least, be safe. Injury accounts for a huge number of deaths during the summertime, so keep an eye out for yourself and your loved ones. <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/spotlite/firework_spot.htm">Fireworks</a>, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.htm">boating and swimming</a>, and <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/InjuryViolenceSafety/">general injury prevention</a> - all important.<br /></li></ul>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-15207212040579507512010-03-01T15:44:00.001-05:002010-03-01T15:44:37.755-05:00Doctors' Advice to Obama: Kick the Cigarette Habit - Stop Smoking - FOXNews.com<a href=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587675,00.html>Doctors' Advice to Obama: Kick the Cigarette Habit - Stop Smoking - FOXNews.com</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-65424838459568770082010-02-26T11:34:00.001-05:002010-02-26T11:34:12.598-05:00The damage of the anti-vaccination movement - latimes.com<a href=http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-fumento5-2010feb05,0,3589719.story>The damage of the anti-vaccination movement - latimes.com</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-59057957701328753912010-02-26T10:46:00.002-05:002010-02-26T10:51:34.346-05:00Salt reduction - does it make sense as a public health policy?<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/science/23tier.html?th&emc=th">Here</a> is an interesting NY Times piece about salt intake. It starts with a quiz: If companies are forced to use less salt, what would be the effect?<br /><p><span class="bold"></span></p><blockquote><p><span class="bold">A</span>) More than 44,000 deaths would be prevented annually (as estimated recently in <a href="http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/362/7/590" title="K. Bibbins-Domingo et al, “Projected Effect”l">The New England Journal of Medicine</a>).</p><p><span class="bold">B</span>) About 150,000 deaths per year would be prevented annually (as estimated by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene).</p><p><span class="bold">C</span>) Hundreds of millions of people would be subjected to an experiment with unpredictable and possibly adverse effects (as argued recently in <a href="http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/303/5/448?rss=1" title="M.H. Alderman, “Reducing Dietary Sodium“">The Journal of the American Medical Association</a>). </p><p><span class="bold">D</span>) Not much one way or the other.</p><p><span class="bold">E</span>) Americans would get even fatter than they are today.</p></blockquote><p></p><p>According to this article, there is no right answer, because the evidence is so conflicting.</p><p>So what should we do about salt intake? See <a href="http://epi-cafe.blogspot.com/2010/02/salt-intake-new-public-health-hot-topic.html">this post</a> from a couple weeks ago for the answer.</p><p>And PS: <a href="http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/big-brother-and-the-salt-shaker/">Here</a> is a "Room for Debate" article from the NY Times seeking answers from several prominent food folks. Interesting.<br /></p>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-74856741491548852602010-02-24T14:08:00.007-05:002010-02-24T14:24:07.042-05:00Health Insurance isn't really like other insuranceThe idea that health insurance is different from all other types of insurance came up in a casual conversation and it got me thinking -- health insurance is something that you <strong>know</strong> you will use at some point. Prescription drugs, eye glasses, dental check ups, etc - everyone will access the health care system at some point for some thing. Health insurance also differs from other types of insurance because other types are generally focused on a negative occurrence. Fire, flood, car, homeowners, life insurance -- all associated with slightly unlikely, negative events. All of these insurance types are priced according to the risk the insurance company takes in relation to your probability of having that event. Life insurance at age 25 is much cheaper than at age 55 due to this reason.<br /><br /><br />Health insurance is a little different however, as it is insuring you for events that are highly likely to occur numerous times throughout the year. The scale and cost of being insured for these events follows the same model as the other insurance types but is used for routine access to the benefits of insurance rather than exceptional access.