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Healthnetwork Pulse - June 2007

Most of us don't where to turn when a member of our family is in need of mental health or addiction services. It is these types of health issues, affecting an estimated 20% of all U.S. families, that require a comprehensive and highly personalized approach. To better assist members in need, Healthnetwork has expanded its mental health services and can now provide expedited access to the world’s top addiction and psychiatric treatment facilities.   Following are just some of the mental health issues for which Healthnetwork can provide confidential, uncompromising support:

For more information please  download our new brochure  or contact us at 440/893-0830 or help@healthnetworkfoundation.org.  And be assured, as always, that your medical issues will be handled with confidential, uncompromising support and unmatched competence.

The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recently recognized those hospitals whose care “for coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure is aligned with the latest scientific guidelines.”   Congratulations to the seven Healthnetwork partner hospitals that have been recognized. 

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Cleveland Clinic
• Johns Hopkins
• Mayo Clinic
• UCLA Medical Center
• UCSF Medical Center
• Swedish Medical Center
  
  And remember if you think someone you know is having a stoke remember these simple "Act F.A.S.T." warning signs developed by the National Stroke Association. 

What do microwavable popcorn and non-stick Teflon pans have in common?   Unfortunately, a lot more than any of us may have imagined.  If you skipped over the headlines on  "Teflon Chemical Found in U.S. Newborns Blood"  you may have missed a startling, little-known fact. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) which is associated with the manufacture and use of Teflon is also used in some paper packaging for foods such as pizza and popcorn. When the treated paper is heated or microwaved, the chemicals tend to migrate into food. "Microwave popcorn bags release several hundred times as much of the chemicals as does cookware that has been coated with substances like Teflon."  So it's not surprising that ”Evidence of PFOA's presence [was] in 100 percent of fetal cord blood samples analyzed by the CDC and Johns Hopkins University (a Healthnetwork partner hospital) toxicologists.”    

And just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, news of a new study on the effectiveness of sun screen lotions has just been released by the Environmental Working Group.  "The analysis found that 84 percent of 785 sunscreen products with an SPF rating of 15 or higher offer inadequate protection from the sun’s harmful rays, or contain ingredients with safety concerns."  Not surprising manufacturers of sunscreens disagree with these findings.  Read the New York Times coverage (free registration required) for both sides of the debate.  

According to a coffee-loving endocrinologist at UCSF Medical Center, a Healthnetwork partner hospital, "coffee has shown promising results in recent studies that compare consumption with diabetes rates, including reports that suggest people who drink six or seven cups a day were 50 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes." And a Canadian study published this month showed that coffee may also prevent gout, lower the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease and it may also lessen the risk of depression and suicide. 

As researchers unravel more and more about our DNA, genetic discoveries are making headlines daily.  This medical "gold rush" won't be abating any time soon. A recent article in Forbes magazine article provides a good overview on the medical, commercial and ethical impact of this "wonderfully disruptive technology."   And there's more:  

If you have ever boarded a plane for a long flight and found yourself in a packed cabin nestled next to a sneezing, sniffling germ generator, you may want to consider purchasing this FDA-certified, lab tested Plane Clean Air Filter which promises to remove "99.5% of all allergens, bacteria and viruses from your cabin’s air stream."  And best of all it sits on the air nozzle above you and not on  your face.

If caught early, as many as 90% of ovarian cancers can be cured. But because there's no screening test for ovarian cancer, it's the fifth leading cause of cancer death in U.S. women and the cure rate is only 10-30%. But the news is not all grim.  Researchers have identified a number of symptoms that lasted for more than 12 days in women later identified as having ovarian cancer.  The symptoms were: pelvic and abdominal pain; urinary frequency and urgency; increased abdominal size or bloating; and difficulty eating or feeling full.  In a  NY Times article (requires free registration) a gynecologic oncologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a Healthnetwork partner hospital, weighs in on these findings. 

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“Belonging to Healthnet GOLD is such a gift because I know that whatever our needs are, we have a supportive staff with access to the best hospitals and doctors in the world. ”

Tom Davidson Healthnet GOLD Member