“The job of the leader isn’t just to make decisions, it’s to make sense.”
John Seely Brown
The Scary Charts in Mish’s article paint a vivid picture of where this country and economy are headed. It’s not a pretty picture.
Author: SupremeCmdr
Fruit, Veg Intake Has Dose-Response Link With CV Death
The inverse association between increased fruit and vegetable consumption and mortality was particularly noticeable for cardiovascular mortality; higher consumption was not significantly linked with reduced risk of cancer mortality
All of the pitfalls of the component studies are present in the meta-analysis, the authors warn, including the fact that fruit and vegetable intake is typically self-reported. Not all studies adjusted for other types of foods consumed, including saturated fats, processed meats, etc. The definition of “portions” may also have been different across studies, the authors caution.
via Fruit, Veg Intake Has Dose-Response Link With CV Death.
Vegans and radical vegetarians take note. Bold in quote above is my emphasis.
Wrist blood pressure monitors: Are they accurate? – Mayo Clinic
Wrist blood pressure monitors: Are they accurate? – Mayo Clinic.
That can’t be right.
I had my blood pressure taken at the dentist the other day. The reading nearly sent me into cardiac arrest. My observations:
- The equipment used was a wrist BP monitor, not exactly known for accuracy.
- The individual who took the reading is a dental hygienist who probably got zero training in the proper positioning and use of the monitor.
- My blood pressure has always been normal.
I’ll stop at one of those ubiquitous upper arm machines you find at any pharmacy and do a recheck. And those iPhone apps that measure blood pressure? Don’t even bother.
More on Sleeping Pills and Older Adults – NYTimes.com
More on Sleeping Pills and Older Adults – NYTimes.com.
Now the C.D.C. has reported that a high number of emergency room visits are associated with psychiatric medications in general, and zolpidem — Ambien — in particular. They’re implicated in 90,000 adult E.R. visits annually because of adverse reactions, the study found; more than 19 percent of those visits result in hospital admissions.
US Marijuana Map
Blood-Thinner Pradaxa: What You Should Know
Blood-Thinner Pradaxa: What You Should Know.
Concerns about Pradaxa surfaced 2 years ago, he says, when doctors began reporting a larger number of serious and sometimes fatal bleeding problems in older patients on the drug.
The claim by the company that the drug needs no blood-level monitoring is misguided, Moore says. “It turns out the company has had data for several years, showing the amount of anticoagulation [blood thinning] varied [from patient to patient] more than five-fold.”
That means, Moore says, that “the same dose could produce widely varying effects on blood clotting. Some patients would be at extremely high risk of bleeding. Others would not get a strong enough blood clotting effect to serve its purpose, reduce the risk of stroke.”
Do the phrases “serious and sometimes fatal bleeding problems” combined with the drug maker’s withholding of data bother anyone? And yet another example of putting profits before people.
Update 07.27.14
I found another fine article on the Pradaxa mess. Follow the link to The Poison Review. There you will find more details on this story and more links for further reading, including a link to the full text BMJ article.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices reported that in 2011 there were 3781 serious adverse effects and 542 patient deaths reported in the United States in association with dabigatran. In comparison, warfarin (Coumadin) was associated with only 72 deaths during that same time period. – See more at: http://www.thepoisonreview.com/2014/07/27/must-read-marketing-vs-medicine-in-the-case-of-pradaxa-dabigatran/#sthash.tpAapuE6.dpuf
Must-read: marketing vs. medicine in the case of Pradaxa dabigatran | The Poison Review.
Update 08.22.14
Getting the dabigatran Pradaxa story right… Correcting four common mistakes..
If you’re not totally confused by now you should be.
Dogs Experience Jealousy – Scientific American
Dogs Experience Jealousy – Scientific American.
Understanding jealousy is an important matter, because of the damage this emotion can trigger. “Jealousy is the third-leading cause of non-accidental homicide across cultures,” said lead study author Christine Harris, an emotion researcher at the University of California, San Diego.
Stupidity is Worse for us than Either Sugar or Saturated Fat
Stupidity is worse for us than either sugar or saturated fat.
Read this article and you’ll encounter a well reasoned rant with lots of links for further reading enjoyment. My personal journey includes a significant weight loss experience in my early 20’s. Over the years I’ve gained back some of the 200 plus pounds lost. Over the years I’ve also gotten lazy with my dietary habits. Too many calories and an aging metabolism is not a combination for staying trim. So I got serious (again) and have dropped 12 pounds the past three months. I’ve always known what to do but failed to do what needed to be done.
And so it goes. Change. Adapt. Repeat.
Rates of Drug Poisoning Deaths Involving Heroin, by Selected Age and Racial/Ethnic Groups — United States, 2002 and 2011
Check out this chart from MMWR. It’s shocking.
lifeunderwriter.net 
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