In addition to the community health care discussions the Obama-Biden transition team is conducting to get more input on community health needs, the campaign has started a feature on their web site called "Open for Questions" which allows anyone to ask questions to be answered by the transition team.
Questions are ranked by users, so questions that people want answers to most will be answered. You can vote or ask questions by going to their Open for Questions web page.
Many of the questions regard health care. Here are some of the most popular health care questions--
"In all other 1st world countries, there's a minimal level of universal healthcare for all citizens. What will your adminstration do to provide truly universal, affordable healthcare for all US citizens, regardless of employment status?"
"We all recognize the insurance industry is the problem, not lack of insurance--what are you going to do about getting single payer (government) health care, as other progressive countries throughout the industrialized world have done?"
"What will you do to encourage education for disease prevention ? I am talking about environmental, nutritional and exercise education. It seems a waste resources to be detecting disease when you can prevent it."
Many questions deal with frustrations over insurance and pharmaceutical companies. Other people simply want to know how and when will we have affordable health care for everyone in our country.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
New Year's Resolutions
New Year's is the time of year where people look a little more closely at their personal health and set goals for themselves for the new year. A few of the most popular New Year's resolutions--
Quit smoking
Exercise more
Spend more time with family and friends
Reduce stress
Volunteer to help others
Eat healthier
Take a trip
Maintain a healthy weight
To a healthy and happy New Year,
Your Sarasota Health Blogger
Quit smoking
Exercise more
Spend more time with family and friends
Reduce stress
Volunteer to help others
Eat healthier
Take a trip
Maintain a healthy weight
To a healthy and happy New Year,
Your Sarasota Health Blogger
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Music Therapy
Brian Johnson, of the band AC/DC, was in Sarasota last week to dedicate a music room at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. You can read the article, here.
Music therapy can help patients relax and has been found to reduce stress and make treatment and recovery easier. Not only that, it's fun.
Music therapy can help patients relax and has been found to reduce stress and make treatment and recovery easier. Not only that, it's fun.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Drugs, Drugs, Drugs
Another question that was asked by the transition team during the community health discussion was "How can public policy promote healthier lifestyles?"
A lot of the comments to this question dealt with our reliance on prescription drugs. Some people told stories about how attractive drugs have become when they are advertised on TV and magazines. Drug advertisements have made prescription drugs a more appealing solution for medical care. People are able to walk into the doctor's office and immediately tell the doctor, "this is my problem, I'd like to try _____." It is obvious that more people in our society are turning to drugs to resolve many of their health issues, thinking that prescription drugs are an easy solution to their medical problems.
Drug advertisements can exaggerate health problems that are really not that major to begin with. For example, restless leg syndrome was a health issue that few people reported having prior to massive advertisements by drug companies.
The numbers speak clearly: Pharmaceutical sales have risen in the US to over $735 billion a year. Sociological researcher, Simon Williams, wrote an article discussing the major reasons why pharmaceuticals drugs have become so common in our nation. One central factor regards how the role of some drug companies has shifted from treating medical diseases to manufacturing and emphasizing diseases. In collaboration with doctors, medical groups, and the media, drug companies have a strong ability to create attention to certain diseases. Drug companies are not just marketing treatment, but also diseases. Williams refers to this as "pharmaceuticalization" of medicine -- the process in which drug companies are able to turn some things into medical matters. Pharmaceutical companies have gotten to the point where they have gained some medical authority and are viewed as contributors to medical knowledge in our society. They now advise us about what diseases we might have and that we should ask our doctor about possible prescriptions. Furthermore, drug companies are able to target and advertise to specific groups to make in-roads and personalize the medicine for them. Overall, pharmaceutical companies have gained more medical power in our society as well as becoming more effective at selling their product.
Another researcher, Nick Fox, talked about the domestication of pharmaceutical consumption in our society. He notes that drug products are now much more available and easier to purchases because of the internet. Direct-to-consumer marketing has benefited drug companies since they are able to give consumers a one-stop shopping experience for consumers. Consumers are able to get all of their information about diseases and drugs online, while also being able to fills prescriptions, get discounts, and have medicine shipped to their front door. Purchasing prescriptions has become a shipping experience that the drug companies have control over. This is why many drug companies use "lifestyle marketing" to promote their products.
