Posts Tagged lab testing
Do You Know the ABCs of Heart Disease?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on February 1, 2013
Today is the 10th “National Wear Red Day” to promote heart health and awareness of heart disease risks and prevention. Did you put on something red this morning? Are you aware of your own risks or are you planning to think about it “one day” when you have time? Ignoring warning signs and risk factors won’t pay off in the end, so today is a good day to do a few simple things. You don’t have to do it all today, or this week, but each little step gets you closer to a healthier, longer life.
The Million Hearts Initiative, launched by the Department of Health and Human Services has a very quick way to check your risks and help you pick one or two goals that will help you focus on what’s important rather than a huge list of changes. The ABCs of heart health are something you should think about every day to keep you on the right track and focused on your heart. Start with a visit to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked so you have a starting point and then get going with these easy steps:
A: Appropriate Aspirin Therapy for those who need it
B: Blood Pressure Control
C: Cholesterol Management
S: Smoking Cessation
Think about these when you start the day, when you talk to your health care provider or get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked and at any point that you know you can make a difference. Or pick one and focus on that first to get started. Taking care of your health isn’t rocket science, but it does take some attention to detail: Your Details. Start today! Red shirt or not, you can make a difference in your health right now.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Prostate Test: Are You Confused?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on July 20, 2012
If you are a male over 50 have you had a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test? Should you? The results of a new study, the Prostatectomy Versus Observation Trial (PIVOT) study provided a lot of information but how you and your doctor should interpret the information doesn’t seem any clearer than before. The message that is clear is that each person is different and men will need 
to make decisions based on what they are comfortable with. If you have more than 10 years to live then having a PSA test makes sense, but surgery may not. Prostate surgery carries signficant risks of unwanted and unpleasant side effects like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Physician responses are mixed on these results which suggest that there is not a significant difference in survival for those who had surgery during the study period (1994 and 2002) and those who maintained a watch and wait attitude.
Men who have a aggressive prostate cancer, those with high Gleason scores between 7 and 10 and those with high volume prostate cancer, appear to have benefited most with surgery. A large percentage of men over 85 have prostate cancer but their cause of death is from something else. Up to two-thirds of men who have received a diagnosis of prostate cancer have a low PSA value or low-risk disease, but nearly 90% receive early intervention — typically surgery or radiotherapy. The study appears to show that the early intervention may cause more harm than good. So what would you do? Deaths due to prostate cancer have dropped 50% since the early 1990′s when PSA testing became more common. Ultimately, each man is on his own, wading through the research and their own personal health, to make the decision. And isn’t that true for most important decisions anyway? Read up all you want, but take the precautions that make sense, like knowing your PSA score, and then muddle through.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
HIV Prevention in a Pill?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on May 11, 2012
Yesterday an FDA advisory panel recommended approval of Truvada for pre-exposure phylaxis (PrEP) of HIV. While many in the HIV and AIDS medical and research community support the move, many others fear that it will reduce the use of condoms, which are critical for HIV prevention. The question is: Will those in high risk categories, those who engage in risky sexual behaviors or use intraveneous drugs, actually adhere to a medical prevention protocol, especially if they are already having difficulty consistently using condoms? While I think it’s possible that there are those in committed relationships with someone who is HIV positive who may
be able to tolerate the serious side effects, the majority of those at risk for contracting HIV may not be able to stick with the regimen.
Studies have shown that getting tested and realizing that you are positive reduces the risk you will pass it on. Just the awareness that someone is putting someone else in danger may deter people from risky behavior. But getting tested and the use of a preventive medication requires that people actually care about their role in the spread of HIV. The continued large number of new cases every year, which is approximately 50,000 according to the Centers for Disease Control, and the 21% increase in new cases in young men aged 13-29 is fueled by the 34% increase in cases among young gay and bisexual men. It would be great if this could be another tool in the HIV prevention toolbox that doesn’t make people feel safe skipping the condom. Let’s hope that the right message on this “HIV Prevention Pill” gets out and it helps to stem the tide of new HIV infections and unnecessary disease.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
CDC Offers Up Million Hearts to Heart Health Month
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on February 15, 2012
Have you been payting attention? Hopefully you’ve worn red to work and noticed the posters, flyers and promotions for Heart Health month by the American Heart Association. This well publicized program targets those of us, especially women, who need an extra push to pay attention to our own health. Come on, you know you’re more likely to be one of those people than not! The addition of the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Million Hearts program adds some simple guidelines that are easy to remember, even if we have a hard time following them.
The CDC recommends following your ABCS:
- Aspirin for people at risk – Ask your doctor is this makes sense for you.
- Blood pressure in check – If this is an issue, make sure you have a home BP cuff.
