http://community.bewell.com/service/getFeed.kickAction?quantity=25 New blogs from NancyLSnydermanMD on BeWell Community Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:03:32 GMT Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:03:32 GMT community@bewell.com (bewelladmin) community@bewell.com (bewelladmin) KickApps Feed Builder 2010-01-04T23:03:32Z 33 http://community.bewell.com/service/searchEverything.kickAction?as=142833&sortType=recent 0 http://community.bewell.com/_Obamas-Big-Health-Care-Speech-A-Little-Unsolicited-Advice-for-the-President/BLOG/1691630/142833.html Tonight President Obama will take to the airwaves and explain to a joint session of Congress and to all Americans why he believes this country needs an overhaul of its health care system. On this subject, the most articulate man of our generation and the leader of the free world has stumbled and his message has gone down with it. Mr. President, I do want you to succeed and I do believe there are many opportunities for health care improvement. We’re also all in this together and I believe you have people’s best interests at heart. With that in mind, I’m going to offer some unsolicited advice. Here goes:Tonight, use your passion and rhetoric to remind people why you are our leader. Reinforce the fact that we are a country of riches and great potential, and we, as Americans, take care of each other; we do not leave each other behind. Assert that this is why you want to take a system that is technologically the best in the world and make it the healthiest in the world. (There is no dispute that there is a lot of work to do in that regard).Emphasize that the major stakeholders are willing to put something on the table.  Underscore what pharmaceuticals, hospitals, insurance carriers, and the American Medical Association have offered. Draw your lines in the sand -- like insurance portability and no pre-existing conditions -- and explain (simply, please) why a public option fills in the gaps and offers something to the uninsured and underinsured.  Speak to the small businessmen and address how they will be helped and not hurt with new changes. For those who believe that you are hell-bent on ushering in socialism, remind people that some social programs work: libraries, police and fire departments, Medicare (although I do know there are trims in order).  And then you MUST speak to us like you spoke to our children yesterday. Talk to us about personal responsibility. The more we take care of ourselves, the more money we will save.  Be direct. Be forthright. Lead. Tonight President Obama will take to the airwaves and explain to a joint session of Congress and to all Americans why he believes this country needs an overhaul of its health care system. On this subject, the most articulate man of our generation and the leader of the free world has stumbled and his message has gone down with it. Mr. President, I do want you to succeed and I do believe there are many opportunities for health care improvement. We’re also all in this together and I believe you have people’s best interests at heart. With that in mind, I’m going to offer some unsolicited advice. Here goes:Tonight, use your passion and rhetoric to remind people why you are our leader. Reinforce the fact that we are a country of riches and great potential, and we, as Americans, take care of each other; we do not leave each other behind. Assert that this is why you want to take a system that is technologically the best in the world and make it the healthiest in the world. (There is no dispute that there is a lot of work to do in that regard).Emphasize that the major stakeholders are willing to put something on the table.  Underscore what pharmaceuticals, hospitals, insurance carriers, and the American Medical Association have offered. Draw your lines in the sand -- like insurance portability and no pre-existing conditions -- and explain (simply, please) why a public option fills in the gaps and offers something to the uninsured and underinsured.  Speak to the small businessmen and address how they will be helped and not hurt with new changes. For those who believe that you are hell-bent on ushering in socialism, remind people that some social programs work: libraries, police and fire departments, Medicare (although I do know there are trims in order).  And then you MUST speak to us like you spoke to our children yesterday. Talk to us about personal responsibility. The more we take care of ourselves, the more money we will save.  Be direct. Be forthright. Lead. Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:03:32 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Obamas-Big-Health-Care-Speech-A-Little-Unsolicited-Advice-for-the-President/BLOG/1691630/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2010-01-04T23:03:32Z BeWell Community Tonight President Obama will take to the airwaves and explain to a joint session of Congress and to all Americans why he believes this country needs an overhaul of its health care system. On this subject, the most articulate man of our generation and the leader of the free world has stumbled and his message has gone down with it. Mr. President, I do want you to succeed and I do believe there are many opportunities for health care improvement. We’re also all in this together and I believe you have people’s best interests at heart. With that in mind, I’m going to offer some unsolicited advice. Here goes:Tonight, use your passion and rhetoric to remind people why you are our leader. Reinforce the fact that we are a country of riches and great potential, and we, as Americans, take care of each other; we do not leave each other behind. Assert that this is why you want to take a system that is technologically the best in the world and make it the healthiest in the world. (There is no dispute that there is a lot of work to do in that regard).Emphasize that the major stakeholders are willing to put something on the table.  Underscore what pharmaceuticals, hospitals, insurance carriers, and the American Medical Association have offered. Draw your lines in the sand -- like insurance portability and no pre-existing conditions -- and explain (simply, please) why a public option fills in the gaps and offers something to the uninsured and underinsured.  Speak to the small businessmen and address how they will be helped and not hurt with new changes. For those who believe that you are hell-bent on ushering in socialism, remind people that some social programs work: libraries, police and fire departments, Medicare (although I do know there are trims in order).  And then you MUST speak to us like you spoke to our children yesterday. Talk to us about personal responsibility. The more we take care of ourselves, the more money we will save.  Be direct. Be forthright. Lead. nonadult false Obama�s Big Health Care Speech: A Little Unsolicited Advice for the President text blog 130 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691630 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Paging-Dr-Benjamin/BLOG/1691633/142833.html Well it's about time. Nine months after the inauguration of President Obama, we finally have our Surgeon General. It couldn't have come soon enough. While her confirmation was unanimously voted on by the members of the Senate Health committee, Regina Benjamin found herself caught in a political pissing match between HHS and conservative senators with strong ties to the insurance industry. But this column isn't so much about the temporary political hijacking as it is about why we need her now... Read the rest of Dr. Nancy's commentary at The Huffington Post. Well it's about time. Nine months after the inauguration of President Obama, we finally have our Surgeon General. It couldn't have come soon enough. While her confirmation was unanimously voted on by the members of the Senate Health committee, Regina Benjamin found herself caught in a political pissing match between HHS and conservative senators with strong ties to the insurance industry. But this column isn't so much about the temporary political hijacking as it is about why we need her now... Read the rest of Dr. Nancy's commentary at The Huffington Post. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:23:13 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Paging-Dr-Benjamin/BLOG/1691633/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-11-04T20:23:13Z BeWell Community Well it's about time. Nine months after the inauguration of President Obama, we finally have our Surgeon General. It couldn't have come soon enough. While her confirmation was unanimously voted on by the members of the Senate Health committee, Regina Benjamin found herself caught in a political pissing match between HHS and conservative senators with strong ties to the insurance industry. But this column isn't so much about the temporary political hijacking as it is about why we need her now... Read the rest of Dr. Nancy's commentary at The Huffington Post. nonadult false Paging Dr. Benjamin text blog 124 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691633 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_It39s-Here-Flu-Vaccines/BLOG/1691631/142833.html As I begin writing this blog I am going to admit again that I am an unabashed fan of vaccines. Why? Because vaccines prevent illness and save millions of lives. As a child who witnessed polio, measles, and flu epidemics, I know that vaccines can target certain diseases and keep a population safe. The same holds true for this year's seasonal flu and H1N1.So here is what you need to know: The seasonal vaccine is now at a clinic near you. Get it. Seasonal flu kills 36,000 people a year, primarily the very young, elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. H1N1 is targeting young people and pregnant women preferentially. The H1N1 vaccine is just arriving in several locals now and it will be the nasal spray first. The nasal spray contains a live virus which has been altered. It is indicated for kids over the age of 2 and for adults up to 49. It is not intended for infants, pregnant women, or people with compromised immune systems. If you are in that category, wait for the shot which contains killed virus. Every bit of information coming form the clinical trials indicates that the H1N1 vaccine is as safe as the regular seasonal flu vaccine. If H1N1 had emerged several months earlier it would have been added to the regular flu shots. But the timing was off and that's why this flu season is a little more confusing than others. And just so you don't think I'm a hypocrite...I got my regular shot two weeks ago. And as a healthcare worker I will get my H1N1 when it is available. The same holds true for getting my husband and children the right inoculations. I wouldn't dream of getting them the shots if I were worried about their safety and efficacy.  So, again, at the risk of boring you completely...this is one time you can trust the scientists and the officials from the CDC and FDA. I promise.  As I begin writing this blog I am going to admit again that I am an unabashed fan of vaccines. Why? Because vaccines prevent illness and save millions of lives. As a child who witnessed polio, measles, and flu epidemics, I know that vaccines can target certain diseases and keep a population safe. The same holds true for this year's seasonal flu and H1N1.So here is what you need to know: The seasonal vaccine is now at a clinic near you. Get it. Seasonal flu kills 36,000 people a year, primarily the very young, elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. H1N1 is targeting young people and pregnant women preferentially. The H1N1 vaccine is just arriving in several locals now and it will be the nasal spray first. The nasal spray contains a live virus which has been altered. It is indicated for kids over the age of 2 and for adults up to 49. It is not intended for infants, pregnant women, or people with compromised immune systems. If you are in that category, wait for the shot which contains killed virus. Every bit of information coming form the clinical trials indicates that the H1N1 vaccine is as safe as the regular seasonal flu vaccine. If H1N1 had emerged several months earlier it would have been added to the regular flu shots. But the timing was off and that's why this flu season is a little more confusing than others. And just so you don't think I'm a hypocrite...I got my regular shot two weeks ago. And as a healthcare worker I will get my H1N1 when it is available. The same holds true for getting my husband and children the right inoculations. I wouldn't dream of getting them the shots if I were worried about their safety and efficacy.  So, again, at the risk of boring you completely...this is one time you can trust the scientists and the officials from the CDC and FDA. I promise.  Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:03:56 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_It39s-Here-Flu-Vaccines/BLOG/1691631/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-10-05T12:03:56Z BeWell Community As I begin writing this blog I am going to admit again that I am an unabashed fan of vaccines. Why? Because vaccines prevent illness and save millions of lives. As a child who witnessed polio, measles, and flu epidemics, I know that vaccines can target certain diseases and keep a population safe. The same holds true for this year's seasonal flu and H1N1.So here is what you need to know: The seasonal vaccine is now at a clinic near you. Get it. Seasonal flu kills 36,000 people a year, primarily the very young, elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. H1N1 is targeting young people and pregnant women preferentially. The H1N1 vaccine is just arriving in several locals now and it will be the nasal spray first. The nasal spray contains a live virus which has been altered. It is indicated for kids over the age of 2 and for adults up to 49. It is not intended for infants, pregnant women, or people with compromised immune systems. If you are in that category, wait for the shot which contains killed virus. Every bit of information coming form the clinical trials indicates that the H1N1 vaccine is as safe as the regular seasonal flu vaccine. If H1N1 had emerged several months earlier it would have been added to the regular flu shots. But the timing was off and that's why this flu season is a little more confusing than others. And just so you don't think I'm a hypocrite...I got my regular shot two weeks ago. And as a healthcare worker I will get my H1N1 when it is available. The same holds true for getting my husband and children the right inoculations. I wouldn't dream of getting them the shots if I were worried about their safety and efficacy.  So, again, at the risk of boring you completely...this is one time you can trust the scientists and the officials from the CDC and FDA. I promise.  nonadult false It's Here!!! (Flu Vaccines) text blog 137 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691631 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Nows-the-Time-to-Get-Your-Seasonal-Flu-Shot/BLOG/1691619/142833.html Yesterday on Dr. Nancy (msnbc weekdays at noon ET) I got my seasonal flu shot. September 1 was the first day that the shots were available, which is a whole month earlier than we normally think about getting a flu shot. The folks at Walgreens were kind enough to provide the shot and Mary Gonzales, a great nurse at NBC, was kind enough to stick the needle in my arm. Why did I get it? For two simple reasons. I know the flu shot can prevent my getting sick later this Fall when the seasonal flu pops on the landscape, and by getting it now I give my immune system enough time to make the antibodies against this year's strains. The other reason is that by getting the shot now I won't be in line in a couple of months when clinics and pharmacies are deluged by latecomers and people getting the H1N1 shot.  