<br /><br /><br />So this really gets into a larger discussion of health care reform. There is an article on Bloomberg.com that gets into assessment of risk, ignoring pre-existing conditions, employer based health insurance and more. "Ignoring pre-existing conditions might sound compassionate, but it is the equivalent to declaring that a fire-insurance company must charge the same amount for a modern house with smoke detectors and interior fireproofing as a century-old, wooden-frame former stable, complete with some hay left over, and a basement full of painting supplies. Taking the analogy further, the same premium must be charged for a well-protected, unscathed house as for one that is already on fire. The business of insurance is about determining risk and charging accordingly. It's why insurance companies exist. If we eliminate that, medical insurers are just form-processing companies for the government. Worse, we lose a valuable economic input: that of accurate risk assessment and pricing, without which sensible management of medical expenses is impossible."<br /><br /><br /><br />For the full article on bloomberg.com please visist: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=a2ArEkqK7AZ4">http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=a2ArEkqK7AZ4</a><br /><br /><br /><br />And keep in mind the original purpose of health insurance when you ponder health care/insurance reform. What is the purpose and what is the best way for accomplishing that purpose?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13181549774283909707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-72453451316971762862010-02-19T15:38:00.003-05:002010-02-19T15:59:29.403-05:00Did the WHO manipulate the H1N1 pandemic??I've come across several articles lately that indicate (ok, downright say) that the World Health Organization (WHO) misled the public regarding facts about the H1N1 influenza pandemic. (Is this like the "link" between vaccines and autism?)<br /><br />Apparently there are charges that "the agency deliberately fomented swine flu hysteria." An epidemiologist at the WHO himself said that there was a giant mis-allocation of funds that favored the pharmaceutical companies who made the H1N1 influenza vaccines. The author of the Forbes.com article says that the WHO was covering itself for the millions (billions) of dollars spent on preparing for a pandemic of H1N1 or H5N1 that never materialized (until now). The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) delcared that this "false pandemic" is "one of the greatest medicine scandals of the century." Whoa!!! Really? Preparing for something we didn't know the severity of was a scandal? A hoax? Really?<br /><br />Luckily, ("unquestionably") H1N1 has been much milder than seasonal influenza and than previously expected. But there was no way to know whether it would increase in intensity or not (clearly, it did not). Look, there will be varying opinions as to whether this could have been predicted or not. But, in the end, isn't it better that we were overprepared than underprepared? Imagine how scathing the media would have been if public health were to have not been ready for widespread morbidity and mortality? What then? Exactly. That's what I'm saying.<br /><br />Yes, there were resources lost on preparations for this pandemic. But that's what public health does - it prepares for things that may or may not happen, and then when those things don't happen, the public never knows about it. That is preparedness at its best. You don't know how good your water system is until your neighboring city's system falls to pieces, and then you realize how well you're protected against everyday things.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Victories-History-Practice-Twentieth-Century/dp/0195150694">This. Is. Public. Health.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/05/world-health-organization-swine-flu-pandemic-opinions-contributors-michael-fumento.html?boxes=Homepagechannels">Forbes.com article</a><br /><a href="http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/news/1/12738-who-plays-dubious-role-in-swine-flu-pandemic.html">Atlantic Free Press article</a><br /><a href="http://assembly.coe.int/ASP/NewsManager/EMB_NewsManagerView.asp?ID=5209">Council of Europe article</a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-75278433092161683952010-02-08T11:08:00.001-05:002010-02-08T11:08:16.489-05:00Is the US swine flu epidemic over? | ajc.com<a href=http://www.ajc.com/health/is-the-us-swine-292201.html>Is the US swine flu epidemic over? | ajc.com</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-81650258251342201852010-02-05T11:54:00.003-05:002010-02-05T12:04:48.980-05:00How the CDC counts H1N1 cases<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8WW9iAaYmjrUaM_x0kVeOsOXvRfNKrtRlRxnk593hRVxaHRraTBf09yzYIrEj8uFgrv3yw2nCPHMzPZ5cBeb5Tiok9vHyMSgZgisBvhdxkWgeh6d6wmXYcLq84dDcjjoA70sPRLJIxrM/s1600-h/flu+breakdown.