- Cholesterol management – Standard cholesterol tests and more advanced ones such as the VAP and PLAC tests can let you know how aggressive you need to be.
- Smoking cessation – There are so many ways to kick the habit. You just need to pick the right one for you.
These four major steps help to address cardiovascular disease, the leading of death in the United States. In addition, cardiovascular disease and stroke are the leading cause of disability preventing people from leading full lives and enjoying time with their families.
Women are at a higher risk than many of us are aware of. Women are used to taking care of their families and putting their own health last. What we, as mothers and caretakers, may not realize is that putting our health at risk is a terrible way of taking care of our loved ones. What would they do if we weren’t around to take care of all the little things? Saving yourself is the most important thing you can do to be the best mother, partner, and daughter you can possibly be.
Take these American Heart Association and CDC messages to heart and take control of your health today!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Saving Your Life: Diabetes Prevention
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on November 8, 2011
Do you know anyone who has diabetes? Does it seem like a minor hassle, not a big deal to watch your sugar intake? Children who need to prick their fingers every day and watch every bite they take might make us think about the high price paid by those with diabetes. This high price is now also paid by adults who have developed diabetes type 2. But, if they had thought about it before blowing off exercise and gaining weight, would it have made a difference in their lifestyle? I would like to think so. And so would the American Diabetes Association. The ADA’s Diabetes 
Awareness Month this year is focusing on how individuals can make a difference, both in their own lives and in their communities. Their “Stop Diabetes” campaign includes taking a pledge to stop diabetes in your own life and a test on Facebook to determine your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Most of us assume that if we don’t have it we don’t have to worry about diabetes but there may be some facts that you didn’t know about diabetes:
- Every 17 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes.
- Diabetes costs $174 million per year in the US.
- 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes by the year 2050 unless we all take action to stop diabetes.
Diabetes isn’t just the well known “prick your finger and inject yourself with insulin” disease. It is the leading cause of kidney failure and blindness and can increase your risk for heart disease and other infections. Many organizations are providing discounted diabetes tests this month in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month including Fasting Glucose to indicate diabetes, Hemoglobin A1c which can identify prediabetes and determine if current diabetes is well controlled and a Diabetic Urinalysis test which indicates how well your kidneys are functioning.
Do your part this month: get yourself tested, look at your risk of contracting diabetes type 2 and do what you need to do to prevent diabetes in yourself, your family and your community. We can save ourselves a lot of money and the pain and misery of living with diabetes, but only if we take action today.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Healthier Happy Meals?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on July 29, 2011
Associating fat-laden, high calorie food with toys has been big business for McDonald’s and it’s competitors. This tactic has also slammed for pushing this bad-for-you food on children and encouraging them to beg to go to McDonald’s. I’ve seen it in action with my own children who are dying to get a “free” toy whether they like the food or not. My son doesn’t like french fries, but he says he’ll gag them down if he gets the toy. Not a good sign. Based on all the complaints about the poor nutritional quality of Happy Meals, McDonald’s 
has announced that it will improve the healthiness of the meals. With 20% fewer calories based on a 100 calorie portion of french fries and the addition of apple dippers, without the sugary caramel sauce, this is definitely an improvement: From 520 calories and 26 grams of fat down to 410 calories and 19 grams of fat.
This is a step in the right direction and including apples in the meal may encourage children to eat some fruit, but a Happy Meal is a long way from a healthy meal. Even a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread is more nutritional with 20 fewer calories and twice as much protein. Yes, McDonald’s is quick, and healthier is better, but sandwiches are quick, too. It takes just as long to wait in line, pay and pick up your Happy Meal as it does to pull out a loaf of bread, slap on some peanut butter and hand it to your child with an apple. The big problem is that Americans have gotten used to the high sodium, high fat foods that we get at the drive through so it’s not just about easy, it’s about maintaining bad food habits that we’ve grown to love. These habits have also made us grow…wider! The fat and calories increase not just our weight but our cholesterol and blood pressure. It’s about time we start weaning ourselves off of the Happy Meals and work on making our own happy meals at home.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Are Physician’s Office Waiting Times Getting You Steamed?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on July 18, 2011
I hate waiting, whether it’s on hold with customer service because my internet is down or because I’m sitting in a physician’s waiting room and it’s been TWO HOURS already! I let them know I don’t have time to wait and they will have to reschedule my appointment and then, I walk out. I work too and my time is valuable! A recent poll conducted by MedPageToday.com asked patients whether they 
should receive a discount for being kept waiting. 46% of people polled said yes, especially if the doctor charges for late arrival or canceled appointments. 38% said no and the remaining 16% said no discount should be given but the patient should receive a gift or token card.