Remember that the seasonal flu shot is different that the H1N1 shot. The seasonal flu shot contains strains of three viruses (all dead) that the World Health Organization and our U.S. government predicted would be this year's culprits. Of course, the predictions were made before H1H1 (swine flu) surfaced in Mexico and quickly spread around the globe.  H1N1 targets a different patient population. That's why if you are in a high risk group (pregnant women, young people, health care workers or those responsible for the care of someone else, and those with compromised immune systems) you will want to get ready for two rounds of the swine flu vaccination in mid-October when it's ready. And you'll want to think about the regular seasonal flu shot now. I have said many times that this is not a conspiracy by your government or the pharmaceutical industry to experiment on you or round up needless business. And I know there is a lot of material to absorb. That's exactly why the public health campaign is important. Getting the right vaccines at the right time is important to keep you and your family healthy. I am not a particularly brave person. I got my shot because I like being well. That's why you should get yours too. Yesterday on Dr. Nancy (msnbc weekdays at noon ET) I got my seasonal flu shot. September 1 was the first day that the shots were available, which is a whole month earlier than we normally think about getting a flu shot. The folks at Walgreens were kind enough to provide the shot and Mary Gonzales, a great nurse at NBC, was kind enough to stick the needle in my arm. Why did I get it? For two simple reasons. I know the flu shot can prevent my getting sick later this Fall when the seasonal flu pops on the landscape, and by getting it now I give my immune system enough time to make the antibodies against this year's strains. The other reason is that by getting the shot now I won't be in line in a couple of months when clinics and pharmacies are deluged by latecomers and people getting the H1N1 shot.  Remember that the seasonal flu shot is different that the H1N1 shot. The seasonal flu shot contains strains of three viruses (all dead) that the World Health Organization and our U.S. government predicted would be this year's culprits. Of course, the predictions were made before H1H1 (swine flu) surfaced in Mexico and quickly spread around the globe.  H1N1 targets a different patient population. That's why if you are in a high risk group (pregnant women, young people, health care workers or those responsible for the care of someone else, and those with compromised immune systems) you will want to get ready for two rounds of the swine flu vaccination in mid-October when it's ready. And you'll want to think about the regular seasonal flu shot now. I have said many times that this is not a conspiracy by your government or the pharmaceutical industry to experiment on you or round up needless business. And I know there is a lot of material to absorb. That's exactly why the public health campaign is important. Getting the right vaccines at the right time is important to keep you and your family healthy. I am not a particularly brave person. I got my shot because I like being well. That's why you should get yours too. Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:36:25 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Nows-the-Time-to-Get-Your-Seasonal-Flu-Shot/BLOG/1691619/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-09-02T12:36:25Z BeWell Community Yesterday on Dr. Nancy (msnbc weekdays at noon ET) I got my seasonal flu shot. September 1 was the first day that the shots were available, which is a whole month earlier than we normally think about getting a flu shot. The folks at Walgreens were kind enough to provide the shot and Mary Gonzales, a great nurse at NBC, was kind enough to stick the needle in my arm. Why did I get it? For two simple reasons. I know the flu shot can prevent my getting sick later this Fall when the seasonal flu pops on the landscape, and by getting it now I give my immune system enough time to make the antibodies against this year's strains. The other reason is that by getting the shot now I won't be in line in a couple of months when clinics and pharmacies are deluged by latecomers and people getting the H1N1 shot.  Remember that the seasonal flu shot is different that the H1N1 shot. The seasonal flu shot contains strains of three viruses (all dead) that the World Health Organization and our U.S. government predicted would be this year's culprits. Of course, the predictions were made before H1H1 (swine flu) surfaced in Mexico and quickly spread around the globe.  H1N1 targets a different patient population. That's why if you are in a high risk group (pregnant women, young people, health care workers or those responsible for the care of someone else, and those with compromised immune systems) you will want to get ready for two rounds of the swine flu vaccination in mid-October when it's ready. And you'll want to think about the regular seasonal flu shot now. I have said many times that this is not a conspiracy by your government or the pharmaceutical industry to experiment on you or round up needless business. And I know there is a lot of material to absorb. That's exactly why the public health campaign is important. Getting the right vaccines at the right time is important to keep you and your family healthy. I am not a particularly brave person. I got my shot because I like being well. That's why you should get yours too. nonadult false Now's the Time to Get Your Seasonal Flu Shot text blog 136 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691619 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_A-Medical-Tribute-to-Senator-Ted-Kennedy/BLOG/1691643/142833.html As the nation reflects on the life of Senator Edward Kennedy, we’ve heard from people on both sides of the political aisle talking about his passion and his fairness. I’ve described him as a complicated man who necessitates a complicated tribute. The world will remember him as a gifted statesman with two large blemishes that altered his political life forever. In the summer of 1969 he was responsible for the death of Mary Jo Kopechne in what will forever be remembered simply as 'Chappaquiddick.' The other infamous moment was his interview with CBS News' Roger Mudd, which he granted after tossing in his hat for the presidency. When asked why he wanted to be the nation’s top leader, Kennedy paused and meandered. His response was so unconvincing that his presidential hopes were immediately dashed.Those events opened what became 47 rich years as a public servant in the U.S. senate. As a physician, I can’t help but look at the senator's accomplishments that really stand alone outside the political spotlight. Senator Kennedy's name was attached in some way to over 2,500 pieces of legislation. Imagine that. In the end, he was instrumental in creating the National Cancer Institute, strengthening the Food and Drug Administration, raising the minimum age, increasing funding for women's collegiate sports (Title IX), passing the Ryan White bill (which stopped AIDS discrimination), increasing funding for AIDS, cancer, and stem cell research, introducing COBRA coverage, making health insurance coverage portable (HIPAA), giving employees paid sick leave, ensuring equal opportunity for women in combat, boosting funding for people with disabilities, increasing bioterrorism preparedness, regulating tobacco products, extending Medicaid to children, and upping funding for vaccinations. The list goes on. Needless to say, Sen. Kennedy’s legislation touched all of us. And on a light note, he even had time to introduce resolution #482, congratulating the Boston Red Sox on winning the 2004 World Series. As the nation reflects on the life of Senator Edward Kennedy, we’ve heard from people on both sides of the political aisle talking about his passion and his fairness. I’ve described him as a complicated man who necessitates a complicated tribute. The world will remember him as a gifted statesman with two large blemishes that altered his political life forever. In the summer of 1969 he was responsible for the death of Mary Jo Kopechne in what will forever be remembered simply as 'Chappaquiddick.' The other infamous moment was his interview with CBS News' Roger Mudd, which he granted after tossing in his hat for the presidency. When asked why he wanted to be the nation’s top leader, Kennedy paused and meandered. His response was so unconvincing that his presidential hopes were immediately dashed.Those events opened what became 47 rich years as a public servant in the U.S. senate. As a physician, I can’t help but look at the senator's accomplishments that really stand alone outside the political spotlight. Senator Kennedy's name was attached in some way to over 2,500 pieces of legislation. Imagine that. In the end, he was instrumental in creating the National Cancer Institute, strengthening the Food and Drug Administration, raising the minimum age, increasing funding for women's collegiate sports (Title IX), passing the Ryan White bill (which stopped AIDS discrimination), increasing funding for AIDS, cancer, and stem cell research, introducing COBRA coverage, making health insurance coverage portable (HIPAA), giving employees paid sick leave, ensuring equal opportunity for women in combat, boosting funding for people with disabilities, increasing bioterrorism preparedness, regulating tobacco products, extending Medicaid to children, and upping funding for vaccinations. The list goes on. Needless to say, Sen. Kennedy’s legislation touched all of us. And on a light note, he even had time to introduce resolution #482, congratulating the Boston Red Sox on winning the 2004 World Series. Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:28:19 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_A-Medical-Tribute-to-Senator-Ted-Kennedy/BLOG/1691643/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-08-28T11:28:19Z BeWell Community As the nation reflects on the life of Senator Edward Kennedy, we’ve heard from people on both sides of the political aisle talking about his passion and his fairness. I’ve described him as a complicated man who necessitates a complicated tribute. The world will remember him as a gifted statesman with two large blemishes that altered his political life forever. In the summer of 1969 he was responsible for the death of Mary Jo Kopechne in what will forever be remembered simply as 'Chappaquiddick.' The other infamous moment was his interview with CBS News' Roger Mudd, which he granted after tossing in his hat for the presidency. When asked why he wanted to be the nation’s top leader, Kennedy paused and meandered. His response was so unconvincing that his presidential hopes were immediately dashed.Those events opened what became 47 rich years as a public servant in the U.S. senate. As a physician, I can’t help but look at the senator's accomplishments that really stand alone outside the political spotlight. Senator Kennedy's name was attached in some way to over 2,500 pieces of legislation. Imagine that. In the end, he was instrumental in creating the National Cancer Institute, strengthening the Food and Drug Administration, raising the minimum age, increasing funding for women's collegiate sports (Title IX), passing the Ryan White bill (which stopped AIDS discrimination), increasing funding for AIDS, cancer, and stem cell research, introducing COBRA coverage, making health insurance coverage portable (HIPAA), giving employees paid sick leave, ensuring equal opportunity for women in combat, boosting funding for people with disabilities, increasing bioterrorism preparedness, regulating tobacco products, extending Medicaid to children, and upping funding for vaccinations. The list goes on. Needless to say, Sen. Kennedy’s legislation touched all of us. And on a light note, he even had time to introduce resolution #482, congratulating the Boston Red Sox on winning the 2004 World Series. nonadult false A Medical Tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy text blog 145 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691643 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Binge-Drinking/BLOG/1691642/142833.html It's not just for kids anymore. A new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry states that binge drinking, defined as consuming more than five drinks in one sitting over the past month, has actually gone up.  Among those age 5O-65, 23 percent of men and 9 percent of women say that they have consumed alcohol in that way. And the profiles of these people defy conventional wisdom. Men are usually wealthy and unmarried.   Women are employed and may use prescription medications for recreational purposes. Both have higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases.  The health costs are high. For those who binge drink, injuring themselves and others due to risky behavior leads the list. But other well known problems are also there: liver damage, stroke, dementia, heart disease. Alcohol can damage every organ in the body.  The other problem with binge drinking is that doctors may miss it because it is episodic. So take a look at your own drinking patterns.   If you easily drink two or three alcoholic beverages at a sitting, double check yourself to make sure you aren't on the edge of becoming a binge drinker and a statistic. It's not just for kids anymore. A new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry states that binge drinking, defined as consuming more than five drinks in one sitting over the past month, has actually gone up.  Among those age 5O-65, 23 percent of men and 9 percent of women say that they have consumed alcohol in that way. And the profiles of these people defy conventional wisdom. Men are usually wealthy and unmarried.   Women are employed and may use prescription medications for recreational purposes. Both have higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases.  The health costs are high. For those who binge drink, injuring themselves and others due to risky behavior leads the list. But other well known problems are also there: liver damage, stroke, dementia, heart disease. Alcohol can damage every organ in the body.  The other problem with binge drinking is that doctors may miss it because it is episodic. So take a look at your own drinking patterns.   If you easily drink two or three alcoholic beverages at a sitting, double check yourself to make sure you aren't on the edge of becoming a binge drinker and a statistic. Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:31:25 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Binge-Drinking/BLOG/1691642/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-08-18T19:31:25Z BeWell Community It's not just for kids anymore. A new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry states that binge drinking, defined as consuming more than five drinks in one sitting over the past month, has actually gone up.  Among those age 5O-65, 23 percent of men and 9 percent of women say that they have consumed alcohol in that way. And the profiles of these people defy conventional wisdom. Men are usually wealthy and unmarried.   