It has now become part of our lifestyle to use drugs for all sorts of health problems--to help our sex lives, control our diet, alleviate daily allergies, and help us sleep. Drugs have become the solution to our annoying lifestyle factors, such as lack of sleep. As drug companies infuse their product into our daily lives, people's attitudes towards drugs have changed as more people are viewing drugs as simple solutions to health and lifestyle issues. Many believe that this is a result of skillful marketing.
Interestingly, historians of medicine are able to show how diseases appear and disappear based on social processes and treatments available in a given society. Drug companies keep lobbying for new disease categories to help sell their treatments. More lifestyle ailments that were once considered non-health related are now in the medical domain as a result of some of the efforts by pharmaceutical companies. Now there are more drugs that are found for a variety of lifestyle issues, which has led to a domestication of pharmaceutical consumption.
Drug companies have been criticized for seeking to market pills towards diseases that will give them the most profit, rather than focusing on developing treatments for major illnesses. Our reliance on prescription drugs can cause people to ignore healthier solutions to some of their health issues.
A lot of the comments to this question dealt with our reliance on prescription drugs. Some people told stories about how attractive drugs have become when they are advertised on TV and magazines. Drug advertisements have made prescription drugs a more appealing solution for medical care. People are able to walk into the doctor's office and immediately tell the doctor, "this is my problem, I'd like to try _____." It is obvious that more people in our society are turning to drugs to resolve many of their health issues, thinking that prescription drugs are an easy solution to their medical problems.
Drug advertisements can exaggerate health problems that are really not that major to begin with. For example, restless leg syndrome was a health issue that few people reported having prior to massive advertisements by drug companies.
The numbers speak clearly: Pharmaceutical sales have risen in the US to over $735 billion a year. Sociological researcher, Simon Williams, wrote an article discussing the major reasons why pharmaceuticals drugs have become so common in our nation. One central factor regards how the role of some drug companies has shifted from treating medical diseases to manufacturing and emphasizing diseases. In collaboration with doctors, medical groups, and the media, drug companies have a strong ability to create attention to certain diseases. Drug companies are not just marketing treatment, but also diseases. Williams refers to this as "pharmaceuticalization" of medicine -- the process in which drug companies are able to turn some things into medical matters. Pharmaceutical companies have gotten to the point where they have gained some medical authority and are viewed as contributors to medical knowledge in our society. They now advise us about what diseases we might have and that we should ask our doctor about possible prescriptions. Furthermore, drug companies are able to target and advertise to specific groups to make in-roads and personalize the medicine for them. Overall, pharmaceutical companies have gained more medical power in our society as well as becoming more effective at selling their product.
Another researcher, Nick Fox, talked about the domestication of pharmaceutical consumption in our society. He notes that drug products are now much more available and easier to purchases because of the internet. Direct-to-consumer marketing has benefited drug companies since they are able to give consumers a one-stop shopping experience for consumers. Consumers are able to get all of their information about diseases and drugs online, while also being able to fills prescriptions, get discounts, and have medicine shipped to their front door. Purchasing prescriptions has become a shipping experience that the drug companies have control over. This is why many drug companies use "lifestyle marketing" to promote their products.
It has now become part of our lifestyle to use drugs for all sorts of health problems--to help our sex lives, control our diet, alleviate daily allergies, and help us sleep. Drugs have become the solution to our annoying lifestyle factors, such as lack of sleep. As drug companies infuse their product into our daily lives, people's attitudes towards drugs have changed as more people are viewing drugs as simple solutions to health and lifestyle issues. Many believe that this is a result of skillful marketing.
Interestingly, historians of medicine are able to show how diseases appear and disappear based on social processes and treatments available in a given society. Drug companies keep lobbying for new disease categories to help sell their treatments. More lifestyle ailments that were once considered non-health related are now in the medical domain as a result of some of the efforts by pharmaceutical companies. Now there are more drugs that are found for a variety of lifestyle issues, which has led to a domestication of pharmaceutical consumption.