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 444px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8WW9iAaYmjrUaM_x0kVeOsOXvRfNKrtRlRxnk593hRVxaHRraTBf09yzYIrEj8uFgrv3yw2nCPHMzPZ5cBeb5Tiok9vHyMSgZgisBvhdxkWgeh6d6wmXYcLq84dDcjjoA70sPRLJIxrM/s320/flu+breakdown.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434805711921444482" border="0" /></a><br />Thought you (you one person reading this, you) might be interested in <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/how-the-cdc-counts-h1n1-cases-886/">this Wall Street Journal blog post</a> about how CDC counts H1N1 cases.<br /><br />The <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704509704575019313343580460.html">accompanying print article</a> discusses how H1N1 information is based on flawed data. Carl Bialik writes that CDC relies on "the nation's patchy surveillance system" for its data - Well, Carl, if the U.S. were to fully fund states to perform adequate surveillance, maybe we'd be able to provide better data for you! (<a href="http://www.cste.org/dnn/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=eZeQb3NcPks%3d&tabid=36&mid=1496">Are you listening, Congress?</a>)Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-12328587423352769262010-02-03T12:07:00.004-05:002010-02-03T14:03:28.761-05:00Salt intake: the new public health hot topic shaking onto the scene<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaHNv0bniRwChJQxrYo7W_mCnbFs_TQilDe_xnL8IzTtdH-z3kV5Yz84-P8boknShvxLtCpJoBlQ-6TCBpNhvysm37PuIiy5NKb_-hlhVdITKqLs5_JV4JoEQyFsSKBNwxc_QmxxmdOfl/s1600-h/salt+shaker.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaHNv0bniRwChJQxrYo7W_mCnbFs_TQilDe_xnL8IzTtdH-z3kV5Yz84-P8boknShvxLtCpJoBlQ-6TCBpNhvysm37PuIiy5NKb_-hlhVdITKqLs5_JV4JoEQyFsSKBNwxc_QmxxmdOfl/s200/salt+shaker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434094014125333170" border="0" /></a><br />A <a href="http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMe0910352">recent New England Journal of Medicine article</a> discusses reducing salt intake and its benefit to society. A national effort to reduce salt intake by 3 g (1200 mg of sodium) per day could reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease by 60,000-120,000, stroke by 32,000-66,000, and heart attacks by 54,000-99,000. Wow! The number of deaths annually due to these diseases could decrease by up to 90,000. Wow! And... for those number-crunchers, this could save the country $10-24 billion annually. Yes, annually.<br /><br />And: "Even if the intervention<sup> </sup>reduced salt intake by just 1 g per day, the benefits would<sup> </sup>still be substantial and would warrant implementation." Now that's saying something.<br /><br />The authors say there are 2 approaches to reducing salt intake:<br /><ol><li>The individual approach involves individual consumers to reduce their daily intake through voluntary dietary decisions. However, the authors say, this method has been attempted and does not work.</li><li>The public health approach involves getting manufacturers to reduce the amount of salt in processed foods.</li></ol>New York City has started an initiative to get restaurants to reduce the amount of salt in food served to New Yorkers - a 25% reduction over 5 years has been proposed. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is about to release a report about salt intake. And the FDA is considering<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmGsFBkm7Zruj_08VLfA5GqNa_Eup33-KQI9G4hatizL57NTfud27HjbFcBfjrxzlBYPX_eVyldf6vy0xI2IQxZlB84mtSJyxSbID0hSQ9dSCojN0hyphenhyphennBKuBYXUPnfdAUKq_37FhZQfCZ/s1600-h/morton_salt_logo-web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmGsFBkm7Zruj_08VLfA5GqNa_Eup33-KQI9G4hatizL57NTfud27HjbFcBfjrxzlBYPX_eVyldf6vy0xI2IQxZlB84mtSJyxSbID0hSQ9dSCojN0hyphenhyphennBKuBYXUPnfdAUKq_37FhZQfCZ/s200/morton_salt_logo-web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434094106137309762" border="0" /></a><br />changing the designation of salt to a category that would give consumers more information. [All from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/health/nutrition/21salt.html">this New York Times article</a>.]<br /><br /><a href="http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/big-brother-and-the-salt-shaker/?ref=fitnessandnutrition#christopher">One editorial article</a> from the New York Times mentions that most salt in people's diets comes from processed foods, not from adding salt individually. So the processed foods are what we should be targeting - restaurants and food manufacturers. Let the battle begin!