New
Sentinel System To Monitor Nation's Blood Supply
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today
announced that a new "real time" monitoring network is being
launched to measure the blood supply in key local areas, regions and
nationwide. It will feature a public web site.
FDA
OKs New Congestive Heart Failure Therapy
Natrecor (nesiritide), an injectable drug for
treating acute congestive heart failure, has received FDA approval.
The drug is a synthetic version of a human hormone that dilates veins
and arteries.
Simple
Steps Can Reduce Dust Mite Allergens
Some simple steps can significantly reduce the levels of dust mite allergens in bedrooms.
Weight
Reduction Therapy For Women Also Helps To Stop Smoking
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
found that a treatment program that focuses on reducing women's
concerns about weight is the first treatment to significantly improve
smoking cessation in weight-concerned women.
FDA Adds Two New Mailing
Lists
Two new lists have been added to a free FDA e-mail subscription
service that now includes 14 lists that cover foods, drugs, devices,
and other FDA-related topics.
Dietary supplements list: http://www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/infonet.html
HIV/AIDS list: http://www.fda.gov/oashi/aids/email.html
All FDA e-mail lists: http://www.fda.gov/emaillist.html
FDA
Approves Implanted "Stomach Band" for Severe Obesity
A device implanted by laparoscopic ("keyhole")
surgery that can help severely obese people lose weight by limiting
food consumption and creating an earlier feeling of fullness has
received FDA approval.
ACE
Inhibitor Reduces The Risk Of Kidney Failure In Hypertensives
People with kidney disease from high blood pressure have a better
chance of reducing the risk of kidney failure if they take an
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, according to a National
Institutes of Health study in the "Journal of the American
Medical Association" on June 6.
FDA
Reports Voluntary Withdrawal of Baycol – Anti-cholesterol drug
On August 8 the FDA announced that Bayer Pharmaceutical Division is
voluntarily withdrawing Baycol (cerivastatin) from the U.S. market
because of reports of sometimes fatal rhabdomyolysis, a severe muscle
adverse reaction.
HHS
Releases Report On Assisted Living Facilities
Health and Human Services released A National Study of Assisted Living
for the Frail Elderly, the first national study of assisted living
facilities for elderly individuals.
Long-Term
Care Primer
A really good primer on long-term care, this
site is the creation of an independent insurance agency. Please read our
disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
FDA
Approves Acute Congestive Heart Failure Treatment
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Natrecor® (nesiritide)
Injection for the treatment of acute congestive heart failure (CHF).
Natrecor® is manufactured using recombinant DNA technology.
HealthandAge
Web Site – A Good Source of Information
We frequently find ourselves coming back to this excellent web site
sponsored by the Novartis Foundation for Gerontology. It has sections on
Health and Lifestyles that are well thought out and easy to navigate.
And it caters to both the public and healthcare professionals.
New
Study Says: Talk To Your Doctor – It’s Good For You
Just 3 hours of advice and counseling by doctors and other health care
professionals over 2 years can boost sedentary adults' physical fitness.
NIH
Statement On The President's Stem Cell Address
This brief statement from the National Institutes of Health provides an
excellent summary of the issues and the response of the scientific
community.
Exercise
Video From the National Institute on Aging
NIA has an exercise video specifically for seniors. It’s available for
$7.00 and includes an 80-page booklet. View clips from the video at
their web site.
Hoax
Targets Elderly Americans Regarding Government Refunds
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA)
Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently completed its
investigation of two flyers that target the elderly. The two distinct
flyers falsely reference changes in Social Security benefits.
Center
for Disease Control Offers Foreign Travel Tips
CDC offers health information on specific destinations, on outbreaks of
concern to international travelers, specific diseases that can affect
travelers, vaccination recommendations, and health information on
specific cruise ships (including inspection scores).
Keep
it Cool with Hot Weather Advice for Older People
Older people are at high risk for developing heated-related
illness because the ability to respond to summer heat is less efficient
with advancing years.
Grandparents
Raising Grandchildren
Well over two million grandparents in the United States have been
identified as the primary caregiver for nearly six million young
children – the children of their children. This excellent Administration
on Aging web page links to the Internet resources available on this
topic.
Diet
and Exercise Dramatically Delay Type-2 Diabetes
At least 10 million Americans at high risk for Type-2 diabetes can
sharply lower their chances of getting the disease with diet and
exercise, according to the findings of a major clinical trial. The
diabetes medication Metformin is also effective.
The
Resource Directory for Older People
Intended to serve a wide audience, this directory from the
Administration on Aging contains names, addresses, phone numbers, and
fax numbers of organizations which provide information and other
resources on matters relating to the needs of older persons.
FDA
Clears Camera Pill to Photograph Small Intestine
The Food and Drug Administration has cleared for marketing a tiny camera
in a capsule that, after it has been swallowed, snaps pictures as it
glides through the small intestine.
Prescription
Drug Proposal Comparison
With a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries high on the
Congressional agenda this summer, the Kaiser Family Foundation released
this side-by-side comparison of five key proposals under consideration
to improve drug coverage.
Medicare
To Cover Surgical Procedure For Incontinence
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will expand Medicare
coverage to include a surgical treatment known as sacral nerve
stimulation for urinary incontinence and other voiding difficulties.
HHS
Announces Update To Federal Program Catalog
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs (CFDA)
is a government-wide compendium of all 1,458 Federal programs, projects,
services, and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the
American public. These programs provide grants, loans, loan guarantees,
services, information, scholarships, training, insurance, etc., to
millions of Americans every day.
National
Campaign on Osteoporosis Awareness
Ann-Margret is 60 and leading the charge for "What 60 Looks Like Now" -
a national campaign sponsored by the National Council on Aging to
encourage women 60-plus to remain active and independent by raising
awareness about osteoporosis and the importance of bone density testing.
National
PROstate Cancer Campaign
New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani kicked off the national Prostate
Health Campaign with the release of a nationwide survey of men's
awareness and attitudes about prostate cancer.
Prostate
Cancer Prevention Trial Opens
Healthy men age 55 and older are needed for the largest- ever prostate
cancer prevention study, launched today by the National Cancer Institute
(NCI) and a network of researchers known as the Southwest Oncology Group
(SWOG).
Golden
Age Passport
The $10.00 Golden Age Passport is a lifetime entrance pass for seniors
to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas and
national wildlife refuges administered by the federal government that
charge entrance fees. Read more at the
US Forest Service web site.
FDA
On Drug Resistant Microbes
Disease-causing microbes that have become resistant to drug therapy are
an increasing public health problem. The Food and Drug Administration
provides a comprehensive study of the issue.
Medicare
To Cover Treatment For Sun-Induced Skin Lesions
On July 20 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
announced that it will expand Medicare coverage nationally for the
treatment of common sun-induced skin lesions, known as actinic keratoses,
that can develop into skin cancer.
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