Remember that book called, “Everything I needed to learn was taught in Kindergarten”, I just read a wellness report that makes me think it is time to reread that book.

Are you the type of person that gets into a three o’clock slump and finds just keeping your eyes open a struggle?  Have you seen that “I am so Tired” commercial for Five-hour Energy? Or the Youtube clip of our leaders in Washington who do the head-bob thing during important national debates. So what is the cure?

Researchers at Harvard conducted a study on power naps of 20 to 30 minutes and think they may be just the quick fix we need to recharge that battery during the day. That is a lesson from a long time ago. So I guess that nap time in Kindergarten was more important  than we thought.  Read the rest of this entry »

How Up to Date is YOUR DOCTOR?

“a shocking number of physicians are clueless about basic moves that could save your life” according to recent publications. 

For example, the National Institutes of Health treatment guidelines, reportedly urge doctors to increase dosage levels or add a second drug to treatment for moderately high blood pressure to avoid heart attacks caused by hypertension but many doctors do not follow those guidelines.

Scientific studies suggest we learn more about evidenced based medicine. It is the notion that doctors should treat their patients with drugs, surgeries, and other fixes that have been proven effective for the condition intended and not use treatments for which the proof is weak or lacking completely. Simple and direct communication could help if the doctor is not sure what course of treatment to take.

These publications suggest, doctors should avoid unsubstantiated claims by other doctors or self serving presentations by drug company or equipment representatives marketing product cures.  Just because a product rep says it is so, and your personal practice experience showed that it worked, doctors should not overlook the larger scientific case studies that give greater proof that it does not work.

Here is some data to support my thesis:

The New England Journal of Medicine reported that patients get only 55% of the care that is recommended for the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. while another study including children showed that they get only 47% of what is recommended for them. And 41% of the preventive measures that are proven to help.

As a health plan manager, it is frustrating to know that patients are not getting the care they need and it results in our health care plans incurring larger than necessary  expenses. Clearly, good plan management requires knowledgeable, informed and engaged employee health care consumers.

How do you create this situation? 

It takes more than just working with a leading insurance company. You need the correct plan design as well as some investment in wellness education.

If nothing else consumers need to learn how to ask their doctors if their treatment plan is based on the strongest scientific research. And to ask the doctor to provide that evidence so they can review it. Don’t be intimidated! Your doctor may appeared challenged, at first, but will likely appreciate your involvement in your care in the long run.

Here are a few suggested areas your doctor may be falling short needing your involvement:

Immunization

Common Mistake – Not keeping our children (or you) up-to-date.

The schedule of children’s vaccination, is set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”). The CDC reviews large amounts of research to establish their guidelines. These immunizations are designed to protect against common diseases such are measles, and pneumonia. One recent study found a large number, (20%) of children, under two years of age, may miss one or more of these critical vaccinations. Also occurring is shots are administered too close together, therefore reducing the value of the second shot, according to the CDC.

Even more concerning is immunization performance of adults. Only about 50% U.S. adults are up-to-date on a tetanus booster which the guidelines suggest they get every 10 years.  Even less (only 6% of over age 60) get the shingles vaccine recommended for that age group. Read the rest of this entry »

Premature Births Decline in the U.S.

According to the most recent data, more babies are now being carried to full-term in the United States, for the first time in decades.

That is good new for our newborn babies, their parents and healthcare plans across the country that consider premature birth as a top risk for large claims. Premature births increases the risk of health problems like respiratory distress syndrome, brain hemorrhaging and anemia, as well as eye development and heart problems.

Normal pregnancy is 40 weeks while preterm is defined as less than 37 weeks of gestation. Early preterm is defined as less than 34 weeks.

 A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) shows the premature  birth rate declined four percent over a two-year period after rising dramatically from the 1980s  through 2006. A 4% drop means 21,000 babies avoided serious health risks.

 Preterm birth rates were lower for women of all age groups under 40 in 2008 compared to 2006.  The CDC statistics reported that preterm births were down for all types of deliveries, vaginal,  cesarean and induced labor.

Some suggested causes for the good news may be attributed to increased preventative care provided to expected mothers, lower smoking, alcohol and drug use. Like most health related matters, controlling stress, and high blood pressure along with healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices reduce your health risks and leads to more positive outcomes.

The premature birth rate in the U.S. is reported to be a significant contributing factor to our infant mortality rate compared to other countries. Our healthcare system, particularly the hospital systems, has the most aggressive target for for viable births in the world. In most countries, many of the premature births would be defined as non-viable and not defined as infant mortality cases in the event of the death of the newborn.

If you normalize the data, infant mortality in the U.S. is the lowest in the world. When you add this to the actual life expectancy data, the U.S. has the best healthcare outcomes in the world. We should, we pay the most for it.

Footnote: “The Top Ten Myths of American Health Care“, Sally C. Pipes, 2007, Pages 132-135.

 Dark Chocolate May Protect the Brain after a Stroke

I love this type of news story and had to share the news. A component in dark chocolate has shown to increase cellular signals known to guard nerve cells from damage after a stroke, in a recent study reported out of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Research shows while most treatments against stroke in humans must be given within a 2 – 3 hour window of time to be effective, epicatechin, a compound found naturally in dark chocolate, appeared to limit continued neuronal damage when given to mice three and one-half hours after a stroke.  The study by Sylvain Dore’, Ph.D. at John Hopkins reports that epicatechin stimulates two well-established pathways known to protect nerve cells in the brain from damage.

The associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine and pharmacology believes his research leads to insights into limiting acute stroke damage and possibly protecting against chronic neurological degenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease. “Epicatechin itself may not be shielding brain cells from free radical damage, but instead, its metabolites may be prompting the cells to defend themselves,” suggests the professor.  Read the rest of this entry »