Women are employed and may use prescription medications for recreational purposes. Both have higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases.  The health costs are high. For those who binge drink, injuring themselves and others due to risky behavior leads the list. But other well known problems are also there: liver damage, stroke, dementia, heart disease. Alcohol can damage every organ in the body.  The other problem with binge drinking is that doctors may miss it because it is episodic. So take a look at your own drinking patterns.   If you easily drink two or three alcoholic beverages at a sitting, double check yourself to make sure you aren't on the edge of becoming a binge drinker and a statistic. nonadult false Binge Drinking text blog 155 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691642 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Taking-Care-of-Yourself/BLOG/1691640/142833.html Editor's Note: If you missed it, watch Jorge Cruise, author of The 3-Hour Diet, interview Dr. Nancy Snyderman for her self-care tips. Watch the video >> Editor's Note: If you missed it, watch Jorge Cruise, author of The 3-Hour Diet, interview Dr. Nancy Snyderman for her self-care tips. Watch the video >> Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:07:00 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Taking-Care-of-Yourself/BLOG/1691640/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-08-18T13:07:00Z BeWell Community Editor's Note: If you missed it, watch Jorge Cruise, author of The 3-Hour Diet, interview Dr. Nancy Snyderman for her self-care tips. Watch the video >> nonadult false Taking Care of Yourself text blog 155 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691640 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Tragedy-on-the-Taconic-Parkway-When-It-Comes-to-Alcohol-Know-Your-Limits/BLOG/1691623/142833.html The tragedy of the mother who drove the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway in New York has struck a nerve for many people.  This everyday, suburban mom had the equivalent of ten shots of alcohol in her system and had levels of THC that indicated she had smoked a joint within an hour of the crash. While we may never know why she did what she did, or how so many people missed the signs of a woman with obvious problems, we do know this: She was drunk and high. Toxicology reports for drugs as basic as these just don't lie. H.L. Mencken was famous for liking his drink but also for knowing the parameters.  Never drink during the daytime.  Never drink alone.  And don't drink when there is work to be done.  Diane Schuler did all three and cost eight people their lives.  There is no right time to bend the rules when childrearing is the day job.  One woman's chardonnay may be another woman's vodka.  The drink of choice doesn't really matter.  What does matter is that women do not metabolize alcohol the way that men do.  An enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase, that is found in the stomach and starts degrading alcohol, is found at much lower levels as men.  That means that a 130 pound man may be able to out drink a 150 pound woman.  It has nothing to do with size.  It has everything to do with biology.  Take this tragic story to heart.  There is no wiggle room here.  Alcohol is a drug. Have an honest conversation with yoursself about how much, when and with whom you drink.  Look yourself in the mirror and get help if you need to.....before you kill someone. The tragedy of the mother who drove the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway in New York has struck a nerve for many people.  This everyday, suburban mom had the equivalent of ten shots of alcohol in her system and had levels of THC that indicated she had smoked a joint within an hour of the crash. While we may never know why she did what she did, or how so many people missed the signs of a woman with obvious problems, we do know this: She was drunk and high. Toxicology reports for drugs as basic as these just don't lie. H.L. Mencken was famous for liking his drink but also for knowing the parameters.  Never drink during the daytime.  Never drink alone.  And don't drink when there is work to be done.  Diane Schuler did all three and cost eight people their lives.  There is no right time to bend the rules when childrearing is the day job.  One woman's chardonnay may be another woman's vodka.  The drink of choice doesn't really matter.  What does matter is that women do not metabolize alcohol the way that men do.  An enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase, that is found in the stomach and starts degrading alcohol, is found at much lower levels as men.  That means that a 130 pound man may be able to out drink a 150 pound woman.  It has nothing to do with size.  It has everything to do with biology.  Take this tragic story to heart.  There is no wiggle room here.  Alcohol is a drug. Have an honest conversation with yoursself about how much, when and with whom you drink.  Look yourself in the mirror and get help if you need to.....before you kill someone. Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:14:41 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Tragedy-on-the-Taconic-Parkway-When-It-Comes-to-Alcohol-Know-Your-Limits/BLOG/1691623/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-08-07T20:14:41Z BeWell Community The tragedy of the mother who drove the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway in New York has struck a nerve for many people.  This everyday, suburban mom had the equivalent of ten shots of alcohol in her system and had levels of THC that indicated she had smoked a joint within an hour of the crash. While we may never know why she did what she did, or how so many people missed the signs of a woman with obvious problems, we do know this: She was drunk and high. Toxicology reports for drugs as basic as these just don't lie. H.L. Mencken was famous for liking his drink but also for knowing the parameters.  Never drink during the daytime.  Never drink alone.  And don't drink when there is work to be done.  Diane Schuler did all three and cost eight people their lives.  There is no right time to bend the rules when childrearing is the day job.  One woman's chardonnay may be another woman's vodka.  The drink of choice doesn't really matter.  What does matter is that women do not metabolize alcohol the way that men do.  An enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase, that is found in the stomach and starts degrading alcohol, is found at much lower levels as men.  That means that a 130 pound man may be able to out drink a 150 pound woman.  It has nothing to do with size.  It has everything to do with biology.  Take this tragic story to heart.  There is no wiggle room here.  Alcohol is a drug. Have an honest conversation with yoursself about how much, when and with whom you drink.  Look yourself in the mirror and get help if you need to.....before you kill someone. nonadult false Tragedy on the Taconic Parkway: When It Comes to Alcohol, Know Your Limits text blog 136 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691623 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_The-HPV-Vaccine/BLOG/1691622/142833.html This past week I was on TODAY with a gynecologist to talk about Gardasil, the vaccine that is marketed by Merck and created to protect against several of the HPV strains that cause cancer of the cervix. HPV is short for human papilloma virus, a very contagious -- and the most common -- sexually transmitted disease. The Gardasil vaccine has been on the market for three years and there have been over 12 million doses given. There have also been reported side effects with over 15,000 adverse events reported to the FDA. Most of the side effects are minor: fainting, nausea, and soreness and redness at the injection site. Thirty-seven deaths have also been reported and it is those deaths that have caused concern among some parents. This is where it is very important to talk plain. None of these deaths have been linked back to the vaccine. The FDA takes these reports very seriously and the agency always looks for cause and effect, asking the question, 'Did this shot cause a death?' The answer seems to be no at this point. Look at the question in somewhat different terms. If you ate at an Italian restaurant on Tuesday and got a headache 72 hours later, are the events related?  Having looked at the numbers carefully over the past few years I made the decision as a mom to vaccinate my two girls. I wanted them to have the antibodies to the virus on board before they became sexually active. That's why the recommendation for the Gardasil shot is for pre-teens -- to get protection before a sexual life begins. The shot isn't perfect. It requires three inoculations, costs $360, and may not be covered by insurance. A newer and better version will come along, but today this is the best we have. And as for concerns that this shot will promote promiscuity?  I couldn't disagree more.  I don't want my girls to have sex outside a loving relationship. I also don't want them to die for sex. This past week I was on TODAY with a gynecologist to talk about Gardasil, the vaccine that is marketed by Merck and created to protect against several of the HPV strains that cause cancer of the cervix. HPV is short for human papilloma virus, a very contagious -- and the most common -- sexually transmitted disease. The Gardasil vaccine has been on the market for three years and there have been over 12 million doses given. There have also been reported side effects with over 15,000 adverse events reported to the FDA. Most of the side effects are minor: fainting, nausea, and soreness and redness at the injection site. Thirty-seven deaths have also been reported and it is those deaths that have caused concern among some parents. This is where it is very important to talk plain. None of these deaths have been linked back to the vaccine. The FDA takes these reports very seriously and the agency always looks for cause and effect, asking the question, 'Did this shot cause a death?' The answer seems to be no at this point. Look at the question in somewhat different terms. If you ate at an Italian restaurant on Tuesday and got a headache 72 hours later, are the events related?  Having looked at the numbers carefully over the past few years I made the decision as a mom to vaccinate my two girls. I wanted them to have the antibodies to the virus on board before they became sexually active. That's why the recommendation for the Gardasil shot is for pre-teens -- to get protection before a sexual life begins. The shot isn't perfect. It requires three inoculations, costs $360, and may not be covered by insurance. A newer and better version will come along, but today this is the best we have. And as for concerns that this shot will promote promiscuity?  I couldn't disagree more.  I don't want my girls to have sex outside a loving relationship. I also don't want them to die for sex. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:39:42 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_The-HPV-Vaccine/BLOG/1691622/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-08-05T10:39:42Z BeWell Community This past week I was on TODAY with a gynecologist to talk about Gardasil, the vaccine that is marketed by Merck and created to protect against several of the HPV strains that cause cancer of the cervix. HPV is short for human papilloma virus, a very contagious -- and the most common -- sexually transmitted disease. The Gardasil vaccine has been on the market for three years and there have been over 12 million doses given. There have also been reported side effects with over 15,000 adverse events reported to the FDA. Most of the side effects are minor: fainting, nausea, and soreness and redness at the injection site. Thirty-seven deaths have also been reported and it is those deaths that have caused concern among some parents. This is where it is very important to talk plain. None of these deaths have been linked back to the vaccine. The FDA takes these reports very seriously and the agency always looks for cause and effect, asking the question, 'Did this shot cause a death?' The answer seems to be no at this point. Look at the question in somewhat different terms. If you ate at an Italian restaurant on Tuesday and got a headache 72 hours later, are the events related?  Having looked at the numbers carefully over the past few years I made the decision as a mom to vaccinate my two girls. I wanted them to have the antibodies to the virus on board before they became sexually active. That's why the recommendation for the Gardasil shot is for pre-teens -- to get protection before a sexual life begins. The shot isn't perfect. It requires three inoculations, costs $360, and may not be covered by insurance. A newer and better version will come along, but today this is the best we have. And as for concerns that this shot will promote promiscuity?  I couldn't disagree more.  I don't want my girls to have sex outside a loving relationship. I also don't want them to die for sex. nonadult false The HPV Vaccine text blog 133 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691622 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Getting-Real-A-Path-to-Health-Care-Reform/BLOG/1691620/142833.html I am so dismayed that expensive ads on television are chipping away at health care reform from the right and the left. The last estimate was that $1.5 million dollars is being spent every day by lobbyists. I suspect the number is even higher now.  I don't know one doctor who doesn't believe that something needs to be done to improve our health care system. We spend more money than any industrialized country and our outcomes (infant mortality rate, for example)are lousy.  So Mr. President, here are some suggestions for getting back on track: 1.  Jump in with details. We know you are smart and a brilliant orator.  Now come down from 35,000 feet to ground level and let's talk specifics. 2. Explain that the underinsured are the real problem and that affects people who are 'happy with what they have' but haven't faced a crisis yet. 3.  Put personal responsibility front and center. Smoking and weight control need to be addressed in frank, honest terms and lead by example. 4.  Explain that fixing a patchwork quilt of medicine is not overnight and that better is a laudable goal. Chasing perfect will take our eyes off the ball.  5. Invest in us. What could be a smarter investment than in the health and welfare of the American public? That means the $1.3 trillion over a decade is not a waste, but is putting stock in our future. I am with you President Obama. A lot of us are. But this is a time to talk plainly. I am so dismayed that expensive ads on television are chipping away at health care reform from the right and the left. The last estimate was that $1.5 million dollars is being spent every day by lobbyists. I suspect the number is even higher now.  I don't know one doctor who doesn't believe that something needs to be done to improve our health care system. We spend more money than any industrialized country and our outcomes (infant mortality rate, for example)are lousy.  So Mr. President, here are some suggestions for getting back on track: 1.  Jump in with details. We know you are smart and a brilliant orator.  Now come down from 35,000 feet to ground level and let's talk specifics. 2. Explain that the underinsured are the real problem and that affects people who are 'happy with what they have' but haven't faced a crisis yet. 3.  