Drug companies have been criticized for seeking to market pills towards diseases that will give them the most profit, rather than focusing on developing treatments for major illnesses. Our reliance on prescription drugs can cause people to ignore healthier solutions to some of their health issues.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Our Major Problems
The Newtown CHAT participated in a community health care discussion to give feedback to President-elect Obama's transition team regarding health care issues facing many people in Sarasota. The Obama administration wants a collective effort to reform health care and asked participants to fill out a survey and give discussion feedback on a variety of health concerns. By the beginning of next month, the Health Policy Transition Team will use the feedback they received to prepare a report for the President-elect. Senator Daschle, the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, has also been participating in the community discussions occurring across the nation.
All of the participants were eager and excited to talk about health care issues. Everyone provided thoughtful responses to the seven discussion questions the Obama administration wanted to get feedback on. A copy of the discussion guide can be found on the transition project's web site, here.
Over the next week, I'm going to cover the exciting discussion participants had during the meeting. This week's topic comes from the first question asked by the transition team: What do you perceive is the biggest problem in the health system?"
Based on the comments, there are several major problems with our health care system that participants wanted addressed. First, access to quality health care is often difficult, especially since the health care system in our country can be complex. Many of the participants said that it can be very hard to navigate our health care system. They said that insurance companies make it more difficult to get the type of care patients want, oftentimes requiring referrals and limiting access to certain doctors or medical procedures. Insurance companies often limit care by limiting coverage. There was a large amount of frustration over the role insurance companies have in our health care system. It seemed apparent that insurance companies often dictated patient care, which is frustrating for both doctors and patients.
Another major issue is that health care services differ across socioeconomic levels. Due to affordability issues, people in lower socioeconomic levels have many more challenges getting decent health care. Minor health care issues can become major financial issues for people with limited health care coverage and income.
Research on health disparities greatly support the comments participants made on our greatest problems with our health care system. According to policy research by the Obama transition team, "large medical bills have contributed to half of bankruptcies and foreclosures." Additionally, one previous blog post talked about some of the health problems associated with living in a poorer community. Furthermore, "being uninsured leads to delayed care" and expensive treatment. But, "even people with coverage are increasingly finding that it is insufficient or simply not there when needed."
All of the participants were eager and excited to talk about health care issues. Everyone provided thoughtful responses to the seven discussion questions the Obama administration wanted to get feedback on. A copy of the discussion guide can be found on the transition project's web site, here.
Over the next week, I'm going to cover the exciting discussion participants had during the meeting. This week's topic comes from the first question asked by the transition team: What do you perceive is the biggest problem in the health system?"
Based on the comments, there are several major problems with our health care system that participants wanted addressed. First, access to quality health care is often difficult, especially since the health care system in our country can be complex. Many of the participants said that it can be very hard to navigate our health care system. They said that insurance companies make it more difficult to get the type of care patients want, oftentimes requiring referrals and limiting access to certain doctors or medical procedures. Insurance companies often limit care by limiting coverage. There was a large amount of frustration over the role insurance companies have in our health care system. It seemed apparent that insurance companies often dictated patient care, which is frustrating for both doctors and patients.
Another major issue is that health care services differ across socioeconomic levels. Due to affordability issues, people in lower socioeconomic levels have many more challenges getting decent health care. Minor health care issues can become major financial issues for people with limited health care coverage and income.
Research on health disparities greatly support the comments participants made on our greatest problems with our health care system. According to policy research by the Obama transition team, "large medical bills have contributed to half of bankruptcies and foreclosures." Additionally, one previous blog post talked about some of the health problems associated with living in a poorer community. Furthermore, "being uninsured leads to delayed care" and expensive treatment. But, "even people with coverage are increasingly finding that it is insufficient or simply not there when needed."
Monday, December 15, 2008
How Would You Fix Health Care?
President-elect Obama is making health care one of his top priorities and him and his transition team is looking for ideas and input on the challenges and possible solutions facing our health care system.
The Sarasota Health Department will be holding a community health care discussion to give feedback to the transition team. This discussion will occur Tuesday, December 16th at the Selby Goodwill at 6pm. The event is hosted by the Newtown CHAT.
