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The Challenges of Overseas Medical Evacuations
Dr. John Cahill explains that a number of tropical diseases, if left unrecognized or untreated, can have devastating outcomes. Unfortunately, he sees this on a daily basis. There are people who return from their travels with serious viral or parasitic infections. In good hands, it can be very easily treated, but without seeking the correct care or going to a physician who doesn't understand the implications of these diseases, they can be misdiagnosed or missed. (Read more about The Challenges of Overseas Medical Evacuations)
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The Dangers of Fluoride
Currently, 66% of United States residents who rely on public water supplies are exposed to the most consumed drug in the nation - fluoride. The belief behind the widespread practice of adding fluoride to water supplies is reduction of tooth decay at low cost. However, some recent studies suggest that over-consumption of fluoride can raise the risk of disorders affecting teeth, bones, the brain, and the thyroid glands, according to Scientific American editors. Fluoride is toxic in large concentrations and there is no universally accepted optimal level for daily intake of fluoride - leaving some scientists to doubt if the 1 mg/L added to drinking water is safe. (Read more about The Dangers of Fluoride)
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The Dangers of Infections During Travel
Dr. John Cahill discusses about how traveling abroad has become very easy - it's relatively cheap, readily available, enjoyable, and a click away on the internet. But many people don't seem to realize there are health risks involved when traveling, particularly when traveling to the developing world or to the tropics. Travelers need to think about being vaccinated for diseases that might not occur in the United States. (Read more about The Dangers of Infections During Travel)
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The Challenge of Emerging Infectious Diseases
Dr. John Cahill discusses some of the challenges we face with infectious diseases that are constantly emerging and changing. SARS is an example of a virus that until several years ago, we had never heard about. So the possibility of new viruses emerging is a very real threat. Another challenge we face is bacteria evolving and growing resistant to antibiotics. It's becoming a huge problem in the developed world where we take antibiotics for granted. Doctors are constantly prescribing antibiotics and patients routinely expect to receive them for any number of minor infections. This gross distribution of antibiotics has contributed to the formation of "superbugs" that are resistant to the antibiotics we typically use. The reality is that we don't have the technology or the resources to continue developing the drugs needed to fight off all these mutations and resistance strains that keep developing. (Read more about The Challenge of Emerging Infectious Diseases)
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Artificial Sweeteners Could Contribute to Weight Gain
The idea behind artificial sweeteners is simple: add the flavor of sugar without the calories of sugar. Sounds great, right? Well, a recent study now finds that eating artificial sweeteners could make people put on more weight when compared to normal sugar. Researchers conducted experiments on lab rats who were placed into two groups. One group was given yogurt sweetened with glucose, or the equivalent to table sugar. The other group was given yogurt sweetened with zero-calorie saccharin. The rats that had the saccharin-sweetened yogurt consumed more calories, put on more weight, gained more body fat, and did not cut back on their calorie consumption in the long term. (Read more about Artificial Sweeteners Could Contribute to Weight Gain)
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How Real is the Threat of Pandemic?
Dr. John Cahill explains that our world is becoming increasingly small and easy access air travel and global urbanization has created the possibility for the very real threat of pandemic. The internet has made international travel quick and easy and soon a majority of the global population will live in close quarter urban environments. A good example is SARS, which started in China, made its way to Hong Kong, and spread throughout the world rapidly. More recently, though there have not been a large number of reported cases, Avian Influenza has the potential to be a serious threat to public health. If someone with the common Flu were to meet someone with Avian Influenza, there is a very real possibility that the two could mutate into something very virulent and spread rapidly. (Read more about How Real is the Threat of Pandemic?)
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Men's Death Rates Cut Drastically Through Daily Exercise
Increasing exercise capacity reduces the risk of death in African-American and Caucasian men, according to research on the link between fitness and mortality, including over 15,000 participants. Reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, the researchers investigated exercise capacity as an independent predictor of overall mortality for African-American men (6,749) and Caucasion men (8,911) in addition to analyzing whether racial differences in exercise capacity influenced the risk of death. Each participant was tested by a standardized treadmill test to assess exercise capacity. They were encouraged to exercise until they were fatigued or unless symptoms of cardiac ischemia developed. These individuals were then tracked for an average of 7.5 years. (Read more about Men's Death Rates Cut Drastically Through Daily Exercise)
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A Crisis In Modern Scientific Education
Dr. Valentin Fuster discusses a crisis in modern scientific education. For Dr. Fuster the crisis is not a lack of technical skill, but lack of creativity. Dr. Fuster explores how science, and specifically medical education, has become overly oriented to our present technological world at the expense of creativity. He also urges scientist and their students to be open enough to be aware of the social implications of their work, For example, extending cell life may have great implications for extending a human life, but then we should be aware of the social implications of such research as well. He also emphasizes how real innovation comes from creativity not technical expertise. (Read more about A Crisis In Modern Scientific Education)
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Forgiveness Improves Well Being
Holding a grudge against someone can affect the cardiovascular and nervous system, according to the January 2008 issue of Mayo Clinic Women's Healthsource. During a study, people who focused on a personal grudge had elevated blood pressure and heart rates, in addition to increased muscle tension and a feeling of less control. When the participants were asked to imagine forgiving the person who hurt or harmed them, the changes dissipated and the subjects felt relaxed and more positive. Other studies have also found forgiveness to have positive effects on psychological health.. (Read more about Forgiveness Improves Well Being)
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Coughing May Be a Serious Sign
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), waking up coughing or having a prolonged cough that lasts for weeks should receive serious medical attention. Alan Goldsobel of AAAAI explains, "Coughing protects the body by removing mucus and irritating particles from the respiratory tract. Coughing is a useful function that does not always mean there is a problem. However, coughing at night, after going to sleep indicates the need for medical attention." (Read more about Coughing May Be a Serious Sign)
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