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March 12, 2010 - The Status of Chronic Diseases Coming
March 10, 2010 - To Sleep, Perchance to Dream (Hamlet)
Statistics from a telephone survey of 1,000 Americans about what people do before they go to sleep, by race and ethnicity, was posted 3/8 on LiveScience.com. Findings included:
"There's enough research out there to suggest there may be ethnic differences in sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea, differences in the amount and quality of sleep, and the health consequences of sleep disorders,... All groups reported getting an average of between six and seven hours of sleep a night on workdays or weekdays. The Mayo Clinic recommends adults and seniors get between seven and eight hours of shut-eye a night. Adequate amounts of sleep can boost your immune system, and too little can lead to drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, poor physical performance, and other effects,... about 75 percent in all groups believed sleep was related to health and daily functioning,...."
Yes, sleep is absolutely essential, but it is the one activity we deprive ourselves of all the time. For more more information about sleep, check my Sleep Resources .
Graphic and story source: http://www.livescience.com//health/sleep-habits-ethnicity-100308.html
March 8, 2010 - Soda Consumption, Obesity and Diabetes
#1 Soda Consumption (Darkest = Highest [81-89 gallons per capita])
Mapping can show there is a relationship between soda consumption, obesity and diabetes. Here are 3 maps I generated using the online mapping resources on .
What I have done is just give you the highest statistic for each category, which is represented by the darkest shade on each map.
If you just concentrate on the darkest color on each map, you can see that they pretty much mirror one another - areas with highest soda consumption also have higher rates of obesity and diabetes. Though soda consumption is not the only factor that contributes to obesity and diabetes, it is a hugh factor. Time to give up the sodas.
March 8, 2010 12:05 AM - Hurt Locker and Kathryn Bigelow Win the Oscars (Congrats! Well-deserved)
March 6, 2010 - Mapping Fatal Injuries with WISQARS
Graphic source: 3/4/2010 CDC E-mail: Generate Data Maps with WISQARS Fatal Injury Mapping Module: News from CDC's Injury Center
Here is a new mapping tool from the CDC's Wisqars System. In its announcement it provided an example of the kinds of maps you can interactively generate online.
"This map shows geospatially smoothed, age-adjusted motor vehicle traffic death rates by county (highest rates are shown in brown). Motor vehicle traffic death rates were generally higher in rural areas in the United States from 2000 to 2006."
Can analyzing tweet trends predict the future? Well, the Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, a communications company, is trying to do just that with the Oscars. They say "Hurt Locker" will win Oscar's Best Picture. That would be nice because I think that film should win Best Picture, from a film aesthetic standpoint. Kathryn Bigelow should win Best Director as well. As it now stands, I am guessing Avatar will win Best Picture, and Kathryn Bigelow will for Best Director. Traditionally, the Golden Globes have been used to predict Oscar outcomes for years, and they have been pretty accurate for major categories, except for the year "Brokeback Mountain" won Golden Globe's Best Picture and "Crash" won the Oscar's Best Picture in 2006. Go figure.
So, it will be interesting to see if Twitter can be used as a predictive tool. The potential for Public Health application is enormous (I think). After all, Google Flu trends have been found useful for monitoring flu outbreaks around the world, and this can be done faster than the traditional methods of compiling reports from existing epidemic surveillance systems. ( Source: http://blog.devnet.com.au/index.php/
google/google-flu-trends-predicts-epidemics )
PS - I bet you were thinking how I could possibly find a Public Health angle to the Oscars. Never fear, I think "Public Health" all the time...
March 4, 2010 - FDA 2008 Health and Diet Survey - Table G1
Graphic adapted from Table G1 at http://www.fda.gov/Food/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/ConsumerResearch/ucm193895.htm#DIETARYSUPPLEMENTS
On March 2nd, the FDA posted the findings for its 2008 Health and Diet Survey. However, the Survey Summary posted did not address any of the findings regarding dietary supplements that was reported on Table G1.
Results show that 78% agreed that "Taking dietary supplements could improve my health" (Row 1) and 68% agreed that "A good reason for a person to take a dietary supplement is to prevent illnesses." Nothing wrong with trying to keep oneself healthy.
However, what I found interesting was that 45% agreed that "A good reason for a person to take a dietary supplement is to treat illnesses" (Row 3) while at the same time 59% think that "The government tests dietary supplements for safety." (Row 4) Of course, if this is the case then why do 69% say "I am concerned about the safety of dietary supplements"? (Row 5).