The Sarasota Health Department will be holding a community health care discussion to give feedback to the transition team. This discussion will occur Tuesday, December 16th at the Selby Goodwill at 6pm. The event is hosted by the Newtown CHAT.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Google Health
One of the loudest complaints about our health care system is the lack of electronic coordination between doctors. Each specialist you go to, each hospital visit you have, each doctor you have an appointment with -- there are forms. Lots of forms. Usually they ask for the same information you put on a previous form at a previous doctor's office.We live in an age of technology so it seems it should be easier for a doctor to access your medical history. Well, Google has taken the steps to produce such a system.
Earlier in the year Google unveiled Google Health. According to Google, "Google Health aims to solve an urgent need that dovetails our overall mission of organizing patient information and making it accessible and useful. Through our health offering, our users will be empowered to college, store, and manage their own medical records online."
With Google Health, you can track your medical history, research your conditions, import your medical records, see how your medications might interact, and search for doctors and hospitals.
To create such a system, Google put together a Health Advisory Council made up of medical doctors, health specialists, and policy experts.
Google Health is a free service and its major criticism is over privacy, since Google Health is not considered a covered entity under HIPA.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
In Our Town
About a year ago, one resident of Sarasota created a community herb garden in their front lawn to share freshly grown herbs with their neighbors. Anybody could walk up and sample the available herbs.
There are plenty of benefits to community gardens. Community gardening is a way for people to share fresh food with each other which can help strengthen a sense of community and increase personal ties between community members. The gardens provide an easy opportunity to meet neighbors.
Interestingly, without any neighborhood meetings, two other residents built community gardens on the same street as the resident with the herb garden. These are pictures of a vegetable garden and a salsa garden on Wisteria Street in Sarasota.
There are plenty of benefits to community gardens. Community gardening is a way for people to share fresh food with each other which can help strengthen a sense of community and increase personal ties between community members. The gardens provide an easy opportunity to meet neighbors.
Interestingly, without any neighborhood meetings, two other residents built community gardens on the same street as the resident with the herb garden. These are pictures of a vegetable garden and a salsa garden on Wisteria Street in Sarasota.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
The health of our environment affects the health of humans and human actions affect the environment. Measuring your carbon footprint is a useful way to measure your impact on the environment.
Scientists at The Nature Conservancy developed a calculator for individuals and households to measure their carbon footprint.
To learn more about carbon footprints and to calculate your impact on the environment, visit the Carbon Footprint Calculator web page here.
Click the image below to see a map of per capita greenhouse gas emissions--
Scientists at The Nature Conservancy developed a calculator for individuals and households to measure their carbon footprint.
To learn more about carbon footprints and to calculate your impact on the environment, visit the Carbon Footprint Calculator web page here.
Click the image below to see a map of per capita greenhouse gas emissions--
Men and Sleep
Sleep is essential and we need sleep to function. According to the National Institutes of Health, inadequate sleep can cause slower reaction times, weaker concentration, mood fluctuations, behavior problems, memory lapses, and accidents and injuries. Sleep is critically important, and best of all, free. So why do so many people have problems with sleeping?
There are a variety of answers to that question, but one researcher looked at how sleeping attitudes might affect sleep, specifically in men. Robert Meadows researched the type of attitudes men have about sleeping and found that men's masculine roles can lead to poor sleeping habits. Meadows interviewed men to investigate their sleep behaviors and attitudes. Many of the men bragged about how little sleep they're able to get to function. Others talked about sleep as a "bodily need", saying that their body needs sleep rather than 'I want' sleep. Some talked about sleep only as a necessity to function for a job. Many said that sleep "is a waste of time" and that sleep should never get in the way of "having a life." A lot of the men talked about sleep as if it were a "wimpy" activity that conflicted with more important necessities, whether it be work or social activities.
The author argues that there are social meanings attached to sleep which could conflict with social gender roles men have as being "hard-working," self-sufficient individuals. The author states, "men are demonstrating dominant norms of masculinity when they refuse to take sick leave from work, when they insist they need little sleep..." There seems to be a balancing act where sleep is important for some activities but not as important for others.