Put personal responsibility front and center. Smoking and weight control need to be addressed in frank, honest terms and lead by example. 4.  Explain that fixing a patchwork quilt of medicine is not overnight and that better is a laudable goal. Chasing perfect will take our eyes off the ball.  5. Invest in us. What could be a smarter investment than in the health and welfare of the American public? That means the $1.3 trillion over a decade is not a waste, but is putting stock in our future. I am with you President Obama. A lot of us are. But this is a time to talk plainly. Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:19:55 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Getting-Real-A-Path-to-Health-Care-Reform/BLOG/1691620/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-07-31T15:19:55Z BeWell Community I am so dismayed that expensive ads on television are chipping away at health care reform from the right and the left. The last estimate was that $1.5 million dollars is being spent every day by lobbyists. I suspect the number is even higher now.  I don't know one doctor who doesn't believe that something needs to be done to improve our health care system. We spend more money than any industrialized country and our outcomes (infant mortality rate, for example)are lousy.  So Mr. President, here are some suggestions for getting back on track: 1.  Jump in with details. We know you are smart and a brilliant orator.  Now come down from 35,000 feet to ground level and let's talk specifics. 2. Explain that the underinsured are the real problem and that affects people who are 'happy with what they have' but haven't faced a crisis yet. 3.  Put personal responsibility front and center. Smoking and weight control need to be addressed in frank, honest terms and lead by example. 4.  Explain that fixing a patchwork quilt of medicine is not overnight and that better is a laudable goal. Chasing perfect will take our eyes off the ball.  5. Invest in us. What could be a smarter investment than in the health and welfare of the American public? That means the $1.3 trillion over a decade is not a waste, but is putting stock in our future. I am with you President Obama. A lot of us are. But this is a time to talk plainly. nonadult false Getting Real: A Path to Health Care Reform text blog 132 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691620 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Does-Size-Matter-The-Controversy-Before-the-Confirmation/BLOG/1691652/142833.html Earlier this week President Obama nominated Dr. Regina Benjamin as the next surgeon general of the United States. This nomination came after a much publicized -- but not quite nominated -- pick of Dr. Sanjay Gupta for the same post. The President teased me on Wednesday when I spoke with him for my 'Dr. Nancy' show that this was an instance of the press running with the Gupta story before the White House was ready. There is room for nuance here. But on another subject, the nuance is lost. The blogosphere has been ripe with postings over the past few days about the fitness of Dr. Benjamin to be the next surgeon general because she is overweight. The blogs have been blunt and unkind. Dr. Art Caplan, Chair of the Department of Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania, has jumped into the conversation saying, 'enough!' He likens the anti-Benjamin bloggers as reverting to the level of seventh graders.  Caplan has written, 'People need to relate to the surgeon general...if she can battle her weight on the job she will do more to curb obesity than all the salads...everywhere.' Today on 'Dr. Nancy' on MSNBC at noon ET we will continue this debate. Dr. Caplan will be joining us along with Dr. Lolita McDavid, pediatrician at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, and Keri Glassman, a New York City nutritionist. What do you think?  And does anyone remember picking on Dr. Joycelyn Elders just because she wasn't a size 6?  On Monday, I'll tell you what I think would be the best and worst things about being surgeon general. Earlier this week President Obama nominated Dr. Regina Benjamin as the next surgeon general of the United States. This nomination came after a much publicized -- but not quite nominated -- pick of Dr. Sanjay Gupta for the same post. The President teased me on Wednesday when I spoke with him for my 'Dr. Nancy' show that this was an instance of the press running with the Gupta story before the White House was ready. There is room for nuance here. But on another subject, the nuance is lost. The blogosphere has been ripe with postings over the past few days about the fitness of Dr. Benjamin to be the next surgeon general because she is overweight. The blogs have been blunt and unkind. Dr. Art Caplan, Chair of the Department of Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania, has jumped into the conversation saying, 'enough!' He likens the anti-Benjamin bloggers as reverting to the level of seventh graders.  Caplan has written, 'People need to relate to the surgeon general...if she can battle her weight on the job she will do more to curb obesity than all the salads...everywhere.' Today on 'Dr. Nancy' on MSNBC at noon ET we will continue this debate. Dr. Caplan will be joining us along with Dr. Lolita McDavid, pediatrician at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, and Keri Glassman, a New York City nutritionist. What do you think?  And does anyone remember picking on Dr. Joycelyn Elders just because she wasn't a size 6?  On Monday, I'll tell you what I think would be the best and worst things about being surgeon general. Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:29:15 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Does-Size-Matter-The-Controversy-Before-the-Confirmation/BLOG/1691652/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-07-17T11:29:15Z BeWell Community Earlier this week President Obama nominated Dr. Regina Benjamin as the next surgeon general of the United States. This nomination came after a much publicized -- but not quite nominated -- pick of Dr. Sanjay Gupta for the same post. The President teased me on Wednesday when I spoke with him for my 'Dr. Nancy' show that this was an instance of the press running with the Gupta story before the White House was ready. There is room for nuance here. But on another subject, the nuance is lost. The blogosphere has been ripe with postings over the past few days about the fitness of Dr. Benjamin to be the next surgeon general because she is overweight. The blogs have been blunt and unkind. Dr. Art Caplan, Chair of the Department of Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania, has jumped into the conversation saying, 'enough!' He likens the anti-Benjamin bloggers as reverting to the level of seventh graders.  Caplan has written, 'People need to relate to the surgeon general...if she can battle her weight on the job she will do more to curb obesity than all the salads...everywhere.' Today on 'Dr. Nancy' on MSNBC at noon ET we will continue this debate. Dr. Caplan will be joining us along with Dr. Lolita McDavid, pediatrician at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, and Keri Glassman, a New York City nutritionist. What do you think?  And does anyone remember picking on Dr. Joycelyn Elders just because she wasn't a size 6?  On Monday, I'll tell you what I think would be the best and worst things about being surgeon general. nonadult false Does Size Matter? The Controversy Before the Confirmation text blog 154 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691652 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Interviewing-President-Obama/BLOG/1691650/142833.html Yesterday I was invited to the White House, as President Obama jumped into the health care reform debate with a renewed energy. He began with a ceremony in the Rose Garden, where I stood with the international press corps listening to his remarks. The President was flanked by a few members of Congress and used the moment to highlight nurses as the first line of improving health care and access in the U.S.Now a moment of personal digression… I have been to the White House before, but this was my first official assignment. The flowers in the Rose Garden were in full bloom. A couple of changes I noted: The running track that President Clinton had installed was gone and right outside the Oval Office was the playground set and picnic table that were famously given to the Obama children. Both the playground set and picnic table are within visual sight for the President when he is at his desk. Two hours later I sat down with the President in the Blue Room. We talked about some of the obvious things: how he would structure reform, how the nation would pay for it, the role of personal responsibility, and the need for Congress to 'buck up.'  We had a good laugh when I alluded to his first choice for surgeon general, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and he corrected me saying he never really nominated him. And, of course, I couldn't leave without asking him about his ongoing battle with cigarettes. As to how well he is doing, he replied, 'I'm doing well thanks.'The President was gracious and the White House staff wonderfully accommodating. It was a very good day.  You can see the entire interview at msnbc.com. Yesterday I was invited to the White House, as President Obama jumped into the health care reform debate with a renewed energy. He began with a ceremony in the Rose Garden, where I stood with the international press corps listening to his remarks. The President was flanked by a few members of Congress and used the moment to highlight nurses as the first line of improving health care and access in the U.S.Now a moment of personal digression… I have been to the White House before, but this was my first official assignment. The flowers in the Rose Garden were in full bloom. A couple of changes I noted: The running track that President Clinton had installed was gone and right outside the Oval Office was the playground set and picnic table that were famously given to the Obama children. Both the playground set and picnic table are within visual sight for the President when he is at his desk. Two hours later I sat down with the President in the Blue Room. We talked about some of the obvious things: how he would structure reform, how the nation would pay for it, the role of personal responsibility, and the need for Congress to 'buck up.'  We had a good laugh when I alluded to his first choice for surgeon general, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and he corrected me saying he never really nominated him. And, of course, I couldn't leave without asking him about his ongoing battle with cigarettes. As to how well he is doing, he replied, 'I'm doing well thanks.'The President was gracious and the White House staff wonderfully accommodating. It was a very good day.  You can see the entire interview at msnbc.com. Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:17:40 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Interviewing-President-Obama/BLOG/1691650/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-07-16T12:17:40Z BeWell Community Yesterday I was invited to the White House, as President Obama jumped into the health care reform debate with a renewed energy. He began with a ceremony in the Rose Garden, where I stood with the international press corps listening to his remarks. The President was flanked by a few members of Congress and used the moment to highlight nurses as the first line of improving health care and access in the U.S.Now a moment of personal digression… I have been to the White House before, but this was my first official assignment. The flowers in the Rose Garden were in full bloom. A couple of changes I noted: The running track that President Clinton had installed was gone and right outside the Oval Office was the playground set and picnic table that were famously given to the Obama children. Both the playground set and picnic table are within visual sight for the President when he is at his desk. Two hours later I sat down with the President in the Blue Room. We talked about some of the obvious things: how he would structure reform, how the nation would pay for it, the role of personal responsibility, and the need for Congress to 'buck up.'  We had a good laugh when I alluded to his first choice for surgeon general, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and he corrected me saying he never really nominated him. And, of course, I couldn't leave without asking him about his ongoing battle with cigarettes. As to how well he is doing, he replied, 'I'm doing well thanks.'The President was gracious and the White House staff wonderfully accommodating. It was a very good day.  You can see the entire interview at msnbc.com. nonadult false Interviewing President Obama text blog 97 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691650 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Our-Surgeon-General/BLOG/1691649/142833.html Sometimes we don't get what we want the first time around and our second choice proves to be even better. These things even happen to the President of the United States. As many of you know, I am a big fan of Dr. Sanjay Gupta and I celebrated his nomination as Surgeon General. But when Senator Tom Daschle's hopes as secretary of HHS were dashed, Sanjay witrhdrew his nomination. I was sad but understood, and we have been without a Surgeon General during the tenure of this administration. That is about to change. Yesterday, in a Rose Garden press conference, President Obama introduced his new choice, Dr. Regina Benjamin. She epitomizes what a family doctor is and what one person can do to hold a commnity together. This Alabama doctor is well schooled and has receievd Kellogg and MacArthur fellowhips.  She has provided medical care to the poor and disenfranchised in the aftermath of two hurricanes. She has forgone salary and personal pleasures and when her patients couldn't get to her, she made sure that she got to them. So here is my hope as a citizen: Let us meet her, hear from here, and get her in her new job. Forget the rancor and the grilling over abortion stances and get back to the basics. We need an articulate, thoughtful doctor who understands, lives, and breathes what medicine is all about. Our problems are daunting -- health care reform, H1N1 flu, a nursing shortage, and even ethical lapses in the medical profession.  It's time for a fresh face. Welcome, Dr. Benjamin.  Sometimes we don't get what we want the first time around and our second choice proves to be even better. These things even happen to the President of the United States. As many of you know, I am a big fan of Dr. Sanjay Gupta and I celebrated his nomination as Surgeon General. But when Senator Tom Daschle's hopes as secretary of HHS were dashed, Sanjay witrhdrew his nomination. I was sad but understood, and we have been without a Surgeon General during the tenure of this administration. That is about to change. Yesterday, in a Rose Garden press conference, President Obama introduced his new choice, Dr. Regina Benjamin. She epitomizes what a family doctor is and what one person can do to hold a commnity together. This Alabama doctor is well schooled and has receievd Kellogg and MacArthur fellowhips.  