The prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions.
State Public Health Director Announces Expansion of H1N1 Flu Vaccine Availability to all Illinoisans — High-risk individuals encouraged to be vaccinated before expansion next week. – Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold announced that beginning Tuesday, December_15, 2009, all Illinoisans will be eligible to receive an H1N1 flu vaccination.
Investigators identify successful weight control strategies for adolescents — New study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association – Adolescent obesity is a major public health problem that impacts one out of every three children, resulting in 4-5 million overweight youth in the United States.
Diabetes cases to double and costs to triple by 2034 – In the next 25 years, spending on diabetes will almost triple, rising from $113 billion to $336 billion, even with no increase in the prevalence of obesity.
Older adults who reported chronic musculoskeletal pain in two or more locations, higher levels of severe pain, or pain that interfered with daily activities were more likely to experience a fall than adults who did not reports these types of pain. – A new study finds that pain may be more hazardous than previously thought, contributing to an increased risk of falls in adults over age 70. Chronic pain is experienced by as many as two out of three older adults.
New study finds MRSA on the rise in hospital outpatients — Seven-fold increase in potentially lethal superbug. – Superbug MRSA poses a greater health threat than previously known and is making its way into hospitals, according to a study in the Emerging Infectious Diseases.
New Down syndrome treatment suggested by Stanford/Packard study — Cognitive dysfunction reversed in mouse model of Down syndrome. – Findings from the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital shed light on the neural basis of memory defects in Down syndrome and suggest a new strategy for treating the defects with medication.
Uninsured Americans have a higher mortality rate after trauma. Treatment delay, different care (via receipt of fewer diagnostic tests), and decreased health literacy are possible mechanisms. – Americans without health insurance appear more likely to die following admission to the hospital for trauma than those with health care coverage, revealed by researchers.
Many parents, high-priority adults who tried to get H1N1 vaccine unable to get it — Most who tried and didn’t get it say they will try again. – In US, majority of adults who tried to get the H1N1 vaccine for themselves or their children have been unable to do so, revealed in a poll from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).
HIV care providers applaud Congress’ extension of Ryan White program – The U.S. Congress has extended the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, helping to ensure that more than half a million low-income, uninsured, or underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS have access to lifesaving care.
Bundling 2 low-cost heart drugs prevents heart attack and stroke in large, diverse population — Kaiser Permanente program averted 1,271 heart attacks and strokes, observational clinical study shows. – Low-cost drugs ? a cholesterol-lowering statin and a blood pressure-lowering drug ? as daily doses to 68,560 people with diabetes or heart disease for two years is estimated to have prevented 1,271 heart attacks and strokes.
Study outlines strategies to test new payment models for health care – A new RAND Corporation study outlines methods that might be used to test a novel payment system for medical care that would provide doctors, hospitals and other health providers a set fee for treating an ailment such as hip replacement surgery.
Pregnant women need flu shots — it’s safe to get an influenza (flu) shot during pregnancy. – Pregnant women should be sure to get all their flu shots as soon as the vaccines become available this year to protect them against both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 (swine) flu.
