Archive for June 27th, 2006
By: HealthGrades
American hospitals improved women’s survival rates for treatment of heart disease and stroke by an average of 9.54 percent from 2002 through 2004, according to the third annual HealthGrades Women’s Health Outcomes in U.S. Hospitals study, released today.
But inhospital mortality from cardiac disease and stroke – two major subsets of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death among U.S. women – varied widely from hospital to hospital, the study found. Best-performing hospitals had, on average, a 40 percent lower mortality rate than those hospitals designated as Poor performers. Compared against Average hospitals, Best performers had, on average, a 23 percent lower mortality rate.
The greatest gap among hospitals occurred in coronary bypass surgery, where there was a relative difference of almost 50 percent in risk-adjusted morality associated with the Best-performing hospitals, as compared to Poor-performing hospitals.
The three-year study of more than 2.1 million hospitalizations at more than 2,100 hospitals analyzed the following six procedures and diagnoses for each hospital’s female patients:
• Coronary bypass surgery
• Valve replacement surgery
• Percutaneous coronary interventions
• Acute myocardial infarction
• Heart failure
• Stroke
“In this year’s study we were pleased to see such dramatic improvement in the treatment of cardiovascular disease in women, who have historically been under-diagnosed and under-treated,” said the study’s author, Samantha Collier, MD, HealthGrades’ vice president of medical affairs. “But women need to know that the gap in quality between the Best and Poorest-performing hospitals is real and has not closed in the three years we have been conducting this study.”
The study also found that:
• While overall women’s cardiac and stroke risk-adjusted inhospital mortality rates improved by an average of 9.54 percent from 2002 to 2004, the greatest improvement was seen in the specific treatment of heart failure, which improved an average of 15.34 percent.
• If all hospitals performed at the level of the Best-performing hospitals in the study, 30,548 additional women may have survived their hospitalization for heart disease and stroke.
Hospitals in the Best-performing and Poor-performing categories had risk-adjusted mortality rates that were lower or higher than average to a statistically significant degree.
The star ratings for women’s health and maternity care at each of the 2,100 hospitals were updated today on HealthGrades’ Web site. Ratings are available for hospitals in the 17 states that collect and release patient-outcome data. Those states include: Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
June 27th, 2006
By: BMJ
Men who drink alcohol every day have a lower risk of heart disease than those who drink less frequently, suggests research in this week’s BMJ. But the same is not true for women.
This study raises important questions about drinking patterns and heart health among men and women, but an editorial warns that the results should be interpreted with caution and should not be used to justify potentially harmful drinking behaviour.
It is widely known that moderate drinkers have a lower risk of coronary heart disease than those who abstain, but most research in this field has been done on men and little is known about drinking patterns and risk of heart disease among women.
Researchers in Denmark studied over 50,000 men and women aged 50-65 years who were taking part in a national health study. Details on alcohol intake and drinking frequency over the preceding year were collected, and participants were monitored for an average of 5.7 years.
Coronary heart events were recorded and results were adjusted for known risk factors, such as age, smoking, education, physical activity and diet.
A total of 28,448 women and 25,052 men took part in the study. Women consumed an average of 5.5 alcoholic drinks a week and men consumed 11.3. During the study, 749 women and 1,283 men developed coronary heart disease.
Women who drank alcohol on at least one day a week had a lower risk of coronary heart disease than women who drank alcohol on less than one day a week.
However, risks were similar for drinking on one day a week (36% reduced risk), or seven days a week (35% reduced risk), suggesting that the amount of alcohol consumed is more important than drinking frequency among women.
In contrast, for men, risks were lowest for the most frequent drinkers. For example, men who drank on one day a week had a 7% reduced risk, while men who drank daily had a 41% reduced risk. This suggests that it doesn’t matter how much men drink, as long as they drink every day.
To try to minimise bias, early cases of heart disease were analysed separately, but this did not change the conclusions. However, the authors stress that the benefits of alcohol on coronary heart disease are by far exceeded by the harmful effects of heavy alcohol drinking, and that their findings should be viewed in this context when giving public health advice.
But before the corks start popping, it is worth bearing several caveats in mind, writes Annie Britton, an epidemiology expert, in an accompanying editorial.
For instance, the Danish participants were middle-aged and therefore presumably at a greater risk of heart disease. The low response rate also means that extremes of drinking may not have been captured. Finally, the nature of this report - an observational study - may make it prone to other explanations for the findings.
In the UK, we are drinking well above the optimum level for health, so advice and legislation about keeping consumption safe and healthy are needed, she concludes.
June 27th, 2006
Herbs that are good for cleansing and healing the skin.
Since ancient times, women have turned to the bounties of nature to help increase their own beauty. The ancient Romans used beauty packs of eggs and honey (amongst others), and Egyptians are well-known for their use of oils and perfumes.
Today, when cosmetics counters offer cleansers full of artificial ingredients for astronomical prices, you might want to consider looking in your pantry for natural alternatives.
Chamomile, chervil, dandelion, fennel, lime flowers, rosemary leaves, are all cleansing, and mildly astringent. Infusing any one of them into a tea will make for a light and refreshing rinse for your skin.