Unfortunately, according to NIH's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine,
A manufacturer does not have to prove the safety and effectiveness of a dietary supplement before it is marketed. A manufacturer is permitted to say that a dietary supplement addresses a nutrient deficiency, supports health, or is linked to a particular body function (e.g., immunity), if there is research to support the claim. Such a claim must be followed by the words "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."
"Once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA monitors safety. If it finds a product to be unsafe, it can take action against the manufacturer and/or distributor, and may issue a warning or require that the product be removed from the marketplace."
This means we are the guinea pigs for all the dietary supplements currently on the market. Nothing will be done by the FDA until a product is found to be unsafe. Does anyone really want to be the cause célèbre for a product recall?
In essence, survey results show that people think the government is testing supplements for their safety (and it is not, FDA only monitors safety AFTER they have been on the market), so people are using them to treat themselves. If that's the case, then how come almost 3/4s of the people responding don't feel that these products are safe? There is some disconnect here, and I would just have to re-emphasize that this should give cause for the FDA to look into regulating the dietary supplement industry. Once people start using supplements for treatment, then I think that people using supplements are medications, and as medications they can be regulated by the FDA.
Fish oil pills are probably the most recommended dietary supplement for improving cardiovascular health, among a host of other health benefits. But, in a March 2nd report, there is a California lawsuit that contends these supplements have been found to have serious chemical contamination.
"The lawsuit names eight makers and sellers of fish oil, shark oil, fish liver oil and shark liver oil supplements that have PCB contamination above the so-called “safe harbor” limits set for human PCB consumption under California’s Proposition 65." (Source: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6491/p/salsa/web/press_release/public/?press_release_KEY=36 )
This has not come a moment too soon. I have always found that the dietary supplement industry is not regulated enough. There is no guarantee that what is on the label would be found inside the bottle, or the label discloses "everything" in the product. The health fraud advocacy group, Quackwatch.org, considers The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) as basically weakening the authority of the FDA to regulate this industry. (Source: http://www.quackwatch.org/02ConsumerProtection/dshea.html ) The most recent ruling from the FDA regarding dietary supplements can be found at Federal Register 65 FR 999 January 6, 1999 -- Regulations on Statements Made for Dietary Supplements Concerning the Effect of the Product on the Structure or Function of the Body; Final Rule ( http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/
GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm107336.htm
In 2007, Americans spent $34 billion on alternative remedies, many of
which have not been scientifically proven to be effective, and half of those who use alternative medicine cannnot afford conventional care. (Source: http://stanford.wellsphere.com/aging-senior-health-article/americans-spend-34b-for-alterna/758783 )
Regulating dietary supplements would fundamentally improve our quality of life by ensuring that the money we spend on what supposedly is healthy for us really works and will not compromise our health with contaminated products. The FDA needs to step up and do their part to ensure the safety of dietary supplements.
March 2, 2010 - Lower Gestational Diabetes Cutoffs
Diagnosing gestational diabetes will become easier should the proposed consensus criteria get accepted by such organizations as the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Diabetes Association. Current U.S. guidelines diagnose only 5% to 8% of women with this condition and require women to make two medical visits for the glucose tolerance test.
The proposed "new criteria require only a single measurement of fasting plasma glucose of 92 mg/dl or higher or a glucose tolerance test level of at least 180 mg/dl at one hour or 153 mg/dl at two hours. In high-prevalence countries like the U.S., all pregnant women should undergo diagnostic 75-g oral glucose tolerance testing,..."
This will not only improve compliance with the blood testing necessary for diagnosis, but will increase the number of women who can be treated for this condition to prevent not only perinatal harm to the fetus but also prevent &/or delay the development of type 2 diabetes in the mother. For an overview of gestational diabetes, check out: The Connecticut Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Issue Brief . More information about diabetes can be found on the Diabetes Resources on the Net Page.
Source: Metzger BE, et al "International association of diabetes and pregnancy study groups recommendations on the diagnosis and classification of hyperglycemia in pregnancy" Diabetes Care 2010; 33: 676-82. as reported in Medpage Today (http://www.medpagetoday.com/tbindex.cfm?tbid=18716)
March 1, 2010 - Follow the Public Health Blog Updates on Twitter!
Hi! After some deliberation, I have decided to keep those interested in following my Public Health Blog with Twitter! As I post new items on my blog, I will tweet the topic. Every day is a new experience!
This will be the graphic I will use to reach my Blog Updates Twitter page.
Also, if you love to tweet, then check out the Twitter page I have developed for my Wellness classes at: Pch 201 Wellness Twitter Page. My students are sharing what they have found while developing their fact sheets.
February 28, 2010 - Blog Update
Thanks for your interest in the Public Health Blog. I love keeping it up-to-date! Since there have been so many entries since January 1st, I have decided to move the January & February entries to the 2010 Blog Page now instead of waiting till the end of March.
