Health Surf

It's been an interesting week or two in the world of health. I've saved so many blogs in my reader that I had a very hard time selecting just a few to feature. If I left you out, I'm sorry, I ended up just closing my eyes and clicking. I'm not kidding. I'm scientific like that.

From the news...

The Cleveland Clinic has not only banned smoking it's going to test potential employees for nicotine use.

As an employer and health care system, the Cleveland Clinic recently announced a no-smoking policy that will begin Sept. 1. That includes outside the buildings. One enterprising resident near the clinic lets employees smoke in his yard for $1.

The not-for-profit multispecialty academic medical center will begin screening potential employees for nicotine as a part of the standard health and wellness screening during their preplacement physical exam. An applicant who tests positive through the urine test will not be considered for employment until he or she has quit for two weeks. Current employees who smoke will not be fired.

The FDA has approved antipsychotic Risperdoal for teens and children.

One application is for short treatment of schizophrenia in adolescents aged from 13 to 17 and the other is for short term treatment of manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in children aged between 10 and 17.

Darn, food can't replace AIDS medications.

A study by South African scientists said Wednesday there was no evidence that foods such as garlic and beetroot were a substitute for AIDS medicine, disputing claims by the country’s health minister.

Nickie blogged about the Pain Care Policy Act.

I recently found out about a very necessary act which is going through Congress. It is the national Pain Care Policy Act, and I think it's vital. The act would ensure better care for chronic pain patients and overall help create processes which would actually fprovide government resources for pain issues.

Jessica at Wisebread tells us how to Erase Our Medical Debt.

As most of you know, the cost of healthcare in the United States is outrageous! (Sicko, anyone?) For those lucky enough to have good medical insurance, an illness or an injury does not become a financial burden. However, for those without insurance or with sub par insurance plans, a seemingly small injury can quickly turn in to an emotional and financial ordeal. Interestingly enough, one of the best-kept secrets in the healthcare industry is that there are financial and charitable aid programs available to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses.

Check out Cocking a Snook Too, she has a lot to say about kids and drugs. You have to read the whole post but I'll give you a tiny bit of it right here.

My parents’ generation, on the other hand, thought that their kids’ problems were best solved through therapy. I know women my mom’s age whose offspring have been in talk therapy since they could talk.


But all those SUV-driving-huge-sunglasses-wearing-cell-phone-
talking-designer-purse-toting-thirty-something-moms have yet another child rearing philosophy: Whatever your kid’s problem is, medicate the shit out of it.


I’ve heard of Generation Rx, of course, those darn sneaky kids who raid mommy’s medicine cabinet for a high. I think I might technically be part of GenRx, although the label seems to apply primarily to the tween set. People my age go to high school and snort crack, as far as I know, pill-popping is for weak souls.

From BlogHer Health & Wellness...

Mighty Quinn wants o know why we are subsidizing obesity. Good question, isn't it?

Why is our system is rigged to make the most unhealthful calories in the marketplace the only ones the poor can afford? Who made the decision to heavily subsidize the production of something as closely tied to obesity as high-fructose corn syrup? When did our objectives get so far off track?

Sarah-Kate wants to know how much is enough.

Anyone who has ever gone on a personal weight loss journey has probably come across this question: How much weight is too much? What should my target weight be?

Share your thoughts on these topics. If you've blogged about any of these topics recently, share the links and we'll come and visit.

~Denise
Flamingo House Happenings and Fast Times @ Homeschool High