<br /><br />This post comes in honor of World Salt Awareness Week, according to <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/DHDSP/library/sodium.htm">CDC</a>. (There's a week/month for everything, eh?) Check out <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/DHDSP/library/pdfs/Sodium_Fact_Sheet.pdf">this fact sheet</a> about salt and salt intake.<br /><br />And check out <a href="http://epi-cafe.blogspot.com/2009/06/are-you-too-salty.html">this previous post</a> by Lisa for more about reducing sodium levels.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-39571110303331937982010-02-02T14:37:00.002-05:002010-02-02T14:41:02.123-05:00Important news about vaccinesEveryone has heard the rumor that vaccines lead to autism. Well, here is breaking news: The Lancet, the journal that published Dr. Andrew Wakefield's 1998 groundbreaking study linking autism to vaccines, has formally retracted the article. This is hugely important news in the public health and vaccine world. According to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/02/lancet.retraction.autism/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn">this breaking CNN article</a>, the author was found to be acting unethically in conducting his research.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-58277636956991818122010-01-19T11:52:00.011-05:002010-01-19T13:53:26.345-05:00Smoking Cessation Part 2: Public Health's ResponseNow that I've <a href="http://epi-cafe.blogspot.com/2010/01/smoking-cessation-effectiveness-and.html">discussed smoking cessation</a> options and the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation, it's time to bring public health into the story (of course). This post will focus on what public health does to encourage smoking cessation on a population-wide level.<br /><br />Naturally, public health encourages individuals to stop smoking. <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/index.htm">CDC's website</a> offers how to quit, the benefits of quitting, etc. But there are several big-picture strategies that public health has employed to encourage the population to stop smoking.<ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Smoking cessation education campaigns</span> - This method includes public service announcements, ad campaigns, etc. Smoke-Free Illinois has <a href="http://www.idph.state.il.us/smokefree/sf_quit.htm">this ad campaign</a>. Tobacco Free California has some great <a href="http://tobaccofreeca.com/">materials and website</a>, including clever <a href="http://tobaccofreeca.com/ecards.html">e-cards</a> that you can send smoker friends. And check out this video from Iowa's <a href="http://www.jeliowa.org/Know_More/This_Is_You/">Just Eliminate Lies video</a> that works to eliminate tobacco companies' effects on youth.<br /></li><br /><object width="500" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yE_zN0xqSYE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yE_zN0xqSYE&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="315"></embed></object><br /><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Smoking bans</span> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_smoking_bans_in_the_United_States">Many states</a> have enacted smoking bans to restrict smoking in public places. According to the <a href="http://slati.lungusa.org/reports/SecondhandSmokeLawsFactSheet01-10.pdf">American Lung Association</a>, 26 states and D.C. have enacted laws banning smoking to some degree. And these bans seem to work; <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7879891.stm">air pollution</a> in restaurants and bars have decreased, and some areas have reported <a href="http://www.iom.edu/%7E/media/Files/Report%20Files/2009/Secondhand-Smoke-Exposure-and-Cardiovascular-Effects-Making-Sense-of-the-Evidence/Secondhand%20Smoke%20%20Report%20Brief%202.ashx">decreased heart attacks</a> and other health effects, although these findings are somewhat <a href="http://www.nber.org/papers/w14790">debatable</a>. A <a href="http://www.iom.edu/%7E/media/Files/Report%20Files/2009/Secondhand-Smoke-Exposure-and-Cardiovascular-Effects-Making-Sense-of-the-Evidence/Secondhand%20Smoke%20%20Report%20Brief%202.ashx">recent IOM report</a> states that "smoking bans can have a substantial impact on public health."<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://slati.lungusa.org/reports/SmokefreeStates01-10.pdf"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0quFm8wSThMdYkumt2AjHyvC7XzEGrr56cVtbYGJ8pvex6qG2aNmVan5PArWB8i5QMPVa15ejjQfPdMTDlualYDX4J7rq0J5GQIdI08RHSK8DEcFlEenVWQXmjV8z0wUz8ZQLMTVya0OH/s320/smoke+free+map.