Overall, it seems that men's attitudes regarding sleep are based, in some part, on masculine attitudes found in our culture.
There are a variety of answers to that question, but one researcher looked at how sleeping attitudes might affect sleep, specifically in men. Robert Meadows researched the type of attitudes men have about sleeping and found that men's masculine roles can lead to poor sleeping habits. Meadows interviewed men to investigate their sleep behaviors and attitudes. Many of the men bragged about how little sleep they're able to get to function. Others talked about sleep as a "bodily need", saying that their body needs sleep rather than 'I want' sleep. Some talked about sleep only as a necessity to function for a job. Many said that sleep "is a waste of time" and that sleep should never get in the way of "having a life." A lot of the men talked about sleep as if it were a "wimpy" activity that conflicted with more important necessities, whether it be work or social activities.
The author argues that there are social meanings attached to sleep which could conflict with social gender roles men have as being "hard-working," self-sufficient individuals. The author states, "men are demonstrating dominant norms of masculinity when they refuse to take sick leave from work, when they insist they need little sleep..." There seems to be a balancing act where sleep is important for some activities but not as important for others.
Overall, it seems that men's attitudes regarding sleep are based, in some part, on masculine attitudes found in our culture.
Psychology and Health
Psychology and medicine seem to be two separate fields -- one concerning the study of human behavior and the other on medical science. However, there has been an increase in health research by psychologists. One psychological study focused on ways for doctors to improve communication with patients. Good doctor-patient communication can lead to better health outcomes, less stress on a patient, more medical disclosure from a patient, and a greater chance that the patient will follow their treatment and return to the doctor’s office for any additional medical issues.
The article found that there are two different types of doctor-patient communication. The first type is doctor-centered consultation. This style of communication is where the doctor controls the conversation by asking questions and then forming a treatment plan. On the other side of the communication spectrum there is patient-centered consultations. This type of communication is where the patient says all they need to say regarding their medical issue and then discusses possible treatment choices with the doctor.
The study went on to investigate which type of consultation do patients (and their friends and relatives) prefer. All were most satisfied with the patient-centered consultation. Patients feel more engaged and involved with the medical process, and as a result, are more satisfied with their visit and treatment plan.
Since patients prefer patient-centered consultations and there are evident benefits for this style of communication, doctors should consider using the patient-centered consultation model for their practice.
Research Article-
Boyer, M.J. (2000). Communication styles in the cancer consultation: preferences for a patient-centered approach. Psycho-oncology, 9, 2, 147.
The article found that there are two different types of doctor-patient communication. The first type is doctor-centered consultation. This style of communication is where the doctor controls the conversation by asking questions and then forming a treatment plan. On the other side of the communication spectrum there is patient-centered consultations. This type of communication is where the patient says all they need to say regarding their medical issue and then discusses possible treatment choices with the doctor.
The study went on to investigate which type of consultation do patients (and their friends and relatives) prefer. All were most satisfied with the patient-centered consultation. Patients feel more engaged and involved with the medical process, and as a result, are more satisfied with their visit and treatment plan.
Since patients prefer patient-centered consultations and there are evident benefits for this style of communication, doctors should consider using the patient-centered consultation model for their practice.
Research Article-
Boyer, M.J. (2000). Communication styles in the cancer consultation: preferences for a patient-centered approach. Psycho-oncology, 9, 2, 147.
20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day
Progress and challenges mark World AIDS Day--
"One of the most important initiatives of my administration has been the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR. It's the largest international health initiative dedicated to a single disease. When we launched PEPFAR, our goal was to support treatment for two million people in five years. Today, I'm pleased to announce that we have exceeded that goal -- early." President Bush discusses AIDS relief program on World AIDS Day (Click here for more information on PEPFAR)
"On this twentieth anniversary of World AIDS Day, I think it's appropriate to look back for a moment to when this day was first observed. In 1988, when ministers of health from around the world first had the notion to set aside a day to highlight the threat of HIV/AIDS, they faced widespread ignorance and fear. Back then, many refused to even acknowledge the existence of this disease, let alone the devastating impact it was having on families and communities around the world.
