04Nov 2011 by Walt Larimore

PSA screening for prostate cancer. The debate continues.

Cancer, Health Headlines, Medical Economics, Men's Health
ABC World News reported, "An earthquake in the debate over men and prostate cancer" regarding a "simple blood test called a PSA. Twenty million men use it to find out if they show a sign of risk, yet today, a government task force is saying healthy men should skip that test, arguing that the treatment that often follows the test may not be worth the consequences." (more…)
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01Nov 2011 by Walt Larimore

Is the US infant mortality ranking “shameful”? I say, “no,” but here’s the debate:

Children's Health, Health Headlines, International Health, Medical Economics
Of the over 2000 blogs I've posted, one of the most popular was Health Myth #1: “The U.S. has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the developed world.”. Now, in an editorial, USA Today points out that the US has now dropped "to 41st worldwide in newborn death rates." Is it really that bad here? (more…)
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04Oct 2011 by Walt Larimore

Can cocoa products reduce blood pressure or heart disease?

Alternative Medicine, Health Headlines, Nutritional Health
CocoaVia and Cirku are new supplements used for high blood pressure and cardiovascular health according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD). These products are flavored powders that can be added to a beverage. Each packet contains a cocoa extract providing 350 mg of cocoa flavanols. Those selling the supplements say they may reduce heart disease, but do they? (more…)
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30Sep 2011 by Walt Larimore

TV watching as dangerous as smoking and lack of exercise

General Health, Health Headlines
Researchers in Australia say smoking "can shorten of life expectancy by more than four years after the age of 50. That represents 11 minutes of life lost for every cigarette and that's the same as half an hour of TV watching." Said another way, for every hour of TV watched "after age 25, lifespan falls by 22 minutes." Ouch! Time to turn off the TV, snub out the cigarettes, and begin walking 15 minutes a day to increase the quality and quantity of your life! (more…)
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27Apr 2011 by Walt Larimore

Cancer risk from airport scanners extremely low, study finds

General Health, Health Headlines
My previous blogs on airport scanners (see list below) have been particularly popular among readers for obvious reasons. Now, Bloomberg News is reporting, "Airport body scanners pose little radiation risk to travelers, emitting less than 1 percent of the dose a person would get from cosmic rays while flying at high altitudes," according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. (more…)
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16Mar 2011 by Walt Larimore

Americans have nothing to fear from Japan’s nuclear crisis — or don’t go buy potassium iodide tablets today

General Health, Health Headlines
I've been sent a number of email notes from physicians in the U.S. advising their friends and patients to immediately buy potassium iodine tablets in case the radiation from Japan should be carried across the jet stream to the United States. I'm with the large number of experts saying that would be a waste of time and money. (more…)
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19Jan 2011 by Walt Larimore

ObamaCare Repealed in the House

Health Headlines, Medical Economics
The House of Representatives resumed debate this morning on H.R. 2, legislation to repeal ObamaCare. A final vote came this evening, and it, as expected, passed easily with the new GOP majority in control. Also, in the "breaking news" category is a headline from American Spectator saying CBO Says Repealing ObamaCare Would Reduce Net Spending by $540 Billion. Haven't heard that from the liberal news media, have you? Unfortunately, Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid called today's vote "partisan grandstanding," and again said that he won't allow a vote to take place in the Senate. Reid is using the same tactics that resulted in this lousy law being rammed down the throats of the American taxpayer to begin with. Here are some interesting facts from my friend, Gary Bower, founder and…
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07Jan 2011 by Walt Larimore

Two-week course of antibiotic may benefit patients with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

Health Headlines, Medical Economics
In the category of a study that will change my practice in the area of giving patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) another treatment option, is a study discussed in a Los Angeles Times report that says, "A two-week treatment with an antibiotic" manufactured by Salix Pharmaceuticals "can ease overall symptoms in many patients with irritable bowel syndrome for at least 10 weeks and perhaps for much longer, according to a pair of clinical trials of more than 1,200 patients." The paper appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that the "proportion of patients who benefited -- about 11% -- was modest, but the fact that any at all were helped validated the idea that intestinal bacteria play a role in the onset of irritable bowel syndrome, commonly…
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24Sep 2010 by Walt Larimore

Reminder: Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet This Weekend

General Health, Health Headlines, Parenting
Americans are being encouraged to gather expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs from their medicine cabinets this Saturday and take them to one of the more than 4,000 drop-off sites around the country. The national "Take-Back" campaign is part of the effort to reduce the growing problem of teen abuse of prescription drugs, the Associated Press reported. "We have an epidemic," said acting Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator Michele Leonhart. The DEA is working on the "Take-Back" with the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and thousands of state and local agencies. "Our research shows that the No. 1 source of medicines that kids abuse is their own home medicine cabinet or a family member or friend's home," Steve Pasierb, president of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, told the AP. Americans…
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05May 2010 by Walt Larimore

Should Cholesterol Drugs Be Used By Those Without High Cholesterol?