She has provided medical care to the poor and disenfranchised in the aftermath of two hurricanes. She has forgone salary and personal pleasures and when her patients couldn't get to her, she made sure that she got to them. So here is my hope as a citizen: Let us meet her, hear from here, and get her in her new job. Forget the rancor and the grilling over abortion stances and get back to the basics. We need an articulate, thoughtful doctor who understands, lives, and breathes what medicine is all about. Our problems are daunting -- health care reform, H1N1 flu, a nursing shortage, and even ethical lapses in the medical profession.  It's time for a fresh face. Welcome, Dr. Benjamin.  Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:43:04 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Our-Surgeon-General/BLOG/1691649/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-07-14T11:43:04Z BeWell Community Sometimes we don't get what we want the first time around and our second choice proves to be even better. These things even happen to the President of the United States. As many of you know, I am a big fan of Dr. Sanjay Gupta and I celebrated his nomination as Surgeon General. But when Senator Tom Daschle's hopes as secretary of HHS were dashed, Sanjay witrhdrew his nomination. I was sad but understood, and we have been without a Surgeon General during the tenure of this administration. That is about to change. Yesterday, in a Rose Garden press conference, President Obama introduced his new choice, Dr. Regina Benjamin. She epitomizes what a family doctor is and what one person can do to hold a commnity together. This Alabama doctor is well schooled and has receievd Kellogg and MacArthur fellowhips.  She has provided medical care to the poor and disenfranchised in the aftermath of two hurricanes. She has forgone salary and personal pleasures and when her patients couldn't get to her, she made sure that she got to them. So here is my hope as a citizen: Let us meet her, hear from here, and get her in her new job. Forget the rancor and the grilling over abortion stances and get back to the basics. We need an articulate, thoughtful doctor who understands, lives, and breathes what medicine is all about. Our problems are daunting -- health care reform, H1N1 flu, a nursing shortage, and even ethical lapses in the medical profession.  It's time for a fresh face. Welcome, Dr. Benjamin.  nonadult false Our Surgeon General text blog 98 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691649 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Michael-Jackson-The-Dark-Side-of-Concierge-Medicine/BLOG/1691628/142833.html So it has been ten days since Michael Jackson died at home. The speculation of narcotics playing a role is still strong and this morning the DEA is ramping up an investigation into at least five Los Angeles physicians who may have prescribed legal -- but inappropriate -- drugs to the pop superstar. One medication under suspicion is Diprivan, a powerful sedative that is used for out-patient surgery and in the operating room. I can think of no application for at-home use other than abuse. The other concerns are that numerous unlabeled pill bottles were found in Jackson's home and that various names appeared on those bottles that were labeled.Of course at the heart of this is the doctor (or doctors) who implicitly played a role or looked the other way.  Can physicians be 'bought' for $30,000 to $150,000 to procure drugs or look the other way? Increasingly it looks like the answer is yes. Doctors are slow to police their own. We worry about counter suits for defamation of character or restraint of trade. And there will always be outliers...rogue physicians who do our entire profession harm. But this investigation will be a dark look into concierge medicine and those doctors who walked a shade of grey and went to the dark side. So it has been ten days since Michael Jackson died at home. The speculation of narcotics playing a role is still strong and this morning the DEA is ramping up an investigation into at least five Los Angeles physicians who may have prescribed legal -- but inappropriate -- drugs to the pop superstar. One medication under suspicion is Diprivan, a powerful sedative that is used for out-patient surgery and in the operating room. I can think of no application for at-home use other than abuse. The other concerns are that numerous unlabeled pill bottles were found in Jackson's home and that various names appeared on those bottles that were labeled.Of course at the heart of this is the doctor (or doctors) who implicitly played a role or looked the other way.  Can physicians be 'bought' for $30,000 to $150,000 to procure drugs or look the other way? Increasingly it looks like the answer is yes. Doctors are slow to police their own. We worry about counter suits for defamation of character or restraint of trade. And there will always be outliers...rogue physicians who do our entire profession harm. But this investigation will be a dark look into concierge medicine and those doctors who walked a shade of grey and went to the dark side. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:24:04 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Michael-Jackson-The-Dark-Side-of-Concierge-Medicine/BLOG/1691628/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-07-06T12:24:04Z BeWell Community So it has been ten days since Michael Jackson died at home. The speculation of narcotics playing a role is still strong and this morning the DEA is ramping up an investigation into at least five Los Angeles physicians who may have prescribed legal -- but inappropriate -- drugs to the pop superstar. One medication under suspicion is Diprivan, a powerful sedative that is used for out-patient surgery and in the operating room. I can think of no application for at-home use other than abuse. The other concerns are that numerous unlabeled pill bottles were found in Jackson's home and that various names appeared on those bottles that were labeled.Of course at the heart of this is the doctor (or doctors) who implicitly played a role or looked the other way.  Can physicians be 'bought' for $30,000 to $150,000 to procure drugs or look the other way? Increasingly it looks like the answer is yes. Doctors are slow to police their own. We worry about counter suits for defamation of character or restraint of trade. And there will always be outliers...rogue physicians who do our entire profession harm. But this investigation will be a dark look into concierge medicine and those doctors who walked a shade of grey and went to the dark side. nonadult false Michael Jackson: The Dark Side of Concierge Medicine text blog 41 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691628 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Two-Things-on-My-Mind-PARP-Inhibitors-amp-quotDr-Nancyquot/BLOG/1691626/142833.html The hottest cancer topic today is around a new class of drugs called PARP inhibitors.  They have shown success in phase 1 clinical trails in people with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, which increases a woman's risk for getting breast and ovarian cancer (or prostate cancer in men). This new class of drugs goes to the core of the genetics of cancer and disrupts tumors at their cellular level. Most people reported few side effects, like hair loss and nausea. Now here is my word of caution: I know that this may be very promising, but we are looking at new drugs in the very early stages of testing. I remember the excitement around Interferon a couple of decades ago and then the bloom came off that rose a little as we started to realize that there is no single magic bullet. So now I'll toss this out to my friend Dr. Susan Love, breast cancer surgeon and researcher, and ask her to share what she thinks. On another note, my new show 'Dr. Nancy' on MSNBC starts on Monday, June 29. It will be live everyday at 12:00 p.m. ET. I'll look for your thoughts and suggestions here on BeWell.com and on Facebook. And I look forward to having some of my fellow BeWell experts on the air with me.  The hottest cancer topic today is around a new class of drugs called PARP inhibitors.  They have shown success in phase 1 clinical trails in people with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, which increases a woman's risk for getting breast and ovarian cancer (or prostate cancer in men). This new class of drugs goes to the core of the genetics of cancer and disrupts tumors at their cellular level. Most people reported few side effects, like hair loss and nausea. Now here is my word of caution: I know that this may be very promising, but we are looking at new drugs in the very early stages of testing. I remember the excitement around Interferon a couple of decades ago and then the bloom came off that rose a little as we started to realize that there is no single magic bullet. So now I'll toss this out to my friend Dr. Susan Love, breast cancer surgeon and researcher, and ask her to share what she thinks. On another note, my new show 'Dr. Nancy' on MSNBC starts on Monday, June 29. It will be live everyday at 12:00 p.m. ET. I'll look for your thoughts and suggestions here on BeWell.com and on Facebook. And I look forward to having some of my fellow BeWell experts on the air with me.  Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:43:30 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Two-Things-on-My-Mind-PARP-Inhibitors-amp-quotDr-Nancyquot/BLOG/1691626/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-06-25T10:43:30Z BeWell Community The hottest cancer topic today is around a new class of drugs called PARP inhibitors.  They have shown success in phase 1 clinical trails in people with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, which increases a woman's risk for getting breast and ovarian cancer (or prostate cancer in men). This new class of drugs goes to the core of the genetics of cancer and disrupts tumors at their cellular level. Most people reported few side effects, like hair loss and nausea. Now here is my word of caution: I know that this may be very promising, but we are looking at new drugs in the very early stages of testing. I remember the excitement around Interferon a couple of decades ago and then the bloom came off that rose a little as we started to realize that there is no single magic bullet. So now I'll toss this out to my friend Dr. Susan Love, breast cancer surgeon and researcher, and ask her to share what she thinks. On another note, my new show 'Dr. Nancy' on MSNBC starts on Monday, June 29. It will be live everyday at 12:00 p.m. ET. I'll look for your thoughts and suggestions here on BeWell.com and on Facebook. And I look forward to having some of my fellow BeWell experts on the air with me.  nonadult false Two Things on My Mind: PARP Inhibitors & "Dr. Nancy" text blog 44 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691626 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_My-New-Show-quotDr-Nancyquot/BLOG/1691624/142833.html I thought it high time to give everyone an update, since it has been a while since I posted a blog. Get ready for a more recurrent stream in the near future. Starting Monday, June 29 on MSNBC at 12:00 p.m. ET and 9:00 a.m. PT, I will be hosting a new show called (what else?!!) 'Dr. Nancy.' This will be an hour of live television focusing on medicine, social policy, and, of course, politics. This is a critical time for every American as we focus our eyes on Washington and wait to see what Congress and the President offer with regard to health care reform. As a surgeon, reporter, mother, and occasional patient I have a perspective that other people may not.  My goal is to distill the complicated jargon into thoughts and ideas that we can all get our heads around. Health care reform is going to be front and center, so assume that we will hit the ground running on Monday. We want to hear from our elected officials and we want to hear from you. Everyone knows our system can be better and everyone knows that all the parties are going to have to put something on the table: insurers, companies, doctors, hospitals, and the American citizen. But who will give what...and what does 'new and improved' look like? Stay tuned. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.    I thought it high time to give everyone an update, since it has been a while since I posted a blog. Get ready for a more recurrent stream in the near future. Starting Monday, June 29 on MSNBC at 12:00 p.m. ET and 9:00 a.m. PT, I will be hosting a new show called (what else?!!) 'Dr. Nancy.' This will be an hour of live television focusing on medicine, social policy, and, of course, politics. This is a critical time for every American as we focus our eyes on Washington and wait to see what Congress and the President offer with regard to health care reform. As a surgeon, reporter, mother, and occasional patient I have a perspective that other people may not.  My goal is to distill the complicated jargon into thoughts and ideas that we can all get our heads around. Health care reform is going to be front and center, so assume that we will hit the ground running on Monday. We want to hear from our elected officials and we want to hear from you. Everyone knows our system can be better and everyone knows that all the parties are going to have to put something on the table: insurers, companies, doctors, hospitals, and the American citizen. But who will give what...and what does 'new and improved' look like? Stay tuned. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.    Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:17:05 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_My-New-Show-quotDr-Nancyquot/BLOG/1691624/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-06-24T11:17:05Z BeWell Community I thought it high time to give everyone an update, since it has been a while since I posted a blog. Get ready for a more recurrent stream in the near future. Starting Monday, June 29 on MSNBC at 12:00 p.m. ET and 9:00 a.m. PT, I will be hosting a new show called (what else?!!) 'Dr. Nancy.' This will be an hour of live television focusing on medicine, social policy, and, of course, politics. This is a critical time for every American as we focus our eyes on Washington and wait to see what Congress and the President offer with regard to health care reform. As a surgeon, reporter, mother, and occasional patient I have a perspective that other people may not.  My goal is to distill the complicated jargon into thoughts and ideas that we can all get our heads around. Health care reform is going to be front and center, so assume that we will hit the ground running on Monday. We want to hear from our elected officials and we want to hear from you. Everyone knows our system can be better and everyone knows that all the parties are going to have to put something on the table: insurers, companies, doctors, hospitals, and the American citizen. But who will give what...and what does 'new and improved' look like? Stay tuned. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.    nonadult false My New Show: "Dr. Nancy" text blog 32 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691624 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Can-You-Close-the-Borders/BLOG/1691660/142833.html As the concern about swine flu continues today the reality is that this infection shows just how small the world is and how easy it is to pass germs from one person to another...and how germs pass borders with impunity. The horse is out of the barn. This is now a global virus, even though it seems to have hit Mexico much harder than it has in the U.S. At this time there are 65 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. and no deaths.  The CDC announced today that this new virus will not be included in the flu shots that are being prepared right now for use in the Fall.  