A study in this week's The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that breast tumors in younger women can grow rapidly in less than 2 years, suggesting that those worried about cancer should get mammograms every year. Why tumors grow more rapidly in younger women is unclear, but it is probably linked to premenopausal hormones, according to this AP report.
While different organizations differ in how often mammograms should be performed, the American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology recommend that women get mammograms every one to two years after age 40. COT recommends asking your doctor for more information about the frequency of receiving this exam. AP 7/2/96
Following are some Health News Briefs from NewsPage Direct.
>> BROKER SEES '95 AS INSURERS' MOST PROFITABLE YEAR - In spite of
experiencing the third-largest catastrophe losses on record, 1995 was
the insurance industry's most profitable year ever, according to a
recent report analyzing insurance market trends by Memphis-based
Sedgwick. [National Underwriter Property & Casualty, 1052 words]
NewPage Direct 6/28/96
Following are some Health News Briefs from NewsPage Direct.
>> U.S. BILL WOULD GIVE TAX BENEFITS TO LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE - By
R.A. Zaldivar Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News WASHINGTON--Jun.
26--Long-term care coverage may become a more common part of
middle-class survival strategies if lawmakers in Congress can settle
their differences over a stalled health insurance reform bill. [San
Jose Mercury News, 606 words]
NewPage Direct 6/27/96
Following are some Health News Briefs from NewsPage Direct.
INSURANCE LAPSES USUALLY LAST 5.7 MONTHS, DOWN FROM 7.1 MONTHS IN
EARLY 1990S; PROPORTION OF THOSE LOSING COVERAGE REMAINS FAIRLY
STEADY, HOWEVER. - PERSONS LOSING HEALTH INSURANCE USUALLY REMAIN
UNCOVERED FOR SIX MONTHS or more, according to a health insurance
statistics update issued by the U.S. Census Bureau. Measuring a
28-month period from 1992 to early 1994 ... [Health News Daily, 431
words]
WORKERS' COMP REFORM PROTECTS INJURED WORKERS, PENNSYLVANIA GOV.
RIDGE SIGNS MAJOR JOBS BILL - Calling it one of "the most important
pieces of jobs legislation" ever to come out of the General Assembly,
Gov. Tom Ridge today signed a comprehensive workers' compensation
reform package that will help Pennsylvania retain and create jobs.
[PR Newswire, 779 words]
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF MASSACHUSETTS FIRST TO OFFER
INTERNET-BASED HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS; FIRST HEALTH SERVICES COMPANY
NATIONWIDE TO IMPLEMENT HEALTHEON'S ON-LINE ACCESS TO HEALTH PLAN AND
HEALTH CARE INFORMATIO - Blue Cross and Blue Shields of Massachusetts
announced today it will be the first company in the nation to provide
on-line health care information and enrollment services to its
members using an Internet-based system created by Healtheon. The Healtheon Web site is located at www.healtheon.com. [Business Wire, 985 words]
NewPage Direct 6/25/96
Following are some Health News Briefs from NewsPage Direct.
HEALTH INSURANCE HEADED FOR LARGE DEFICIT BY FY 2001 - TOKYO, June 21
_ The government-run health insurance plan for employees of small and
mid-sized companies will run up a 2.02 trillion yen deficit by fiscal
2001 if it continues to operate under the current system, the Health
and Welfare Ministry said Friday. [Kyodo, 296 words]
AMA RESOLUTION OPPOSING SINGLE MEDICARE RBRVS CONVERSION FACTOR AMONG
POLICY CHANGES TO BE CONSIDERED AT ANNUAL MEETING BEGINNING JUNE 23.
- AMA WOULD OPPOSE SINGLE MEDICARE RBRVS CONVERSION FACTOR under a
resolution to be considered at the American Medical Association
annual meeting in Chicago June 23-27. [Health News Daily, 603 words]
NewPage Direct 6/24/96
Following are some Health News Briefs from NewsPage Direct.
PENNSYLVANIA SENATE PASSES WORKERS' COMPENSATION REFORM BILL - By
Stephanie Ebbert Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News Jun. 20--The
state Senate last night passed a far-reaching workers' compensation
reform bill that would limit benefits for people hurt on the job.
[The Patriot-News, 883 words]
NewPage Direct 6/21/96
Following are some Health News Briefs from NewsPage Direct.
>> WORKERS COMPENSATION PRIVATIZATION UNDER STUDY IN CALIFORNIA - By Ron
Lent Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News SAN FRANCISCO--Jun. 19--A
nationwide consulting actuary has begun a feasibility study on
California Gov. Pete Wilson's controversial plan to privatize the
state's workers compensation carrier, the State Compensation
Insurance Fund. [The Journal of Commerce, 532 words]
MEDICAL-ONLY COMP CLAIMS FELL IN 1995 - SAN FRANCISCO-The frequency
of medical-only workers compensation claims among California
employers hit a new low in fourth-quarter 1995, though indemnity
claims are rising among insured employers, California Workers
Compensation Institute data shows. [Business Insurance, 282 words]
BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE URGES CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF TELEMEDICINE COSTS
FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE - The benefits of telemedicine -- the ability
to use telecommunications to link doctors and patients across long
distances -- should not be overlooked as we enter a more competitive
environment, a BellSouth executive told a federal-state panel today.