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428513323353497506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jklgjObQxn_fwgfb5WJQEex5k03yHEE8kAxNYp-wdgySU67BBUD-CCKwtIZWi_hfLUPRVxb9tu4IW8r1ou6GmO3d8r_K7VUAS6kCiO0wwdlNyJf1LwoCanZsqJR1c-WwXNxhLDYWL2Sg/s1600-h/smoking-ban-cigarettes.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jklgjObQxn_fwgfb5WJQEex5k03yHEE8kAxNYp-wdgySU67BBUD-CCKwtIZWi_hfLUPRVxb9tu4IW8r1ou6GmO3d8r_K7VUAS6kCiO0wwdlNyJf1LwoCanZsqJR1c-WwXNxhLDYWL2Sg/s320/smoking-ban-cigarettes.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428524598508559298" border="0" /></a></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scare tactics</span> - Ah, the scare tactic. Yes, this fits in with #1, but it is a particular type of ad campaign. This type is sometimes employed by public health departments and other times by private non-profit organizations. <a href="http://www.thetruth.com/">The Truth campaign</a> is probably the most well-known of these campaigns. However, this tactic <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/31/weekinreview/ideas-trends-fear-itself-the-right-dose-of-scare-tactics.html?pagewanted=1">may not work</a>. <a href="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=2417965">A recent article</a> stated that this public shaming technique may not be effective: "People are made to feel really, really bad about their smoking and are treated quite badly, but feel quite helpless in quitting," said Kirsten Bell, a medical anthropologist.<br /><br /><object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oqEV22u1EqY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oqEV22u1EqY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cigarette taxes</span> - Taxes, the American way, right? Well, it's true in the case of cigarette taxes. <a href="http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0097.pdf">Taxes on cigarettes</a> range from $0.07 (South Carolina) to $3.46 (Rhode Island). And according to the <a href="http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/prices/">Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids</a>, these taxes work: For every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes, youth smoking decreases by 7 percent and overall smoking decreases by 4 percent. <a href="http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/prices/reports.shtml">Click here</a> for related scientific studies. And the federal tax <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2009-03-31-cigarettetax_N.htm">increased in 2009</a> from $0.39 per pack to $1.01 per pack.<br /></li></ol>So there are a few ways public health tries to curb smoking. These along with individual smoking cessation tactics are aimed at improving the public's health overall, a noble cause.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-73433106873964712982010-01-19T11:48:00.001-05:002010-01-19T11:49:30.867-05:00Infectious diseases threaten the Haitian populationNow that the initial relief effort has started in Haiti, the threat of infectious disease looms. Read more here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2442706">http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2442706</a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-41658035859669805932010-01-19T09:53:00.003-05:002010-01-19T11:49:08.992-05:00Plastics & chemicals: Part 2<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/health/16plastic.html">This article</a> states that the FDA is rethinking its stance on BPAs. Take a look and reference <a href="http://epi-cafe.blogspot.com/2009/12/plastics-chemicals.html">this posting</a> about plastics & chemicals that I posted about a month ago.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713588913914301784.post-40344873883939946742010-01-14T10:41:00.005-05:002010-01-19T11:49:20.881-05:00Smoking Cessation: Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQWhAuDiU_wBHL5rtNycWOUi9Nh6I9LM5_xcVZ3hhp6rNd97BsDqSZynQeyBPOKwEhkUuPZbuebk6CSIwDuA6-9Lpq0DnIJAt9Nj8elHMsV4o_ZCg_s8lBTHRxUQCmUVAbOPsuzyjHlq-/s1600-h/nosmoking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 139px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQWhAuDiU_wBHL5rtNycWOUi9Nh6I9LM5_xcVZ3hhp6rNd97BsDqSZynQeyBPOKwEhkUuPZbuebk6CSIwDuA6-9Lpq0DnIJAt9Nj8elHMsV4o_ZCg_s8lBTHRxUQCmUVAbOPsuzyjHlq-/s200/nosmoking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426622533059187554" border="0" /></a><br />Smoking is a gigantic problem in the U.S. According to <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/osh.htm">CDC</a>, smoking is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the U.S. Over 40 million adults smoke in this country, and 126 million adults and children are exposed to secondhand smoke. Although trends have indicated that tobacco use is on the decline, it is still a huge issue.