If you are looking for natural antiseptics, try an infusion of lavender, mint, thyme, or witch hazel. If you skin suffers from frequent outbreaks,these may well help.
Baths can be made into a spa experience with the creation of simple bath bags. If you’re feeling quite stressed, improve the relaxing nature of a warm bath by combining chamomile, lime flowers and valerian root in one-to-one proportion in a small linen bag. Simply drop in the tub as the water is running. Any of the herbs listed above, however, can make for a pleasing and sweet-smelling experience.
June 27th, 2006
By: Research Australia Stress
Women are being sold the idea that their bodies are biologically faulty and they need medication for PMS, post-natal depression and menopausal outbursts when in fact the pressures of being ’superwoman’ are more likely to blame, says a leading expert.
Professor of Women’s Health Psychology at the University of Western Sydney, Jane Ussher, has been researching the issue for 20 years and says that women are being controlled by medical practices which position their unhappiness as a biomedical condition.
“I would argue that PMS and PND are essentially a form of repressed rage women feel rather than a medical illness. Our research has shown that their distress often stems from women trying to do too much for everyone - except themselves,” says Professor Ussher.
“The tags pre-menstrual syndrome, post-natal depression (PND) and menopause, have become catch-all diagnostic categories that attribute women’s unhappiness to their reproductive bodies and legitimise medical management of their condition,” says Professor Ussher.
“The problem with this view is that it ignores the fact that female unhappiness is often an understandable response to the realities of women’s lives.”
Professor Ussher has recently published a new book ‘Managing the Monstrous Feminine: regulating the reproductive body’ which explores the issues of PMS, post-natal depression and women experiences in mid-life.
Professor Ussher draws on in-depth interviews with British and Australian women and argues that women’s premenstral, post-natal and menopausal distress or anger is often connected to the way women feel compelled to be the ‘good wife, mother and emotional nurturer of others’.
“It’s a form of self-censoring. Women feel that they are expected to cope with the gamut of responsibilities - including their job, partner, children, extended family, housework etc - without complaint.
“They become distressed about the state of their lives and seek help only to be told that it is likely to be the result of these three diagnostic tags.” Professor Ussher argues that while medicine has constructed menopause as a disease requiring HRT medication, the notion of the menopausal woman being in a state of psychological turmoil is a myth.
“The rates of depression in women actually fall with age, with only 7 per cent of women aged 45-54 experiencing depression. The notion of the menopausal body causing upheaval and depression is nothing more than fiction,” she says.
Professor Ussher says the common theme emerging from her work is that women often feel unsupported and misunderstood during their early reproductive lives, but that women are happier in their later years when their responsibilities ease and their lives become their own again.
“The post feminist body is a mirage. Women can now choose how to live their lives - to work, raise children, take time for themselves and be sexy to boot. They can have it all or so we are led to believe,” she says.
“Our accounts from women challenge the two common life goals that frame women’s lives from puberty onwards: the notion that a woman’s happiness is to be gained though love, romance, meeting ‘Mr Right’ and living happily ever after; and that a woman’s greatest satisfaction comes from caring, mothering and self-sacrifice.
“From our research it appears that for many women they only reach a position of equilibrium and peace when they can leave these myths behind, or realise they can’t sustain them any more, or feel they have paid their dues, and can now turn to their own needs for the first time in their lives.”
Professor Ussher says society needs to move beyond the ‘blame game’ and stop viewing women’s bodies as the reason for their distress.
“Our studies have shown that women cope with changes and stress at different times in their lives if they are given time-out from their responsibilities and provided with some self-care options,” she says.
“Taking steps to put themselves first reduces the impact of their symptoms and empowers women to refocus and not be afraid to ask for extra help or support if they need it.
“Women need to understand that it is okay to be vulnerable at certain times without letting it overwhelm them. It’s also okay to say no - for many women, this is the most difficult technique to master of all.”
June 27th, 2006
By: Research Australia
Dr Russell Keast, a senior lecturer in the school of exercise and nutrition sciences, has developed a new snack food with a parmesan cheese cracker, organic mashed potato and special healthy additives.
He said, “This new snack has natural additives such as an anti-inflammatory agent, omega 3 fatty acids and zinc to improve brain and heart function, boost male virility and improve immunity.”
Dr Keast said it was the first time the anti-inflammatory agent oleocanthal had been included in a manufactured food and research was continuing into its flavour and health promoting properties.
A natural appetite suppressant which makes the consumer feel fuller for longer, and a natural compound to increase liking for a product, have also been added to the snack food.
Samples of the snack are being presented to the food industry at a workshop at Deakin University to point the way to healthy snacks of the future.
“Overall, the snack is a vehicle for these health promoting compounds. However, it must be flavorsome and popular so people will want to eat it repeatedly,” Dr Keast said.
“An agent in the snack will help prevent overeating it.
“While it is not a natural food, it is an innovative food.”
Professor Andrew Sinclair, Chair in Human Nutrition in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, said the workshop aimed to bring together leaders in marketing, product development, researchers and educators, with Deakin University experts.
The workshop will be held at Deakin University’s Burwood campus, Building X, Lecture Theatre 12 from 8.30am. Registration is limited to 100 places.
June 27th, 2006