quality | Page 45 of 48 | Health Newstrack

Most with high blood pressure do not follow DASH diet

The dietary profile of adults with HTN (Hypertension) in the United States has a low accordance with the (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) DASH dietary pattern, and the dietary quality of adults with HTN has deteriorated since the introduction of the DASH diet, suggesting that secular trends have minimized the impact of the DASH message. – A relatively small proportion of individuals with hypertension (high blood pressure) eat diets that align with government guidelines for controlling the disease, according to a report in the February 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Low calorie sweeteners helpful in weight control

Low-calorie sweeteners may be one piece in solving the obesity puzzle, several studies conducted in humans have shown that low-calorie sweeteners and the products that contain them can be useful tools in weight control. – A recent review of the scientific literature has concluded that low-calorie (or no-calorie) sweeteners can be helpful in resolving the obesity problem. Although they are not magic bullets, low-calorie sweeteners in beverages and foods can help people reduce their calorie (energy) intakes.

1 in 20 breast cancer web pages features inaccuracies

Review of online breast cancer information encourages healthy skepticism for consumers; Quality criteria does not determine accuracy of web site. Web site quality criteria failed to detect online health information errors during a study by UT researchers Elmer Bernstam, M.D., and his wife, Funda Meric-Bernstam, M.D. – In an extended analysis of Web pages dedicated to disseminating breast cancer information, researchers at two University of Texas institutions in Houston have determined that while most breast cancer data found online was accurate, one in 20 breast cancer Web pages featured inaccuracies and sites displaying complementary and alternative medicine were 15 times more likely to contain false or misleading health information.

UK Govt. has put GPs in an impossible position, says BMA

British Medical Association said that GPs had been put in an impossible position by the government in a dispute over extending surgery hours. – The British Medical Association – BMA’s GP Committee (GPC) met last week to discuss the two options the UK government has given GPs regarding changes to their contract and passed the following resolution:

Vitamin B12, folate deficiency raises dementia risk

Changes in folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine associated with incident dementia. – Folate deficiency is associated with a tripling in the risk of developing dementia among elderly people, suggests research published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

Give your child a smoke-free childhood, says WHO

Second-hand smoke is a health hazard for you and your family. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Give your child a smoke-free childhood.
– This year’s theme on World Cancer Day is “children and second-hand smoke exposure”. Around 700 million children – almost half of the world’s children – breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke, particularly at home.

27% lower mortality in top hospitals, finds HealthGrades

Hospital quality gap persists, resulting in 171,424 preventable deaths, according to HealthGrades’ Sixth Annual Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study. – Patients treated at top-rated hospitals in US are nearly one-third less likely to die, on average, than those admitted to all other hospitals, according to a study released by HealthGrades (Nasdaq: HGRD), the leading independent healthcare ratings organization.

7000 pediatric emergency visits linked to cough and cold medication

CDC study estimates 7,000 pediatric emergency departments visits linked to cough and cold medication. Unsupervised ingestion accounts for 66 percent of incidents. – An estimated 7,000 children ages 11 and younger are treated in hospital emergency departments each year because of cough and cold medications, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately two-thirds of those incidents were due to unsupervised ingestion (i.e., children taking the medication without a parent’s knowledge).

Camera in a pill finds early signs of esophageal cancer

Camera in a pill offers cheaper device that could find warning signs of esophageal cancer, the fastest growing cancer in the United States. – What if swallowing a pill with a camera could detect the earliest signs of cancer? The tiny camera is designed to take high-quality, color pictures in confined spaces. Such a device could find warning signs of esophageal cancer, the fastest growing cancer in the United States.

Maternity care in UK varies – Healthcare Commission review

The Healthcare Commission assessed NHS’ maternity services in three areas – clinical focus, women-centred care, and efficiency and capability – using 25 indicators of performance. – The Healthcare Commission has ranked one in four NHS maternity services as “best performing” in a national review published today, but the comparative review, the most comprehensive assessment ever of maternity services in England, also found significant variations in the quality of care across the country.