Concern is that this would slow down production of the normal stockpile.  For right now, prevention is still the best suggestion. Wash your hands frequently, stay home if you are ill, and stay away from people who appear ill with respiratory infections (fever, sore throat, aches, and headache). I do not expect this to be the end of things. Expect hospitalizations and some deaths in this country.  As the concern about swine flu continues today the reality is that this infection shows just how small the world is and how easy it is to pass germs from one person to another...and how germs pass borders with impunity. The horse is out of the barn. This is now a global virus, even though it seems to have hit Mexico much harder than it has in the U.S. At this time there are 65 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. and no deaths.  The CDC announced today that this new virus will not be included in the flu shots that are being prepared right now for use in the Fall.  Concern is that this would slow down production of the normal stockpile.  For right now, prevention is still the best suggestion. Wash your hands frequently, stay home if you are ill, and stay away from people who appear ill with respiratory infections (fever, sore throat, aches, and headache). I do not expect this to be the end of things. Expect hospitalizations and some deaths in this country.  Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:51:09 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Can-You-Close-the-Borders/BLOG/1691660/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-04-28T19:51:09Z BeWell Community As the concern about swine flu continues today the reality is that this infection shows just how small the world is and how easy it is to pass germs from one person to another...and how germs pass borders with impunity. The horse is out of the barn. This is now a global virus, even though it seems to have hit Mexico much harder than it has in the U.S. At this time there are 65 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. and no deaths.  The CDC announced today that this new virus will not be included in the flu shots that are being prepared right now for use in the Fall.  Concern is that this would slow down production of the normal stockpile.  For right now, prevention is still the best suggestion. Wash your hands frequently, stay home if you are ill, and stay away from people who appear ill with respiratory infections (fever, sore throat, aches, and headache). I do not expect this to be the end of things. Expect hospitalizations and some deaths in this country.  nonadult false Can You Close the Borders? text blog 110 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691660 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Swine-Flu-What-You-Need-to-Know/BLOG/1691659/142833.html The story is changing almost as quickly as the virus is spreading. Swine flu has now killed over 100 people in Mexico and has jumped the border, affecting people in five states and in countries ranging from Nova Scotia to New Zealand. So far in the U.S., New York has been hit the hardest with eight of the confirmed 20 cases as of Monday.This virus is a combination of particles from swine, bird, and human flu virus. That's one of the things that makes this infection so frightening. As it spreads between people, the virus can continue mutating, which allows it even to attack young and healthy people, as we have no normal immunity to it.  This new flu virus has no relationship to the flu that we worry about every winter and there is no protection for it from the normal flu vaccine.Symptoms of swine flu include fever, sore throat, cough, achiness, and, in some people, vomiting and diarrhea. The fever and painful cough differentiate it from a spring allergy or routine cold.The best precaution is good hygiene and hand washing, since putting a hand that may have the virus up to the nose and eyes is the best way to infect yourself. If you do come down with symptoms, call your doctor right away. Tamiflu and Relenza are the two antivirals that can shorten the duration of the flu and lessen the symptoms. Treatment, though, has to be started within 48 hours. Do not go to the emergency room and, for heaven's sake, do not go to work or out into congested areas. Stay home, rest, and get your antiviral.Today the State Department issued a travel advisory for anyone going to Mexico. For trusted advice -- which is changing by the hour -- go to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov.  It's a reliable place to start.More tomorrow...Click here to watch Dr. Snyderman discuss the swine flu on Today. The story is changing almost as quickly as the virus is spreading. Swine flu has now killed over 100 people in Mexico and has jumped the border, affecting people in five states and in countries ranging from Nova Scotia to New Zealand. So far in the U.S., New York has been hit the hardest with eight of the confirmed 20 cases as of Monday.This virus is a combination of particles from swine, bird, and human flu virus. That's one of the things that makes this infection so frightening. As it spreads between people, the virus can continue mutating, which allows it even to attack young and healthy people, as we have no normal immunity to it.  This new flu virus has no relationship to the flu that we worry about every winter and there is no protection for it from the normal flu vaccine.Symptoms of swine flu include fever, sore throat, cough, achiness, and, in some people, vomiting and diarrhea. The fever and painful cough differentiate it from a spring allergy or routine cold.The best precaution is good hygiene and hand washing, since putting a hand that may have the virus up to the nose and eyes is the best way to infect yourself. If you do come down with symptoms, call your doctor right away. Tamiflu and Relenza are the two antivirals that can shorten the duration of the flu and lessen the symptoms. Treatment, though, has to be started within 48 hours. Do not go to the emergency room and, for heaven's sake, do not go to work or out into congested areas. Stay home, rest, and get your antiviral.Today the State Department issued a travel advisory for anyone going to Mexico. For trusted advice -- which is changing by the hour -- go to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov.  It's a reliable place to start.More tomorrow...Click here to watch Dr. Snyderman discuss the swine flu on Today. Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:45:58 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Swine-Flu-What-You-Need-to-Know/BLOG/1691659/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-04-27T17:45:58Z BeWell Community The story is changing almost as quickly as the virus is spreading. Swine flu has now killed over 100 people in Mexico and has jumped the border, affecting people in five states and in countries ranging from Nova Scotia to New Zealand. So far in the U.S., New York has been hit the hardest with eight of the confirmed 20 cases as of Monday.This virus is a combination of particles from swine, bird, and human flu virus. That's one of the things that makes this infection so frightening. As it spreads between people, the virus can continue mutating, which allows it even to attack young and healthy people, as we have no normal immunity to it.  This new flu virus has no relationship to the flu that we worry about every winter and there is no protection for it from the normal flu vaccine.Symptoms of swine flu include fever, sore throat, cough, achiness, and, in some people, vomiting and diarrhea. The fever and painful cough differentiate it from a spring allergy or routine cold.The best precaution is good hygiene and hand washing, since putting a hand that may have the virus up to the nose and eyes is the best way to infect yourself. If you do come down with symptoms, call your doctor right away. Tamiflu and Relenza are the two antivirals that can shorten the duration of the flu and lessen the symptoms. Treatment, though, has to be started within 48 hours. Do not go to the emergency room and, for heaven's sake, do not go to work or out into congested areas. Stay home, rest, and get your antiviral.Today the State Department issued a travel advisory for anyone going to Mexico. For trusted advice -- which is changing by the hour -- go to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov.  It's a reliable place to start.More tomorrow...Click here to watch Dr. Snyderman discuss the swine flu on Today. nonadult false Swine Flu: What You Need to Know text blog 135 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691659 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_autism-recovery/BLOG/1691658/142833.html For the past three days I have reported on some of the inroads being made in the diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment of autism.  While the word recovery is still controversial there is exciting research from the University of Connecticutt that for some children on the mild to moderate end of the autism spectrum disorder there may be a door for recovery. The first step is to make an accurate diagnosis.  For many parents that requires the painful realization that something is just not right with social interaction, speech and language and other developmentsl milestones.  Then finding a pediatrician who will make contacts to developmental experts, occupational therapists, and speech and language experts can make a difference.  The looking question is how plastic a child's brain can be?  What can be changed?  What can be learned?For many parents these reports and the the scientific advances open up huge doors for hope.  There is still so much that we don't know about autism and it's related disorders.  But the more we study children and their families the more we will learn. This science is no longer a fringe element.  In fact, the National Institutes of Health has just committed $40 million dollars to this field.  It's about time.  For the past three days I have reported on some of the inroads being made in the diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment of autism.  While the word recovery is still controversial there is exciting research from the University of Connecticutt that for some children on the mild to moderate end of the autism spectrum disorder there may be a door for recovery. The first step is to make an accurate diagnosis.  For many parents that requires the painful realization that something is just not right with social interaction, speech and language and other developmentsl milestones.  Then finding a pediatrician who will make contacts to developmental experts, occupational therapists, and speech and language experts can make a difference.  The looking question is how plastic a child's brain can be?  What can be changed?  What can be learned?For many parents these reports and the the scientific advances open up huge doors for hope.  There is still so much that we don't know about autism and it's related disorders.  But the more we study children and their families the more we will learn. This science is no longer a fringe element.  In fact, the National Institutes of Health has just committed $40 million dollars to this field.  It's about time.  Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:23:33 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_autism-recovery/BLOG/1691658/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-04-17T18:23:33Z BeWell Community For the past three days I have reported on some of the inroads being made in the diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment of autism.  While the word recovery is still controversial there is exciting research from the University of Connecticutt that for some children on the mild to moderate end of the autism spectrum disorder there may be a door for recovery. The first step is to make an accurate diagnosis.  For many parents that requires the painful realization that something is just not right with social interaction, speech and language and other developmentsl milestones.  Then finding a pediatrician who will make contacts to developmental experts, occupational therapists, and speech and language experts can make a difference.  The looking question is how plastic a child's brain can be?  What can be changed?  What can be learned?For many parents these reports and the the scientific advances open up huge doors for hope.  There is still so much that we don't know about autism and it's related disorders.  But the more we study children and their families the more we will learn. This science is no longer a fringe element.  In fact, the National Institutes of Health has just committed $40 million dollars to this field.  It's about time.  nonadult false autism recovery text blog 119 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691658 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Paging-Pepper/BLOG/1691638/142833.html Usually I leave all topics that have to do with human sexuality to Dr. Pepper Schwatrz, my fellow BeWell expert and a specialist in intimate relationships, but a story published today in the U.K. on premature ejaculation caught our eye at the TODAY show. Three hundred men who have been diagnosed with premature ejaculation were studied at the Victoria Hospital in Belfast. A topical spray that contains a numbing medicine was found to reduce sensitivity just enough to allow these men to have sexual intercourse over six times longer than before. The spray was applied topically five minutes before sexual intercourse and it didn't appear to impair a woman's orgasm or sensitivity. That's important because some of the men in this study would otherwise ejaculate within seconds of coming in contact with female genitalia. Just extending an orgasm to a minute or two can make a big difference for a couple.  It is estimated that 40% of men suffer from premature ejaculation at some time in their lives. But given the embarrassment that goes with sexual issues, I wonder if that number is low. The good thing is that we continue to understand that science has an important role in human sexuality. If the effectiveness of this spray can be replicated in other studies, it may well be at a pharmacy near you in the next couple of years. Watch Dr. Snyderman's coverage of this new development on Today:Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Usually I leave all topics that have to do with human sexuality to Dr. Pepper Schwatrz, my fellow BeWell expert and a specialist in intimate relationships, but a story published today in the U.K. on premature ejaculation caught our eye at the TODAY show. Three hundred men who have been diagnosed with premature ejaculation were studied at the Victoria Hospital in Belfast. A topical spray that contains a numbing medicine was found to reduce sensitivity just enough to allow these men to have sexual intercourse over six times longer than before. The spray was applied topically five minutes before sexual intercourse and it didn't appear to impair a woman's orgasm or sensitivity. That's important because some of the men in this study would otherwise ejaculate within seconds of coming in contact with female genitalia. Just extending an orgasm to a minute or two can make a big difference for a couple.  