<br /><br />And it's pervasive in our society. I mean, even movies like <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/opinion/08fri4.html">Avatar feature characters who smoke</a>! The <a href="http://www.who.int/topics/smoking/en/">WHO</a> encourages media to limit or eliminate smokers highlighted in TV shows and movies.<br /><br />If you smoke, stop! It's hard, no doubt. It takes the average smoker several times for quitting to actually stick. And <a href="http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/smoking/smokingcessation.html">here are some options</a> to do so:<br /><ol><li>Quitting cold turkey - Quitting all of a sudden and sustaining it undoubtedly requires a great deal of will and determination. Enlist your friends, family, and coworkers to help you quit.</li><li>Nicotine fading - This method involves reducing your tobacco intake slowly until you eventually quit. This option is inexpensive, easy, and reduces the potential for withdrawal.</li><li>Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) - These therapies include nicotine gum and nicotine skin patches, and they are recommended with reservations as part of a "<a href="http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4615">comprehensive smoking cessation program</a>."</li><li>Finally, there are prescription medications such as <a href="http://www.quitsmoking.com/zyban/index.htm">Zyban</a> that help people stop smoking.</li><li>Support groups and counseling can also help greatly when combined with other methods.<br /></li></ol>Insurance companies are covering smoking cessation aids more and more, recognizing the cost effectiveness of helping their patients quit. The benefits and cost effectiveness are overwhelming. <a href="http://www.hta.nhs.uk/pdfexecs/summ616.pdf">One article states</a>, "The results of existing economic evaluations consistently indicate that smoking cessation interventions are relatively cost-effective in terms of cost per life-year saved." <a href="http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/278/21/1759">An article in JAMA</a> also suggests smoking cessation is cost-effective. Based on a study of various interventions, the study found that smoking cessation is a particularly cost-effective intervention, compared with other preventive health interventions. "The more intensive the<sup> </sup>intervention, the lower the cost per QALY [quality-adjusted life year] saved, which suggests<sup> </sup>that greater spending on interventions yields more net benefit."<br /><br />And that smoking cessation is cost-effective just makes common sense! "If you’re paying about 10 bucks a day for a pack of cigarettes in New York City, that adds up to about $6,000 over two years," said Thomas Glynn, of the American Cancer Society. "You could check yourself into the in-patient program at Mayo Clinic for that," he says in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/health/09patient.html?ref=health">this recent New York Times article</a>.<br /><br />Of course, the tobacco industry is ridiculously powerful. This <a href="http://www.mcspotlight.org/beyond/tobacco.html">webpage</a> (albeit a little extreme) showcases tobacco companies and their truths. <a href="http://www.no-smoke.org/getthefacts.php?id=16">Another site</a> also highlights the pervasiveness of tobacco companies. Tobacco companies <a href="http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/cms/Responsibility/Supporting_Cessation/default.aspx?src=top_nav">claim to aid in smoking cessation</a>, but from their business's perspective, why should they? If smokers across the country quit, they buy fewer cigarettes, and their profits decrease, equaling no more company. It's in their financial interest to keep smokers smoking!<br /><br />The bottom line: Tobacco use is a problem in the U.S. Quitting benefits your health and it is cost effective to do so. Resolve to quit today!<br /><br />Here are more resources:<br /><a href="http://www.naquitline.org/">http://www.naquitline.org/</a><br /><a href="http://www.smokefree.gov/">http://www.smokefree.gov/</a><br /><a href="http://whyquit.com/">http://whyquit.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/index.htm">http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/index.htm</a>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11619836545888507379noreply@blogger.com0