Pricier Mammograms May Not Be Justified

For older women, cheaper methods of detecting breast cancer may be as good as more expensive ones, according to the latest research.

Medicare spending on breast cancer screenings like mammograms adds up to just over $1 billion each year, but how effective is that spending in treating tumors?

In a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine Dr. Cary Gross, an associate professor of internal medicine at Yale School of Medicine and director of the Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center at Yale and his colleagues studied national estimates for breast cancer screening costs and compared these to screening outcomes.

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Food Allergies a Disability?

Many a college student lives off of microwavable meals – but some do it not by choice but because they're worried school food might make them sick.

They may have celiac disease, a digestive ailment caused by gluten, or life-threatening allergies to foods like peanuts — both are on the rise. But even as more people become aware of the issues, schools and institutions may lag behind.

Now some food allergy advocates are celebrating what they see as a shifting legal trend: schools and other institutions required to treat food allergies as a disability. They've found an ally in the Department of Justice.

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Generic vs. Brand Name: What the doctor prescribes

Some 37 percent of doctors surveyed say they sometimes go ahead and prescribe a brand-name drug upon request, even when there's a generic available.

The researchers found that doctors' willingness to prescribe a brand was associated with their acceptance of free food from drugmakers. They were also more likely to accept samples of brand-name drugs to hand out to their patients, too.

The findings were just published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

The researchers figure their estimates of doctors' willingness to prescribe a brand are at the low end of what happens in reality. Doctors surveyed (about 1,900 in this study) may not be inclined to fess up about going along with patients' requests.

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Overcome Peanut Allergies (with Peanuts!)

Modern-day allergists seem to be taking a cue from the history books: ancient kings supposedly intentionally ingested poisons to build up their tolerance to toxins in case of a murder attempt. This week, researchers report that people suffering from peanut allergies may build up their tolerance to peanuts in a similar way — by eating extremely low doses of the allergen.

For the new study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 40 adolescents and adults with the food allergy were tested for the maximum amount of peanuts that would generate an allergic reaction tolerance. Then, half of them took minuscule quantities of peanut powder under their tongue daily, with the doses increasing gradually every day. The other half were given a placebo powder.After 44 weeks, 14 of the 20 who received the daily peanut powder could tolerate at least 10 times as much peanut as they could handle at the beginning of the study (or 5 grams in total, whichever was more), while only three of the 20 on placebo could do the same.

Many of the people receiving treatment saw a 100-fold or better increases in their peanut tolerance. After the first stage of the experiment was finished, the group getting placebo was offered the chance to receive the peanut treatment too. Among that group as well, most were also able to improve their resistance to peanuts over subsequent months.

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What's the coolest new gadget at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week? It's too soon to tell. But I have an early favorite for the title of oddest new gadget: the HAPIfork and HAPIspoon. They may sound like characters from a nursery rhyme, but this fork and spoon connect to the Internet and can monitor and record how you eat.

The HAPI utensils measure how long your meals last, how long you pause between each bite and how many mouthfuls of food you consume.

If these utensils think you are eating too fast, they will vibrate — it feels kind of like a silent ring on a cellphone — to let you know to slow down.

Unfortunately, they are not yet programmed to beep or issue electric shock if you chew with your mouth open. However, you can plug them into your computer when you are done with your meal and upload the data about what you just ate. And you can share it all on Twitter.

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The Truth About Integrative Nutrition Scam and Health Coaching

With the growing success of Integrative Nutrition’s (IIN) Health Coach Training Program as a response to the current global healthcare crisis, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition is receiving increased attention around the world. With that recognition also comes misunderstanding and misconceptions about Integrative Nutrition and the health coaching profession. Before dismissing health coaching due to scattered criticisms about an Integrative Nutrition scam, take a minute to find out what students and graduates of the IIN program have to say about the school and this crucial health career.

Contrary to suggestions about an Integrative Nutrition scam, Integrative Nutrition alumni credit Integrative Nutrition with giving them the skills and expertise they need to help others in their community on the path to optimal health. Health Coaches do not claim to be MDs (although some medical professionals do earn a Health Coach certification along with their degree). Instead, Health Coaches are there to help fill the gaps where busy doctors and nurses cannot.

A Mother’s Cancer Diagnosis

Michael DeSanti worked as the VP of Sales and Marketing for a corporate event company, but felt his health, weight, and happiness suffer. After earning his Health Coach certification in 2010, Michael went on to run a successful health coaching business with a referral partnership from a local chiropractor. Michael’s passion for health and wellness began at the age of 17 when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. “Through diet and lifestyle, we were able to reverse [the cancer]…I use my practice and my passion to get this message out to the world.”

One More Health Problem Linked To BPA

The latest study shows the compound found in plastic and food packaging can put youngsters at risk for future heart disease.

The list of health problems connected to bisphenol-A (BPA) already includes some serious conditions, from hormone abnormalities to asthma, behavioral problems and obesity. Now, new research suggests that the chemical could be harming children’s kidneys and hearts, independent of the heart issues related to obesity.

For the latest study, published in Kidney International, researchers at New York University analyzed data from 710 U.S. children and teens, ages 6 to 19, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009 and ’10. Based on previous research that uncovered a relationship between BPA and heart problems in adults, the scientists decided to focus on children, who may even be more vulnerable to the effects of chemicals in their environment. The researchers recorded the children’s BPA levels as measured in their urine and found that kids and adolescents with the highest levels of the compound also had noticeably higher levels of albumin, a protein that builds up when kidneys are damaged, than participants with the lowest levels of BPA.

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