It is estimated that 40% of men suffer from premature ejaculation at some time in their lives. But given the embarrassment that goes with sexual issues, I wonder if that number is low. The good thing is that we continue to understand that science has an important role in human sexuality. If the effectiveness of this spray can be replicated in other studies, it may well be at a pharmacy near you in the next couple of years. Watch Dr. Snyderman's coverage of this new development on Today:Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:17:02 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Paging-Pepper/BLOG/1691638/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-04-08T16:17:02Z BeWell Community Usually I leave all topics that have to do with human sexuality to Dr. Pepper Schwatrz, my fellow BeWell expert and a specialist in intimate relationships, but a story published today in the U.K. on premature ejaculation caught our eye at the TODAY show. Three hundred men who have been diagnosed with premature ejaculation were studied at the Victoria Hospital in Belfast. A topical spray that contains a numbing medicine was found to reduce sensitivity just enough to allow these men to have sexual intercourse over six times longer than before. The spray was applied topically five minutes before sexual intercourse and it didn't appear to impair a woman's orgasm or sensitivity. That's important because some of the men in this study would otherwise ejaculate within seconds of coming in contact with female genitalia. Just extending an orgasm to a minute or two can make a big difference for a couple.  It is estimated that 40% of men suffer from premature ejaculation at some time in their lives. But given the embarrassment that goes with sexual issues, I wonder if that number is low. The good thing is that we continue to understand that science has an important role in human sexuality. If the effectiveness of this spray can be replicated in other studies, it may well be at a pharmacy near you in the next couple of years. Watch Dr. Snyderman's coverage of this new development on Today:Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy nonadult false Paging Pepper! text blog 103 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691638 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_The-Last-Straw-Kidney-Stones-Water-amp-Kids/BLOG/1691636/142833.html This week I visited the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and spent time in their pediatric urology clinic. The doctors there have seen a sudden rise of kidney stones in children -- increasing from five cases a month to now four cases a week. That is a dramatic change! What I expected to see in the clinic were overweight teenage boys who eat too much junk food and get too little exercise. What I saw and heard from the doctors was something all together different: I met teenage girls who were athletic and skinny, and on the surface didn't look like they would be at risk for anything. But the culprit lingered just below the surface. These girls love junk food, sports drinks, and soda. The common denominator? Salt.  They are exchanging water for drinks high in salt.For all of us, our kidneys filter our blood, clear the impurities, and make urine. When we don't drink enough water, calcium leaches out and can cause stones. If the stones aren't passed through the system they may have to be removed surgically. None of the options are great and the pain these kids feel is tremendous. This is one of those times when prevention is even more important than treatment. Now pediatricians are urging all kids to drink at least four tall glasses of water a day. And the best test is one that is tried and true: look at the color of your or your child's urine. If it is pale yellow or clear...that's good. If it is straw colored, the system is down some....and you need to make your way to a water fountain.  This week I visited the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and spent time in their pediatric urology clinic. The doctors there have seen a sudden rise of kidney stones in children -- increasing from five cases a month to now four cases a week. That is a dramatic change! What I expected to see in the clinic were overweight teenage boys who eat too much junk food and get too little exercise. What I saw and heard from the doctors was something all together different: I met teenage girls who were athletic and skinny, and on the surface didn't look like they would be at risk for anything. But the culprit lingered just below the surface. These girls love junk food, sports drinks, and soda. The common denominator? Salt.  They are exchanging water for drinks high in salt.For all of us, our kidneys filter our blood, clear the impurities, and make urine. When we don't drink enough water, calcium leaches out and can cause stones. If the stones aren't passed through the system they may have to be removed surgically. None of the options are great and the pain these kids feel is tremendous. This is one of those times when prevention is even more important than treatment. Now pediatricians are urging all kids to drink at least four tall glasses of water a day. And the best test is one that is tried and true: look at the color of your or your child's urine. If it is pale yellow or clear...that's good. If it is straw colored, the system is down some....and you need to make your way to a water fountain.  Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:14:38 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_The-Last-Straw-Kidney-Stones-Water-amp-Kids/BLOG/1691636/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-04-02T11:14:38Z BeWell Community This week I visited the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and spent time in their pediatric urology clinic. The doctors there have seen a sudden rise of kidney stones in children -- increasing from five cases a month to now four cases a week. That is a dramatic change! What I expected to see in the clinic were overweight teenage boys who eat too much junk food and get too little exercise. What I saw and heard from the doctors was something all together different: I met teenage girls who were athletic and skinny, and on the surface didn't look like they would be at risk for anything. But the culprit lingered just below the surface. These girls love junk food, sports drinks, and soda. The common denominator? Salt.  They are exchanging water for drinks high in salt.For all of us, our kidneys filter our blood, clear the impurities, and make urine. When we don't drink enough water, calcium leaches out and can cause stones. If the stones aren't passed through the system they may have to be removed surgically. None of the options are great and the pain these kids feel is tremendous. This is one of those times when prevention is even more important than treatment. Now pediatricians are urging all kids to drink at least four tall glasses of water a day. And the best test is one that is tried and true: look at the color of your or your child's urine. If it is pale yellow or clear...that's good. If it is straw colored, the system is down some....and you need to make your way to a water fountain.  nonadult false The Last Straw: Kidney Stones, Water & Kids text blog 110 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691636 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Changing-the-Face-of-Breast-Cancer/BLOG/1691635/142833.html Yesterday I joined my friend, Dr. Susan Love, other breast cancer experts, and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer for a discussion about some of the recent advances in breast cancer treatment. Most of the meeting centered around a new test for women with early-stage, node-negative, estrogen-receptor positive tumors who are unsure about whether adding traditional chemotherapy can improve cure rates. As usual, Susan explained the science, the dilemmas facing many women, and how doctors need to stay up to date with scientific advances. The panel of experts was illustrious. But it was the seven women -- including an anthropologist, pilot, stay-at-home mom, art teacher, and nurse (women of different colors from all over the United States) -- who reminded the group that behind every statistic and behind every new advance, there is a human face. The common denominator was strength. Over and over we heard stories about how they partnered with their doctors, used their courage to speak up, and, in essence, led their health care teams. I have always maintained that whenever we are the patient, we need to think about a wheel. As patients, we're the hub...and every doctor, nurse, social worker, dietician, physical therapist, and so on (you get the picture) make up the spokes. When this model exists, we are all ahead of the game. I always walk away from meetings like this a little smarter and more sensitive. I love having Susan as a friend and am always a better person when I leave her company. But yesterday was different because the seven brave women who told their stories reminded both Susan and me why we became doctors in the first place. Yesterday I joined my friend, Dr. Susan Love, other breast cancer experts, and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer for a discussion about some of the recent advances in breast cancer treatment. Most of the meeting centered around a new test for women with early-stage, node-negative, estrogen-receptor positive tumors who are unsure about whether adding traditional chemotherapy can improve cure rates. As usual, Susan explained the science, the dilemmas facing many women, and how doctors need to stay up to date with scientific advances. The panel of experts was illustrious. But it was the seven women -- including an anthropologist, pilot, stay-at-home mom, art teacher, and nurse (women of different colors from all over the United States) -- who reminded the group that behind every statistic and behind every new advance, there is a human face. The common denominator was strength. Over and over we heard stories about how they partnered with their doctors, used their courage to speak up, and, in essence, led their health care teams. I have always maintained that whenever we are the patient, we need to think about a wheel. As patients, we're the hub...and every doctor, nurse, social worker, dietician, physical therapist, and so on (you get the picture) make up the spokes. When this model exists, we are all ahead of the game. I always walk away from meetings like this a little smarter and more sensitive. I love having Susan as a friend and am always a better person when I leave her company. But yesterday was different because the seven brave women who told their stories reminded both Susan and me why we became doctors in the first place. Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:10:52 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Changing-the-Face-of-Breast-Cancer/BLOG/1691635/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-03-25T13:10:52Z BeWell Community Yesterday I joined my friend, Dr. Susan Love, other breast cancer experts, and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer for a discussion about some of the recent advances in breast cancer treatment. Most of the meeting centered around a new test for women with early-stage, node-negative, estrogen-receptor positive tumors who are unsure about whether adding traditional chemotherapy can improve cure rates. As usual, Susan explained the science, the dilemmas facing many women, and how doctors need to stay up to date with scientific advances. The panel of experts was illustrious. But it was the seven women -- including an anthropologist, pilot, stay-at-home mom, art teacher, and nurse (women of different colors from all over the United States) -- who reminded the group that behind every statistic and behind every new advance, there is a human face. The common denominator was strength. Over and over we heard stories about how they partnered with their doctors, used their courage to speak up, and, in essence, led their health care teams. I have always maintained that whenever we are the patient, we need to think about a wheel. As patients, we're the hub...and every doctor, nurse, social worker, dietician, physical therapist, and so on (you get the picture) make up the spokes. When this model exists, we are all ahead of the game. I always walk away from meetings like this a little smarter and more sensitive. I love having Susan as a friend and am always a better person when I leave her company. But yesterday was different because the seven brave women who told their stories reminded both Susan and me why we became doctors in the first place. nonadult false Changing the Face of Breast Cancer text blog 87 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691635 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Natasha-Richardson/BLOG/1691656/142833.html This morning people are mourning the death of Natasha Richardson, wife of Liam Neeson, mother of two, and Tony award winning actress. While skiing on a 'bunny slope' with a ski instructor at a resort in Quebec, Richardson fell.  By all reports it was a simple fall.  She laughed about her clumsiness, signed a waver refusing to see a doctor, and walked away.  Within an hour she complained of headache and not feeling well.  Everything went downhill from there.  She lapsed into a coma and died last night at a New York hospital. Traumatic brain injury kills 50,000 people every year. 1.2 million people are treated at emergency departments and released.  How could this have happened?  Sadly, there are a couple of ways.  Even a simple bump on the head can tear one of the blood vessels on the surface of the brain.  If the bleeding goes unchecked it can cause a clot that lodges under the skull and pushes on sensitive brain tissue. The rule of thumb is to be observed after a head injury to watch for subtle neurological changes that can be an indication of a bigger problem.  Orinetation to date, time, and place are a beginning.  Who is the president?  Can you subtract simple numbers? Other things to watch out for are headache, one-sided weakness or paralysis, lethargy, convulsions, and coma.  If any of those symptoms are present, a CT or MRI are indicated with the goal of finding the clot and removing it. Helmets can make a difference but only for skiers and snowboarders who ski 20 mph or less.  For speed demons there is no indication that helmets make that much of a difference. And, of course, it's important to remember that sometimes bad things happen to good people even when all around them have good intentions.  There is so much sadness with this story and it is rarely OK to blame the victim.  As we all think about the life and legacy of Natsha Richardson, this is a gentle reminder that even a simple bump on the head can be serious.  And in order to figure out if there is an impending crisis, simple observation by a health care worker might make a difference.  I had only met Natasha twice during my tenure at Good Morning America.  She was lovely, down to earth and everyone's friend.  This is a very sad morning.  This morning people are mourning the death of Natasha Richardson, wife of Liam Neeson, mother of two, and Tony award winning actress. While skiing on a 'bunny slope' with a ski instructor at a resort in Quebec, Richardson fell.  By all reports it was a simple fall.  She laughed about her clumsiness, signed a waver refusing to see a doctor, and walked away.  Within an hour she complained of headache and not feeling well.  Everything went downhill from there.  She lapsed into a coma and died last night at a New York hospital. Traumatic brain injury kills 50,000 people every year. 1.2 million people are treated at emergency departments and released.  How could this have happened?  Sadly, there are a couple of ways.  