Health Headlines
Some experts say statins help healthier people, but others worry about risks. So, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the cholesterol-lowering statin drug Crestor for some people with normal cholesterol levels, cardiologist Dr. Steven E. Nissen cheered the decision. But, not everyone did. Here are the details in a report from HealthDay News: "You have to go with the scientific evidence," said Nissen, who is chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. "A clinical trial was done and there was a substantial reduction in morbidity and mortality in people treated with this drug." But Dr. Mark A. Hlatky, a professor of health research and policy and medicine at Stanford University, has expressed doubts about the FDA move. He worries that more people will…
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04Jan 2010 by Walt Larimore

Top 10 Good News Pro-life News Stories of 2009

Bioethics, Health Headlines
The following are the top ten good news stories of 2009, ranked according to popularity, from LifeNews.com. 1) 12-Year-Old Stuns Pro-Choice Teacher and School with Pro-Life Presentation 12-year-old "Lia" of Toronto become a star at her school and on Youtube with her five-minute pro-life speech, crafted for a school competition. A video of her speech has been watched over 800,000 times on Youtube. 2) List of Bishops Opposing the Notre Dame Invitation and Award to President Obama 83 U.S. bishops spoke out against Notre Dame's decision to honour the "most pro-abortion president in history." The widespread and public outrage from the country's bishops was considered by many to be an encouraging sign about the current direction of the U.S. Catholic Church on the life and family issues. 3) Florida Quarterback…
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04Jan 2010 by Walt Larimore

Top 10 Pro-Life News Stories of 2009

Bioethics, Health Headlines
President Barack Obama, abortion, the Supreme Court, and healthcare dominated pro-life news in 2009. As we look back on 2009, the first with a new pro-abortion president, it seems to me that the pro-life movement essentially is on the defensive. Thanks to a pro-abortion president and Congress, pro-life advocates spent most of their time this last year attempting to hold back the opening of the floodgates ushering in an expansion of abortion and taxpayer financing of it. With the health care debate continuing into the new year, those efforts will be forced to continue -- although the potential for pro-life gains in the 2010 elections provides significant hope for the future. So, with that in mind, the following are the top ten pro-life news stories of 2009, ranked according to…
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04Jan 2010 by Walt Larimore

The Top 10 Health Scares Of The Decade

General Health, Health Headlines
With disagreement over baby bottle chemical (bisphenol A), what’s a parent to do? While the past decade has seen great strides in medical technology, it hasn't seen solutions to all of our health problems. There were novel viruses that threatened to kill us all. There were toxins in our children's toys, and we were told to worry about the junk they were eating. Some of these threats turned out to be almost nonexistent. Others were arguably overblown. Some caused widespread harm. So what new threats have been robbing you of sleep since the annual odometer rolled over from 1999 to 2000? Here's a list from ABC News of the top ten new threats of the last ten years. 1) Swine Flu (H1N1) Since it came to public attention in the United States…
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08Jun 2009 by Walt Larimore

When it comes to fast food, how can you make better choices for you and your family?

Children's Health, Health Headlines, Men's Health, Nutritional Health, Obesity, Parenting, Woman's Health
Fast food may be inexpensive and convenient, but it is often high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt. Being highly processed, it may be low in many essential nutrients. And, it's typically very low in fiber. So, what’s a parent to do when it comes to fast food? Some say avoid it completely. That's great, if you can do it. If not, definitely try to reduce your visits to fast food restaurants. But, if you go, here are some helpful suggestions. More Information: (more…)
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25May 2009 by Walt Larimore

A blast from the past – YouTube video shows Dr. Walt’s ‘groundbreaking’ web events of 1999

Health Headlines
Speaking of memories (here on Memorial Day), I have fond memories of hosting a live, 5-night-a-week, cable TV show, “Ask the Family Doctor” on America’s Health Network and then Fox’s Health Network from 1995 – 2000. All-in-all, about 854 shows. Perhaps none was more watched than the first live birth on the Internet. More Information: (more…)
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09Feb 2009 by Walt Larimore

The pro-life Super Bowl ad NBC refused to show you now seen by nearly 1.5 million (and counting)

Bioethics, Children's Health, Health Headlines, Marriage and Family Health, Parenting, Woman's Health
Super Bowl ads can be more fun than the game. And what's more fun than a Super Bowl ad? A banned Super Bowl ad, of course. And what's more exciting than that? A Super Bowl ad banned for celebrating life. You can see the banned ad here and read more about how the banning may actually lead to more people watching it. More Information: (more…)
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18Dec 2008 by Walt Larimore

For Pro-Lifers, an Early Christmas Present from President Bush — regulations to protect the conscience rights of healthcare professionals

Bioethics, Health Headlines, Woman's Health
President Bush's days may be numbered, but not his pro-life influence. In a monumental decision that will be felt well into the next administration, the White House-with the cooperation of the Department of Health and Human Services-made good on its promise to protect the faith and conscience of health care workers. Today, the President fulfilled the longstanding request of pro-life healthcare professionals: to issue new rules that reinforce the rights of doctors, pharmacists, technicians, and even receptionists.  More Information: (more…)
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21Nov 2008 by Walt Larimore

On Conscience, HHS Rules!

Bioethics, Health Headlines
The FRC is reporting, “He may technically be a "lame duck," but President Bush is going out with guns blazing. With just two months left in office, the administration dealt a crippling blow to online gambling and is prepared to do the same to the pro-abortion movement on conscience exemptions.” More Information: (more…)
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