Healthism is a term coined in the early 1990s that describes the government’s use of “propaganda and coercion to establish norms of health” and its attempts “to impose norms of a ‘healthy lifestyle.'”
Think about the cities that have chosen to ban smoking or trans-fats or super-sized sodas.
Or the new federal school lunch program’s rather rigid nutrition standards.
Or the Affordable Care Act. It mandates coverage of … read on
The measles has gotten a lot of media attention lately. And that’s a good thing—I hope it’s increased awareness of the importance of the measles vaccine.
Related post: Measles—A Disneyland souvenir
But I just read about another serious disease outbreak that can also be prevented by vaccine—bacterial meningitis: 6th student in Oregon infected with meningitis bacteria
Last year, there was a significant meningitis outbreak at Princeton University, and one student … read on
I loved this clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live. He says:
I feel like we’re headed in the wrong direction…Here in LA there are schools in which 20% of the students aren’t vaccinated because parents here are more scared of gluten than they are of smallpox…
Related post: Penn and Teller give a shout out to vaccinations
Sláinte,
Frugal Nurse
… read on
I love the British chef Jamie Oliver. He’s funny and he’s passionate about food.
He’s also the father of several small children, and he’s made it a personal crusade to improve the health of children, through food, in his country as well as ours.
A few years ago, he did a reality series, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution
I’ve posted many times about the problems with the multi-billion-dollar supplement industry, and there was a good Op-Ed piece on Live Science yesterday that supported my own opinion: These 5 Supplements Do Nothing For Alzheimer’s, Despite Claims
The article was co-written by two physicians, both geriatric (aging) specialists.
… read onThe Latin axiom “caveat emptor,” let the buyer beware, applies to people of all ages. But in our medical practices, we have
I read a good post from a surgeon urging everyone to use good judgement when driving: Driving advice from a trauma surgeon
After my own stint in the OR of the local trauma center, I can attest to the fact that a seemingly minor bad decision when behind the wheel of a two-ton, fast-moving vehicle can result in horrific injuries. (Not to mention the financial cost is astronomical.)
The surgeon … read on
I was happy to see the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) report that the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine does not increase risky sexual behavior in adolescent girls.
HPV, or the human papilloma virus, is a sexually-transmitted disease that can lead to cervical cancer. In some instances, it can also cause anal cancer or mouth cancer, in men as well as women.
Consider benefits versus risksLast spring I went to Florida for spring break and was attacked by sand fleas. I had about a million (okay, about 70) bites over both legs, and I wrote a post about my attempts to find relief.
In short, nothing really worked other than ice packs and cool baths. Cool skin decreases blood flow, which deceases the amount of histamine, which decreases the itchiness.… read on
With the news that the Disneyland measles outbreak continues to spread, I was happy to run across this YouTube of the magic comedy duo Penn and Teller. They use a simple but effective game of grapefruit bowling to get their pro-vaccination point across. Enjoy! (Oh, warning, they use a couple of bad words…)
Related posts:
Sláinte,
Frugal … read on
I like all things snarky so I enjoyed reading a recent post by a physician poking a bit of fun at health and wellness fads.
… read onRemember the old aphorism You are what you eat? Well, forget it. In today’s busy world who has time for “eating in moderation” or “being heart healthy”? I think that if there’s one thing that the health and wellness industry has proven time and