It is understandable that emergencies come up or that some patients have more questions, I don’t have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is the lack of respect and consideration to the people sitting in the waiting room. I have never been notified that the doctor is running late and asked whether perhaps I would like to reschedule. After 15-30 minutes, my stand is “Time’s Up!” We all have other options for getting standard tests and can change doctors. Clinical testing laboratories can conduct standard tests quickly and cheaply and without the wait. Yes, we may be restricted in which doctors we can see due to our health insurance coverage, but there are always others on the list. Vote with your feet and walk out the door! Everyone deserves to be treated like their time is important and valuable, not just the doctor!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Another Reason to Quit Smoking…
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on June 30, 2011
If you’re pregnant, you already know that you shouldn’t smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or take most drugs, legal or not. The list goes on and trying to keep track of it can be mind boggling. For most of us, the top three items on this list are obvious and people around you in public will glare at you if you break one of these cardinal rules, I’ve seen it happen. Research has found yet another reason that
smoking cigarettes during pregnancy is bad for the baby. It reduces birth weights and when children are around second hand cigarette smoke they tend to develop asthma and more allergies. New research has found that it may also be a major cause of lower HDL or “good cholesterol” in children of smoking moms.
The study, published by the European Heart Journal, showed that children who were 8 years old and whose mothers smoked while they were pregnant had a 0.15 mmol/L lower level of HDL cholesterol. This may not sound like much, but it translates into a 10-15% increased risk for coronary disease. The children were also heavier, had higher triglyceride levels, higher systolic blood pressure levels and higher C-Reactive protein levels. This was independent of whether the mothers continued to smoke after the children were born. If you smoked during pregnancy you should have your child tested for their cholesterol lipid levels and make changes to their diets immediately. The sooner you act to balance out your smoking, the better for your child. And if you’re pregnant now, it is absolutely time to quit. If you can’t quit for yourself, quit for your baby. They don’t deserve a lifetime of coronary disease because you couldn’t stay away from cigarettes!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Mystery Shopping for Doctors
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on June 28, 2011
Based on the news, due to the new health care bill passed by the Obama Administration, there is shortage of primary care physicians and the Administration is worried. So should we all be! Because there are more Americans who will now receive medical coverage, almost 30 million, but the same number of doctors, there aren’t enough to go around. The federal government will have “mystery shoppers” call doctors’ offices to ask for an appointment as soon as possible to see if doctors are accepting new patients and how long the wait is. 
Physicians are not happy with the government’s “Big Brother” approach and it’s costing a lot of money, over $347,000.
Another concern is that physicians aren’t accepting new patients with Medicare and Medicaid because the government pays less than private insurers. There are independent, clinical laboratories that can handle cholesterol tests and many other wellness tests including glucose serum and Complete Blood Count (CBC) that doctors often conduct in their offices. These labs don’t require doctors’ orders and are a great solution to the physician shortage for well care, but if you are really sick, for example with pneumonia, and really need to see the doctor, this won’t be enough. The new health care plan is wonderful in concept, but is going to be very difficult to actually implement so that everyone really gets the health care that has been promised. I would hate to be the one at the bottom of the list, but when I call a new doctor, that’s probably what will happen.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Medical Marijuana Users Not Protected From Employer Drug Testing
Posted by Maureen in Toxicology on June 15, 2011
Even for the states that have legalized marijuana for medical use under the Medical Use of Marijuana Act (MUMA), people who are taking advantage of the law are still at risk from their employers. The act is intended to protect medical users from arrest but the protection does not extend to private businesses. In at least 2 separate instances employees who were using 
marijuana for medical purposes were required to submit to drug tests for their employment and were subsequently fired. Even though both of these people informed their employers about their medical use of marijuana and had supporting evidence from their doctors, the companies still followed through with their corporate policies.
For people suffering from chronic pain or undergoing cancer treatment, marijuana can make a huge difference. The talk show host, Montel Williams, has suffered with Multiple Sclerosis for years and found relief from constant neurological pain with marijuana. He says that it improved his health and well being. He supports this as a treatment so much that he is opening a medical marijuana dispensary in Sacramento, CA that he claims will be professional with a focus on patient care. It’s truly sad that these sufferers are punished when they have found a treatment that works for them and enables them to function well enough to go back to work. True medical use of marijuana does not provide an exemption for employers concerned with sticking stringently to the rules but it should. Their lack of compassion in our “Drug Free” world is cruel and unacceptable.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
CDC H1N1 Flu Updates:- Press Briefing Transcript: Dr. Thomas Frieden's Remarks at the 2010 Influenza Workshop for Journalists
- HHS News Release: WHO Declares End to 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
- WHO Statement on H1N1 in post-pandemic period
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
- MMWR: Regional Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccination Campaign -- Skokie, Illinois, October 16--December 31, 2009
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update