Friday, June 30, 2006
Risks of Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/
Health and Human Services, Surgeon General
“U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona today issued a comprehensive scientific report which concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. The finding is of major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.”
Health and Human Services, Surgeon General
“U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona today issued a comprehensive scientific report which concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. The finding is of major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.”
41.2 M Lacked Health Insurance Last Year
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/insur200606.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics
"Approximately 41.2 million U.S. residents, or 14.2%, of the U.S. population, had no health insurance in 2005 at a specific point in time, demonstrating a small improvement over 2004, according to a survey published by the National Center for Health Statistics Study results were based on responses from 98,300 U.S. residents."
National Center for Health Statistics
"Approximately 41.2 million U.S. residents, or 14.2%, of the U.S. population, had no health insurance in 2005 at a specific point in time, demonstrating a small improvement over 2004, according to a survey published by the National Center for Health Statistics Study results were based on responses from 98,300 U.S. residents."
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Baby Boomer Retirement
http://www.heartland.org/pdf/19201.pdf
Source: Vital Speeches of the Day (via Heartland Institute)
“In 2011, the first group of baby boomers will reach the age of 65. Some will begin claiming early retirement in just three years. By the time they are through, 77 million of them will have ceased working and paying taxes and will have begun receiving taxpayer-funded health care and pension benefits. This will create a financial train wreck for Social Security, Medicare and and Medicaid and all other programs for the elderly.” (By John C. Goodman, President, National Center for Policy Analysis)
Source: Vital Speeches of the Day (via Heartland Institute)
“In 2011, the first group of baby boomers will reach the age of 65. Some will begin claiming early retirement in just three years. By the time they are through, 77 million of them will have ceased working and paying taxes and will have begun receiving taxpayer-funded health care and pension benefits. This will create a financial train wreck for Social Security, Medicare and and Medicaid and all other programs for the elderly.” (By John C. Goodman, President, National Center for Policy Analysis)
Friday, June 16, 2006
Weight Loss and Portion Size
article: Baker, Barbara. Weight Loss and Diet Plans: Several types of diet plans produce at least short-term weight loss; protion size may mater more than what we eat. AJN American Journal of Nursing June 2006 106(6): 52-9.
“This article examines popular diet plans for weight loss and provides information about their efficacy. Diets covered include: very-low-calorie and low-calorie diets; low-fat and very-low-fat diets; moderate-fat, low-calorie diets; and low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets. The importance of portion size and behavioral change is also discussed.”
“This article examines popular diet plans for weight loss and provides information about their efficacy. Diets covered include: very-low-calorie and low-calorie diets; low-fat and very-low-fat diets; moderate-fat, low-calorie diets; and low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets. The importance of portion size and behavioral change is also discussed.”
Ageism in America
http://www.ilcusa.org/_lib/pdf/Ageism%20in%20America%20-%20The%20ILC%20Report.pdf
Source: International Longevity Center
“Ageism, the denial of basic human rights of older persons, is one of the most pervasive prejudices across human society. Although ageism is less acknowledged than racism or sexism, it is a harmful prejudice that negatively affects older Americans, who experience widespread mistreatment, ranging from stereotypic and degrading media images to physical and financial abuse, unequal treatment in the workforce, and denial of appropriate medical care and services.”
Source: International Longevity Center
“Ageism, the denial of basic human rights of older persons, is one of the most pervasive prejudices across human society. Although ageism is less acknowledged than racism or sexism, it is a harmful prejudice that negatively affects older Americans, who experience widespread mistreatment, ranging from stereotypic and degrading media images to physical and financial abuse, unequal treatment in the workforce, and denial of appropriate medical care and services.”
Emergency Departments in the U.S.
http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/35/014/Emergency%20Care.pdf
Source: Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
“Emergency departments (EDs) across the country are overcrowded. Ambulances are turned away, and patients, once they are admitted, may wait in hallways for hours or even days before inpatient beds open up for them. Often the specialists that patients need to see are not available. And the system that transports patients to the hospitals is fragmented and inconsistent in the level of quality it provides.”
Source: Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
“Emergency departments (EDs) across the country are overcrowded. Ambulances are turned away, and patients, once they are admitted, may wait in hallways for hours or even days before inpatient beds open up for them. Often the specialists that patients need to see are not available. And the system that transports patients to the hospitals is fragmented and inconsistent in the level of quality it provides.”
Thursday, June 15, 2006
How Public Health Dollars are Spent
http://healthyamericans.org/reports/shortchanging06/ShortchangingReport.pdf
Source: Trust for America’s Health
“The new analysis, entitled ‘Shortchanging America’s Health: A State-By-State Look at How Federal Public Health Dollars Are Spent - 2006,’ reviews key health statistics and key federal public health funding at a state-by-state level. The report finds funding levels for programs intended to protect the health of U.S. citizens vary dramatically among states. The study emphasizes that the country is falling short on achieving federally established goals for reducing disease and improving health, and there has not been sufficient funding to result in wide-scale change.”
Source: Trust for America’s Health
“The new analysis, entitled ‘Shortchanging America’s Health: A State-By-State Look at How Federal Public Health Dollars Are Spent - 2006,’ reviews key health statistics and key federal public health funding at a state-by-state level. The report finds funding levels for programs intended to protect the health of U.S. citizens vary dramatically among states. The study emphasizes that the country is falling short on achieving federally established goals for reducing disease and improving health, and there has not been sufficient funding to result in wide-scale change.”
Affordable Childcare
http://www.ippr.org.uk/ecomm/files/equal_access.pdf
Institute for Public Policy Research (UK)
“This report argues that the Government’s objective for childcare should be a system that promotes child development, supports complex family lives, and enables parental employment as the best route out of poverty. However, the authors argue, without significant increases in spending over the coming years it is difficult to see how the Government can shape a childcare and early years system that combines quality, affordability and appropriateness for all children and families. Each family’s childcare needs are likely to be various and shifting, within a childcare market characterised by a diversity of providers. Therefore, we need a policy approach and funding system that reflects both this context and our progressive goals.”
Institute for Public Policy Research (UK)
“This report argues that the Government’s objective for childcare should be a system that promotes child development, supports complex family lives, and enables parental employment as the best route out of poverty. However, the authors argue, without significant increases in spending over the coming years it is difficult to see how the Government can shape a childcare and early years system that combines quality, affordability and appropriateness for all children and families. Each family’s childcare needs are likely to be various and shifting, within a childcare market characterised by a diversity of providers. Therefore, we need a policy approach and funding system that reflects both this context and our progressive goals.”