February 27, 2010 - Movie Ratings By Betty
In recent years I was posting movie ratings on my Oscars Page, which I have discontinued because it's easier to have the Internet Movie Database store the ratings for me. It also allows me to share my ratings, so here they are!
Right now there are over 1,300 ratings, and I will be adding more as I continue to watch movies. Just click on the graphic and enjoy! You can also find a link to these ratings on my Movies Page .
Links to public health pages, SCSU Thesis/Special Project documents and forms, SCSU Public Health Alumni Pages - MPH Accreditation Committee, Scholarship Committee, Service Committee (Mentor, Speaker Programs) pages; MPH Alumni Record - Main, Accomplishments, Presentations, Professional organizations, Programs & Projects, Teaching, Written Works pages
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Cardiovascular Disease - General Prevalence of hypertension in six European countries, Canada and the United States, by age group - EUphact; 24 Foods That Can Save Your Heart; How Anger Hurts Your Heart; Mental Health and Anger Management; Herbal Remedies May Be Risky With Heart Drugs; Sex and Your Heart; 12 Possible Heart Symptoms Never to Ignore; 24 Foods That Can Save Your Heart; Fatty Fish May Lower Heart Failure Risk; 2010 Atlas of Heart Disease Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries;
Cool Sites M - Z USA.gov's Saving Money resources; Emergency Savings Calculator; America Saves Week;
Basic Guides for Certificates of Deposit, Money Market Accounts, Savings Accounts, Checking Accounts and other investments;
Favorite Movie Sites Avatar; Sherlock Holmes; Owen Gleiberman's 10 Best Movies of the Decade; Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief; Shutter Island; The Hurt Locker;
Favorite Music Sites Blondie.Net; Yes.com's radio music logs; Beatles' Across the Universe; Beatles Videos on Youtube; DJ Earworm's Mashups;
Fitness Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Children and Adolescents; 100 Best Fitness Tips; Fidgeting: Key to Who is Lean or Obese; 18 Exercise Upgrades for More Muscle; Getting Fit For Life; Burn More Fat on the Treadmill; 5 Ways to Get Stronger Without Lifting a Weight; 15-Minute Workout: V-Shape Shortcut; Small Changes that Lead to Bigger Muscles; Aristocracy of Cardio;
GraphingA Consumers Guide to Low-Cost Data Visualization Tools; Fishbone Diagram; Pareto Chart; Scatter Diagram; Pareto Charr; Smiletemplates.com; New section: Spaghetti Diagrams; Flowchart template; Process Analysis Tools; Templates and Tools;
Health Care Information KFF's Medicare: A Primer; Medhelp - Pill Identifier; Costs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Frequency of Visits to CAM Practitioners: United States, 2007;
Healthcare Quality Standards How Will Comparative Effectiveness Research Affect the Quality of Health Care?
Timely Analysis of Immediate Health Policy Issues;
Nutrition Resources NHIBI's Aim for a Healthy Weight; The Practical Guide Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment
of Overweight and Obesity in Adults; Aim for a Healthy Weight Provider Kit; Weight Loss for Life; My Foodpedia; Herbal medicines and the EU Directive; The Truth About Energy Drinks; 24 Ways to Lose Weight Without Dieting; Long-Term Weight Loss� What Works? Tips from the POUNDS LOST Study; 12 Diet Mistakes and How to Avoid Them; Best Anti-Aging Foods; Weight Loss and What You Drink; 10 Tips to Detoxify Your Diet; 12 Foods to Make the Ultimate Guy's Salad; 10 Best Foods For Your Skin; Soft drink consumption may increase risk of pancreatic cancer; CRON-O-Meter; What are dietary supplements?;Over-the-counter weight-loss pills: Do they work?; 7 Signs of Inadequate Nutrition; Cut Your Carbohydrate Footprint; The Belly Fat Cure Review; 8 Worst Hotel Breakfast Foods; 9 Ways to Eat Healthily at the Seafood Restaurant; 24 Ways to Lose Weight Without Dieting; Why Am I Fat?; Weight-loss drugs: Can a prescription help you lose weight?; Guide to portion control for weight loss; 10 Dirtiest Foods You're Eating; Eat to Beat Stress; Table of Condiments - shelf life; Five Surprising Reasons You're Gaining Weight; Healthy Recipes; FishOilSafety.com; Caffeine Content Of Popular Drinks; Caffeine Levels in Sodas; 12 Easy Ways to Estimate Serving Sizes; Healthiest Cheap Food in America; Diet for Stress Management Slideshow: Stress-Reducing Foods; Omega-3s in fish oil and supplements: what’s your best strategy?;
Public Health Data Prevalence of Abnormal Lipid Levels Among Youths --- United States, 1999--2006; Surgeon General�s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation 2010; Surveillance of Certain Health Behaviors and Conditions Among States and Selected Local Areas --- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2007;