[PR Newswire, 655 words]
NewPage Direct 6/20/96
Following are some Health News Briefs from NewsPage Direct.
HMO, PPO ENROLLMENT GROWING BY 13% ANNUALLY, AAHP SURVEY FINDS;
NUMBER OF HMOS OFFERING POINT-OF-SERVICE OPTION NEARLY DOUBLES OVER
FIVE YEARS. - HMO/PPO ENROLLMENT GROWING AT 13% ANNUAL RATE, the
American Association of Health Plans reports. AAHP released an "HMO
and PPO Trends Report" June 17 in New Orleans as part of the annual
AAHP Institute meeting. [Health News Daily, 429 words]
CONDIT LETTER URGES SUPPORT OF GOP HEALTH COMPROMISE - A group of
House Democrats is drafting a letter to the White House urging
President Clinton to support the latest Republican compromise
proposal on medical savings accounts in the stalled health insurance
reform legislation. [CONGRESS DAILY, 329 words]
NewPage Direct 6/18/96
Foot experts say more than 24 million people participate in aerobics, and many are getting hurt.
Podiatrists warn that high-impact exercises often cause the fractures. They suggest using a
supportive sneaker for the side-to-side motion of aerobics and a cushioned exercise surface.
Experts caution against using running shoes, which are designed for forward motion.
Also, podiatrists say diabetics develop serious foot problems more quickly and have more complications than others. That's especially true when the disease impairs circulation or nerves. They advise diabetics to view all foot problems as potentially dangerous. The victim of diabetic neuropathy may not feel pain, heat or cold. So a hot bath could burn their feet. Meanwhile ulcers and gangrene could
also occur without pain. The feet of diabetics need daily checking. USA Today 6/17/96
Following are some Health News Briefs from NewsPage Direct.
>> STUDY FINDS WORKERS' COMP PROFITS SOAR - A new study has found
workers' compensation coverage the most profitable segment of the
property/casualty insurance market, with average return on equity
running about 18%. [BEST NEWS, 324 words]
>> PHYSICIAN ACCUSES PROCARE OF FALSIFYING MEDICAL RECORDS - In a case
that raises new questions about California's ability to monitor
medical care for millions of Medi-Cal enrollees who are being steered
into HMOs, a San Diego physician has alleged that a managed-care
company falsified medical records to pass a state inspection. [LOS
ANGELES TIMES, 1374 words]
NewPage Direct 6/17/96
Following are some Health News Briefs from NewsPage Direct.
HEALTH CARE REFORM/ WORKER HEALTH BENEFITS. - Worker health benefits:
Tax exemptions for MSAs and flexible benefits accounts are favored by
87% of workers surveyed and the workers would be willing to
contribute about $90 from their salaries to a tax-free MSA ...
[Health News Daily, 108 words]
NewPage Direct 6/13/96
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that adults of both sexes who were overweight but not obese were 30 percent more likely than adults of normal weight to have Arthritis. Obese men were 70 percent more likely to suffer from the disease while abese women were 50 percent more vulnerable. The study also found that underweight men were 40 percent more likely to suffer from arthritis than men of normal weight. Researchers had no explanation for that last statistic.
Arthritis and other rheumatic disorders affflicts about 40 million Americans and the number will probably grow to 60 million by 2020, according to the CDC.
Please note: COT recommends that sound exercise and nutrition habits be adapted for maintenance of proper body fat levels. Please seek professional advice or referenced literature sources for more information. AP 6/14/96
Reports in today's AP state that this year may be especially severe for contracting Lyme Disease. It is expected that the ticks which carry the disease may be high, possibly due to the unusually high population of infected mice in the Northeast last summer.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include a bull's-eye rash around the bite, flu-like symptoms, arthritis, migraine headaches, vision loss and fatigue. People living in wooded areas of the country that have been known to be high in ticks, such as parts of the Northeast and the upper Midwest of the USA, need to be very careful this summer.
Recent research shows that 2 other infections -- babesiosis and human granulocytic ehrilichiosis, or HGE -- can combine with Lyme bacteria to form a more virulent illness.
According to today's report, avoiding Lyme disease means avoiding the ticks that transmit it:
In the outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants and tuck cuffs into socks.
Check frequently for ticks, which can be extremely small and are much easier to see on light clothing.
If a tick does become attached, remove it by grasping it with tweezers and pulling gently. The tick will eventually release itself, although it can take up a minute or more.
Please note: If you are not sure whether you have contracted Lyme Disease, contact your doctor immediately. AP 6/12/96
In a related report, the CDC released numbers for the cases of Lyme Disease reported in 1995. According to the numbers, there was an 11 percent drop in the number of cases, compared to the 1994 totals.
Lyme disease is most prevalent in the Northeast. Eight states -- Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Wisconsin and Minnesota -- accounted for 92 percent of the cases in 1995. The highest incidence was reported in Nantucket County, Mass. AP 6/13/96
Please note: Chiropractic OnLine Today provides recounts of these studies for informational purposes only. Readers are urged to review further information or contact your Doctor of Chiropractic for other preventive health measures.
Since May 1, over 500 people have called and requested information about, ChiroPlan, a unique approach to receiving chiropractic coverage. [NewsPage Direct: PR Newswire, 383 words] Surf here for this report.