Even a simple bump on the head can tear one of the blood vessels on the surface of the brain.  If the bleeding goes unchecked it can cause a clot that lodges under the skull and pushes on sensitive brain tissue. The rule of thumb is to be observed after a head injury to watch for subtle neurological changes that can be an indication of a bigger problem.  Orinetation to date, time, and place are a beginning.  Who is the president?  Can you subtract simple numbers? Other things to watch out for are headache, one-sided weakness or paralysis, lethargy, convulsions, and coma.  If any of those symptoms are present, a CT or MRI are indicated with the goal of finding the clot and removing it. Helmets can make a difference but only for skiers and snowboarders who ski 20 mph or less.  For speed demons there is no indication that helmets make that much of a difference. And, of course, it's important to remember that sometimes bad things happen to good people even when all around them have good intentions.  There is so much sadness with this story and it is rarely OK to blame the victim.  As we all think about the life and legacy of Natsha Richardson, this is a gentle reminder that even a simple bump on the head can be serious.  And in order to figure out if there is an impending crisis, simple observation by a health care worker might make a difference.  I had only met Natasha twice during my tenure at Good Morning America.  She was lovely, down to earth and everyone's friend.  This is a very sad morning.  Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:03:04 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Natasha-Richardson/BLOG/1691656/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-03-19T12:03:04Z BeWell Community This morning people are mourning the death of Natasha Richardson, wife of Liam Neeson, mother of two, and Tony award winning actress. While skiing on a 'bunny slope' with a ski instructor at a resort in Quebec, Richardson fell.  By all reports it was a simple fall.  She laughed about her clumsiness, signed a waver refusing to see a doctor, and walked away.  Within an hour she complained of headache and not feeling well.  Everything went downhill from there.  She lapsed into a coma and died last night at a New York hospital. Traumatic brain injury kills 50,000 people every year. 1.2 million people are treated at emergency departments and released.  How could this have happened?  Sadly, there are a couple of ways.  Even a simple bump on the head can tear one of the blood vessels on the surface of the brain.  If the bleeding goes unchecked it can cause a clot that lodges under the skull and pushes on sensitive brain tissue. The rule of thumb is to be observed after a head injury to watch for subtle neurological changes that can be an indication of a bigger problem.  Orinetation to date, time, and place are a beginning.  Who is the president?  Can you subtract simple numbers? Other things to watch out for are headache, one-sided weakness or paralysis, lethargy, convulsions, and coma.  If any of those symptoms are present, a CT or MRI are indicated with the goal of finding the clot and removing it. Helmets can make a difference but only for skiers and snowboarders who ski 20 mph or less.  For speed demons there is no indication that helmets make that much of a difference. And, of course, it's important to remember that sometimes bad things happen to good people even when all around them have good intentions.  There is so much sadness with this story and it is rarely OK to blame the victim.  As we all think about the life and legacy of Natsha Richardson, this is a gentle reminder that even a simple bump on the head can be serious.  And in order to figure out if there is an impending crisis, simple observation by a health care worker might make a difference.  I had only met Natasha twice during my tenure at Good Morning America.  She was lovely, down to earth and everyone's friend.  This is a very sad morning.  nonadult false Natasha Richardson text blog 100 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691656 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_Cancer-Screening-Tests-The-Jury-Is-Still-Out/BLOG/1691655/142833.html This morning I was on Today discussing cancer screening tests and the fact that there is so little data supporting the belief that many of the tests save lives. This whole notion turns the idea of catching cancers early on its head. For instance, does early colonoscopy mean that if you catch a colon cancer early you will live longer? If you find a small breast tumor and undergo treatment will you live longer? Increasingly, doctors are saying we're not so sure.There is one area where early detection has made a huge difference and that's in cervical cancer. Pap smears have increased survival from cancer of the cervix by 74% between 1955 and 1992.It's hard to know when a screening test is good or not necessary. So here is what I am doing: I know that cancer of the colon runs in my family and I am the third generation with polyps found on colonoscopy, so I am going to stay vigilant. However, since breast cancer does not run in my family, should either of my daughters have routine mammography at age 35 or 40? I'm not so sure they should.The jury is out on a lot of this because we, as a nation, just haven't run the numbers. And as uncomfortable as that might be, at the end of the day saving lives does come down to statistics and numbers.But this blog shouldn't be the end of this discussion. Let me hear from you. We all have a voice...and I want to hear yours. If you missed my segment on cancer screening tests, here's a re-cap. This morning I was on Today discussing cancer screening tests and the fact that there is so little data supporting the belief that many of the tests save lives. This whole notion turns the idea of catching cancers early on its head. For instance, does early colonoscopy mean that if you catch a colon cancer early you will live longer? If you find a small breast tumor and undergo treatment will you live longer? Increasingly, doctors are saying we're not so sure.There is one area where early detection has made a huge difference and that's in cervical cancer. Pap smears have increased survival from cancer of the cervix by 74% between 1955 and 1992.It's hard to know when a screening test is good or not necessary. So here is what I am doing: I know that cancer of the colon runs in my family and I am the third generation with polyps found on colonoscopy, so I am going to stay vigilant. However, since breast cancer does not run in my family, should either of my daughters have routine mammography at age 35 or 40? I'm not so sure they should.The jury is out on a lot of this because we, as a nation, just haven't run the numbers. And as uncomfortable as that might be, at the end of the day saving lives does come down to statistics and numbers.But this blog shouldn't be the end of this discussion. Let me hear from you. We all have a voice...and I want to hear yours. If you missed my segment on cancer screening tests, here's a re-cap. Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:12:34 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_Cancer-Screening-Tests-The-Jury-Is-Still-Out/BLOG/1691655/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-03-12T15:12:34Z BeWell Community This morning I was on Today discussing cancer screening tests and the fact that there is so little data supporting the belief that many of the tests save lives. This whole notion turns the idea of catching cancers early on its head. For instance, does early colonoscopy mean that if you catch a colon cancer early you will live longer? If you find a small breast tumor and undergo treatment will you live longer? Increasingly, doctors are saying we're not so sure.There is one area where early detection has made a huge difference and that's in cervical cancer. Pap smears have increased survival from cancer of the cervix by 74% between 1955 and 1992.It's hard to know when a screening test is good or not necessary. So here is what I am doing: I know that cancer of the colon runs in my family and I am the third generation with polyps found on colonoscopy, so I am going to stay vigilant. However, since breast cancer does not run in my family, should either of my daughters have routine mammography at age 35 or 40? I'm not so sure they should.The jury is out on a lot of this because we, as a nation, just haven't run the numbers. And as uncomfortable as that might be, at the end of the day saving lives does come down to statistics and numbers.But this blog shouldn't be the end of this discussion. Let me hear from you. We all have a voice...and I want to hear yours. If you missed my segment on cancer screening tests, here's a re-cap. nonadult false Cancer Screening Tests: The Jury Is Still Out text blog 90 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691655 19060950 Member 390 http://community.bewell.com/_What-a-Week-Already-Stem-Cells-amp-More/BLOG/1691654/142833.html This is one of those weeks where every time I sit down to write, something plops into my lap. So forgive my catching up, but these are the things that have been on my mind:On Monday, President Obama lifted the ban on stem cell research.  This was a very important move, especially to the scientists who are focusing their careers on unlocking the mysteries of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Stem cell research may also help in the treatment of heart disease and some day even cancer. Regenerating damaged knees and shoulders may also find sources of treatment in the generation of stem cells into specific soft tissue.Most doctors and researchers have always considered the ban on this research stupid. It has been a case where politics imposed its will on science. That isn't to say that we shouldn't talk about embryos, IVF, guidelines, and research goals, but we should talk about them as a society and in the arena of moving credible science forward so we can help people. On another note, there is a new breast cancer report just out that I covered on Today. It adds breast density to the risk factors for post-menopausal women who are at risk for getting breast cancer.  We all know the risks: age, family history, obesity, alcohol consumption, and even race and socioeconomic status to some extent. But you can tell by the list that the factors are old. That's the problem. We're recycling the same old ideas and not thinking outside the box.That's why I'm making a blatant plug for Dr. Susan Love's Army of Women. Susan is dedicating her life to finding the cause of cancer at the cellular level. She is recruiting healthy women as a way of finding out what happens inside the ducts of the breast.  Let's turn the model upside down...and instead of regurgitating the same old facts, start looking for new risks than can lead to a cure.Editor’s Note: To learn more about the link between breast density and breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women, read Dr. Susan Love’s blog. This is one of those weeks where every time I sit down to write, something plops into my lap. So forgive my catching up, but these are the things that have been on my mind:On Monday, President Obama lifted the ban on stem cell research.  This was a very important move, especially to the scientists who are focusing their careers on unlocking the mysteries of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Stem cell research may also help in the treatment of heart disease and some day even cancer. Regenerating damaged knees and shoulders may also find sources of treatment in the generation of stem cells into specific soft tissue.Most doctors and researchers have always considered the ban on this research stupid. It has been a case where politics imposed its will on science. That isn't to say that we shouldn't talk about embryos, IVF, guidelines, and research goals, but we should talk about them as a society and in the arena of moving credible science forward so we can help people. On another note, there is a new breast cancer report just out that I covered on Today. It adds breast density to the risk factors for post-menopausal women who are at risk for getting breast cancer.  We all know the risks: age, family history, obesity, alcohol consumption, and even race and socioeconomic status to some extent. But you can tell by the list that the factors are old. That's the problem. We're recycling the same old ideas and not thinking outside the box.That's why I'm making a blatant plug for Dr. Susan Love's Army of Women. Susan is dedicating her life to finding the cause of cancer at the cellular level. She is recruiting healthy women as a way of finding out what happens inside the ducts of the breast.  Let's turn the model upside down...and instead of regurgitating the same old facts, start looking for new risks than can lead to a cure.Editor’s Note: To learn more about the link between breast density and breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women, read Dr. Susan Love’s blog. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:11:21 GMT http://community.bewell.com/_What-a-Week-Already-Stem-Cells-amp-More/BLOG/1691654/142833.html NancyLSnydermanMD 2009-03-11T13:11:21Z BeWell Community This is one of those weeks where every time I sit down to write, something plops into my lap. So forgive my catching up, but these are the things that have been on my mind:On Monday, President Obama lifted the ban on stem cell research.  This was a very important move, especially to the scientists who are focusing their careers on unlocking the mysteries of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Stem cell research may also help in the treatment of heart disease and some day even cancer. Regenerating damaged knees and shoulders may also find sources of treatment in the generation of stem cells into specific soft tissue.Most doctors and researchers have always considered the ban on this research stupid. It has been a case where politics imposed its will on science. That isn't to say that we shouldn't talk about embryos, IVF, guidelines, and research goals, but we should talk about them as a society and in the arena of moving credible science forward so we can help people. On another note, there is a new breast cancer report just out that I covered on Today. It adds breast density to the risk factors for post-menopausal women who are at risk for getting breast cancer.  We all know the risks: age, family history, obesity, alcohol consumption, and even race and socioeconomic status to some extent. But you can tell by the list that the factors are old. That's the problem. We're recycling the same old ideas and not thinking outside the box.That's why I'm making a blatant plug for Dr. Susan Love's Army of Women. Susan is dedicating her life to finding the cause of cancer at the cellular level. She is recruiting healthy women as a way of finding out what happens inside the ducts of the breast.  Let's turn the model upside down...and instead of regurgitating the same old facts, start looking for new risks than can lead to a cure.Editor’s Note: To learn more about the link between breast density and breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women, read Dr. Susan Love’s blog. nonadult false What a Week Already: Stem Cells & More text blog 106 0 0.0 http://community.bewell.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=19060950&as=142833 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/142833/users/NancyLSnydermanMD_142833_1262292251743_portrait160X120.jpg false 0 0 1691654 19060950 Member 390