Public Health DataData Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Heal; HRSA's NS-CSHCN Chartbook 2005-2006; Percentage Distribution of Injuries,* by Place of Occurrence, Among Males and Females --- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2004--2007; Annual Rate* of Injury Episodes† for Leading Causes of Injury, by Sex --- National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2004--2007;
Public Health Practice Partnering for Success: How Health Departments Work and How to Work with Health Departments; Should Your Organization Use Social Networking Sites?; idealware.org's technical reports and resources;
Public Health Sites A - C NIH's Alcohol Information; Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer, Which factors increase or decrease the risk of cancer; "Choking Game" Awareness and Participation Among 8th Graders --- Oregon, 2008; A Visual Guide to Understanding Pancreatic Cancer; Teen Drinking May Cause Irreversible Brain Damage; The Teen Brain: It's Just Not Grown Up Yet;
Public Health Sites D-G 10 EPA Widgets: Environmental Tip of the Day, Air Emissions, Safe Drinking Waters Systems, Superfund, Toxic Release, Radiation Information, My Environment, Envirofacts, UVindex, Watershed Info;Prescription Pills: The New Drug of Choice for Teens; New section: Global Warming: EPA's Climate Change; Europa's Climate Change; Climate Change: NASA's Eyes on the Earth; Newscientist.com's Climate Change; PEW Center's Global Climate Change; UNEP.org's Climate Change; Panda.org's Climate Change News; Gateway to the UN System's Work on Climate Change; Global Climate Change Research Explorer; NY Times Global Warming; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Nature Reports Climate Change; Pacific Tsunami Warning Center; Extreme Ice Survey; NASA's Earth Observatory's Climate Q&A;
Public Health Sites M - N Diagnose and Manage Your Stress Type; Pay it Forward: Elevation Leads to Altruistic Behavior; Common Causes of Depression; Stress Managents: Effects of Stress; Dealing with Difficult People: 17 Tips to Keep You Sane; Atherosclerosis and Erectile Dysfunction; 12 Ways to Beat the Worst Health Problems; 7 Thoughts That Are Bad For You;6 Body Parts You Can Repair Yourself; Strokes: What Every Man Needs to Know; Is There Sex After Heart Disease?; Myhealthfinder widget; Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest in Men; Health Characteristics of the American Indian or Alaska Native Adult Population: United States, 2004–2008;
Public Health Sites O-Z Your Guide to Healthy Sleep; 7 Bedtime Habits Ruining Your Sleep; New section: Thyroid - Fatigued or Full Throttle: Is Your Thyroid to Blame?;
Statistical FunctionsNew section: Excel Statistics: Status Bar stats in Excel; Quick and easy statistics in Excel;
Average / Mean options in Excel; Median and Mode functions in Excel; Variability in Excel;
Wellness Index The Oxycontin Express documentary video; Tips for Reaping the Benefits of Whole Grains; Turn Ordinary Foods into Nutritional Superpowers; 18 Supermarket Lies Revealed; 15 Worst Desserts; FDA 101: Smoking Cessation Products; Women's Scent Triggers Hormone Surge in Men; 12 Health Risks of Chronic Heavy Drinking; 10 Healthy Foods Under $1; Marijuana Use Can Up Psychosis Risk. Study found the longer teens smoked, the more their mental health suffered; 5 Foods You Should Eat Everyday; Myhealthfinder widget Teen Drinking May Cause Irreversible Brain Damage;
Movie Snacks: The Ugly Diet Truth; 12 Diet Mistakes and How to Avoid Them;Best and Worst Foods at the Gas Station;
Women's Health - Heart Disease Ischemic Heart Disease in Women, Many Questions, Few Facts; Twelve-Year Follow-Up of American Women’s Awareness of Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Barriers to Heart Health; Representation of Women in Randomized Clinical Trials of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention;Evaluation of the American Heart Association Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Guideline for Women; The Role of Social Support in Health Status and Depressive Symptoms After Acute Myocardial Infarction Evidence for a Stronger Relationship Among Women; Gender Differences in Stroke Incidence and Poststroke Disability in the Framingham Heart Study;
"This map shows geospatially smoothed, age-adjusted motor vehicle traffic death rates by county (highest rates are shown in brown). Motor vehicle traffic death rates were generally higher in rural areas in the United States from 2000 to 2006."
on my 
