MyHealthNewsDaily – Kids Who Play ‘Choking Game’ At Bigger Risk for Sex, Drinking
Kids who play the so-called “choking game” are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors, including sex, substance use and gambling, a new study of middle schoolers finds. The results suggest doctors should consider asking children who exhibit risky behaviors whether they are aware of and have participated in the choking game, a dangerous activity, the researchers said.
BET – Experts Say Health Care Reform Saves Lives
One of the reasons a majority of Americans view the Affordable Care Act unfavorably may be that they simply don’t know enough about it. But according to a panel of experts who spoke at a National Action Network’s forum Thursday afternoon in Washington, D.C., African-Americans must be as informed as possible about legislation that could literally save their lives. Georges Benjamin, M.D., executive director of the American Public Health Association, said a lot of people don’t know that the health reform bill has been signed into law and is already working. And, he added, it can “absolutely” save lives.
Wall Street Journal – The Simple Idea That Is Transforming Health Care
A very simple question is changing the delivery of medical care: How is your health affecting your quality of life? For decades, numbers drove the treatment of diseases like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Public-health officials focused on reducing mortality rates and hitting targets like blood-sugar levels for people with diabetes or cholesterol levels for those with heart disease.
New York Times – Improving the State of America’s Teeth
Dr. Louis W. Sullivan’s observation that dental pain sends too many people to emergency rooms echoes what dentists have said for decades: the needless suffering caused by untreated oral disease that could have been prevented or easily treated in its early stages is unacceptable. But we disagree with Dr. Sullivan’s proposed solution: allowing nondentists with as little as 18 months post-high school training to perform surgical procedures like extractions and pulpotomies (drilling through the hard tooth surface and removing soft tissue). This is especially true for the populations in greatest need, in which many people suffer from co-morbidities like diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, or for children with rampant decay and the accompanying chronic infections.
Seattle Post Intelligencer – What Your Neighborhood Says About Your Health
Where you live may determine how healthy you are or can hope to be, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Researchers using a geographic information system (GIS) found that access to quality food outlets and opportunities to be physically active can make communities not only more attractive but also more healthy.
USAToday – Fewer sign up to race for the cure
A little more than a week before the Central Indiana Susan G. Komen for the Cure race on April 21 in Indianapolis, about 23,000 people had signed up — 30% fewer than at the same time before last year’s race. About 26,000 registrants are expected by race day. Nearly 37,500 people participated in the race last year, according to Dana Curish, executive director of the Central Indiana Komen affiliate. Curish said fundraising was also down 30% from the same pre-race time last year.
