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AACCA
Coding Newswire
March, 2004
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The
Heart of the Matter
Heart
disease is the No. 1 cause of death among women in the United
States, killing more than 500,000 women every year. But women —
and their doctors — continue to underestimate their risk for heart
disease. As a result, women are less likely to be treated
aggressively than men and more likely die of heart disease.
Shifting
demographics may produce a glut of pediatric doctors in many areas
of the country through the next decade, according to a new study.
By 2020, the population of children is expected to increase only by
about 9 percent nationally while the number of pediatricians will
jump 58 percent, the study says.
The numbers are subject to change depending on many factors,
including unexpected population shifts, new childhood diseases or
improved technology, said Dr. Scott Shipman, an Oregon Health &
Science University pediatrician who led the study.
To find out more specifics on where these surpluses are expected to
occur, read the CBS
news article on this subject.
McDonald's
to Dump Supersize
Portions
Hold the
fries at least the
super-sized version. In a sign of the times, McDonald's is getting
rid of the extra-large portions that had become one of its
signatures. The burger giant said it has begun phasing out Supersize
fries and drinks in its more than 13,000 U.S. restaurants and will
stop selling them altogether by year's end, except in promotions.
The
company cited the need to trim a menu that has expanded in recent
years and said eliminating super-sizing is only part of that effort.
View
ABC's
information on this change, as well as new additions appearing
on the McDonald's menu in the near future.
Working
Poor Face Higher Obesity Rate
Farm
worker Iris Caballero often has a hard time keeping the refrigerator
and cupboard stocked with food. Yet, she’s overweight and
diabetic.
She
is a classic example of a modern-day paradox: as reliable access to
healthy food declines, the likelihood of being overweight goes up.
The
working poor like Caballero often have no time for cooking, little
money to buy fresh vegetables, and a long walk to the closest
supermarket with a good produce section.
Find
out more about how income affects obesity by reading MSNBC's
coverage.
Antibiotics
May be Scrapped for Most Ear Infections
Two
leading medical groups are expected to recommend this spring that
doctors stop treating most ear infections in children with
antibiotics, federal health officials said.
The
move contradicts years of pediatric practice and is expected to
disappoint weary parents of whimpering, infected toddlers.
About
half of all antibiotics prescribed to preschool children are for
treating ear infections. Health officials believe if they can reduce
child antibiotic use for such infections, they can stop the rise of
antibiotic-resistant germs created by overuse of the drugs.
A
harmless virus common in the general population delays the development
of AIDS, according to a study released on Wednesday that could help
researchers find new treatments for the epidemic.
The
benign virus can persist in the body for years and appears to
interfere with HIV, the AIDS virus which affects 40 million people
worldwide and has killed another 30 million.
Both
HIV and the benign virus, known as GBV-C, infect the same types of
cells.
Read
Yahoo's article to learn more about the way GBV-C interferes with
the AIDS Virus and measurable results.
Reducing
Prescription Drug Abuse
For
the first time, the Bush Administration will carry out a coordinated
drug strategy to confront the illegal diversion and abuse of
prescription drugs. On March 1, 2004, President Bush's “Drug
Czar,” John Walters, joined FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan, DEA
Administrator Karen Tandy, Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, and
Representative Tom Davis to release the President's National Drug
Control Strategy, which outlines the extent of prescription drug abuse
in the United States and new Federal programs designed to address the
problem.
Go
to the FDA's web site
to read additional information on this initiative including:
WTC
Registry Tracks Health of
Thousands After 9/11
More
than 25,000 people have signed up for a registry measuring the
long-term health effects of the 9/11 attacks in New York, the city's
health department said.
Over
the next 20 years, this registry will track the physical and mental
health of people who were in or near the World Trade Center on
September 11, 2001, and in the months following the terrorist attacks.
Click
here to get specifics on what the registry will track and view
initial registry results.
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Heart
disease is the No. 1 cause of death among women in the United
States, killing more than 500,000 women every year. But women —
and their doctors — continue to underestimate their risk for heart
disease. As a result, women are less likely to be treated
aggressively than men and more likely die of heart disease.
Shifting
demographics may produce a glut of pediatric doctors in many areas
of the country through the next decade, according to a new study.
Two
leading medical groups are expected to recommend this spring that
doctors stop treating most ear infections in children with
antibiotics, federal health officials said.
A
harmless virus common in the general population delays the development
of AIDS, according to a study released on Wednesday that could help
researchers find new treatments for the epidemic.
For
the first time, the Bush Administration will carry out a coordinated
drug strategy to confront the illegal diversion and abuse of
prescription drugs. On March 1, 2004, President Bush's “Drug
Czar,” John Walters, joined FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan, DEA
Administrator Karen Tandy, Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, and
Representative Tom Davis to release the President's National Drug
Control Strategy, which outlines the extent of prescription drug abuse
in the United States and new Federal programs designed to address the
problem.
More
than 25,000 people have signed up for a registry measuring the
long-term health effects of the 9/11 attacks in New York, the city's
health department said.