"Today, because of the work of people like you, women in Kenya who were widowed by the disease, and once shunned by society, have banded together to support and empower each other. Scientists around the world are discovering and engineering new medicines to give people with HIV/AIDS another chance at life. NGOs and faith-based institutions are marshaling the best of the human spirit to help those affected. And world governments are coming together to address the humanitarian crisis the pandemic has left in its wake. I salute President Bush for his leadership in crafting a plan for AIDS relief in Africa and backing it up with funding dedicated to saving lives and preventing the spread of the disease. And my administration will continue this critical work to address the crisis around the world." Excerpt from President-elect Barack Obama's video remarks to the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health to honor World AIDS Day.
"The leaders of government across the globe have pledged to strengthen efforts to combat and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS on the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day Monday." World AIDS Day Focuses on Prevention
"The international commemoration has perennially been accompanied by new, bleak reports, and bureaucratic hand-wringing over the invariable failure of supply – in the form of drugs, management and financing – to keep up with the needs of the desperately ill around the world. However, there’s actually some rather interesting news on this World AIDS Day...for the first time since the advent of anti-retroviral therapy and vaccine trials, hope for a cure has emerged. Through a bone marrow transplant, a German scientist has perhaps cleared the first AIDS patient of the virus – quite possibly the first time in human history that a person with AIDS has been effectively freed of the virus." Health expert, Josh Ruxin, at the NY Times
"Much has been accomplished in the fight against HIV/AIDS from scientific, medical and public health standpoints. However, now is no time to rest on our accomplishments or our laurels. The statistics of the HIV/AIDS pandemic tell us that much more needs to be done." Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, CNN
"The number of people living with HIV is continuing to rise in every part of the world...There are now 33 million people living with HIV worldwide..." HIV Facts
"One of the most important initiatives of my administration has been the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR. It's the largest international health initiative dedicated to a single disease. When we launched PEPFAR, our goal was to support treatment for two million people in five years. Today, I'm pleased to announce that we have exceeded that goal -- early." President Bush discusses AIDS relief program on World AIDS Day (Click here for more information on PEPFAR)
"On this twentieth anniversary of World AIDS Day, I think it's appropriate to look back for a moment to when this day was first observed. In 1988, when ministers of health from around the world first had the notion to set aside a day to highlight the threat of HIV/AIDS, they faced widespread ignorance and fear. Back then, many refused to even acknowledge the existence of this disease, let alone the devastating impact it was having on families and communities around the world.
"Today, because of the work of people like you, women in Kenya who were widowed by the disease, and once shunned by society, have banded together to support and empower each other. Scientists around the world are discovering and engineering new medicines to give people with HIV/AIDS another chance at life. NGOs and faith-based institutions are marshaling the best of the human spirit to help those affected. And world governments are coming together to address the humanitarian crisis the pandemic has left in its wake. I salute President Bush for his leadership in crafting a plan for AIDS relief in Africa and backing it up with funding dedicated to saving lives and preventing the spread of the disease. And my administration will continue this critical work to address the crisis around the world." Excerpt from President-elect Barack Obama's video remarks to the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health to honor World AIDS Day.
"The leaders of government across the globe have pledged to strengthen efforts to combat and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS on the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day Monday." World AIDS Day Focuses on Prevention
"The international commemoration has perennially been accompanied by new, bleak reports, and bureaucratic hand-wringing over the invariable failure of supply – in the form of drugs, management and financing – to keep up with the needs of the desperately ill around the world. However, there’s actually some rather interesting news on this World AIDS Day...for the first time since the advent of anti-retroviral therapy and vaccine trials, hope for a cure has emerged. Through a bone marrow transplant, a German scientist has perhaps cleared the first AIDS patient of the virus – quite possibly the first time in human history that a person with AIDS has been effectively freed of the virus." Health expert, Josh Ruxin, at the NY Times
"Much has been accomplished in the fight against HIV/AIDS from scientific, medical and public health standpoints. However, now is no time to rest on our accomplishments or our laurels. The statistics of the HIV/AIDS pandemic tell us that much more needs to be done." Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, CNN
"The number of people living with HIV is continuing to rise in every part of the world...There are now 33 million people living with HIV worldwide..." HIV Facts
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