
Some health issues can affect everyone in a community. It is important to be informed on these topics so you can make positive decisions that affect your family and yourself. The environment, local healthcare trends, and information about local providers are some of the topics that will be covered here.
- Community Health Articles
- Toxins taint some urban gardens 2011.03.29
- Study: Doctors order tests out of fear of lawsuits 2011.02.23 CT scans, MRIs and other pricey imaging tests are often more for the doctor’s benefit than the patient’s, new research confirms.
- Nearly 10,000 babies suffer crib injuries yearly 2011.02.23 Almost 10,000 infants and toddlers are hurt in crib and playpen accidents each year, according to the first nationwide analysis of emergency room treatment for these injuries.
- Clue to diabetes, cancer seen in short Ecuadoreans 2011.02.23 In remote villages of Ecuador, scientists have found a population that may hold clues to fighting diabetes and cancer — people with a type of dwarfism who almost never get those diseases.
- Trying brain pacemakers to zap psychiatric disease 2011.02.23 Deep brain stimulation, or DBS, has proved a powerful way to block the tremors of Parkinson’s disease. Blocking mental illness isn’t nearly as easy a task.
- Diet soda tied to stroke risk, but reasons unclear 2011.02.10 Diet soda tied to stroke risk, but reasons unclear
- Global obesity rates doubled in past 30 years 2011.02.08 Obesity rates worldwide have doubled in the last three decades even as blood pressure and cholesterol levels have dropped, according to three new studies.
- Hospital receives stroke performance award 2011.02.08 Northern Michigan Regional Hospital was recently awarded the American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines — Stroke Gold Performance Achievement award.
- Health department official to speak on 'health care crisis' 2011.01.19 Health department official to speak on 'health care crisis'
- New hope for hepatitis C, an often hidden disease 2011.01.18 There’s new hope for an overlooked epidemic: Two powerful drugs are nearing the market that promise to help cure many more people of liver-attacking hepatitis C — even though most who have the simmering infection don’t know it yet.
- Study: Consumers not fazed by DNA health results 2011.01.18 Consumers who get their DNA tested for health risks take the results in stride, says the first major study of how people react to commercial genetic testing.
- FDA orders lowering pain reliever in Vicodin 2011.01.13 FDA orders lowering pain reliever in Vicodin
- Blood test to spot cancer gets big boost 2011.01.04 A blood test so sensitive that it can spot a single cancer cell lurking among a billion healthy ones is moving one step closer to being available at your doctor's office.
- Medical journal criticizes Canada asbestos exports 2010.12.13 A medical journal is criticizing Canada for exporting asbestos to poor countries, joining others who have condemned the practice as hypocritical.
- Life expectancy slips, stroke dips to No. 4 killer 2010.12.13 U.S. life expectancy has dropped slightly — by about a month — after mostly inching up for many years, the government reported Thursday.
- Life expectancy slips, stroke dips to No. 4 killer 2010.12.09 Life expectancy slips, stroke dips to No. 4 killer
- Reports of flu-like virus in area 2010.12.01 Despite limited flu activity so far this season in Michigan, many in the area have reported having flu-like symptoms in recent weeks.
- Heart disease prevention program offered in Petoskey 2010.11.15 Those looking to prevent and even reverse heart disease will be able to take part in a popular program that will soon be offered in Petoskey.
- Study: Alcohol more lethal than heroin, cocaine 2010.11.01 Alcohol is more dangerous than illegal drugs like heroin and crack cocaine, according to a new study.
- Celebs, big donors push Africa’s war on malaria 2010.10.20 The purpose of the week is to draw attention to radon as a serious public health issue and to motivate Americans to take action to protect themselves from radon health effects.
- October 17-23: National Radon Action Week 2010.10.20 The purpose of the week is to draw attention to radon as a serious public health issue and to motivate Americans to take action to protect themselves from radon health effects.
- U.S. sues Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield 2010.10.19 The Justice Department alleged Monday in a lawsuit that Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield is discouraging competition by engaging in practices that raise hospital prices — conduct an assistant attorney general vowed to challenge anywhere it is found in the
- Charlevoix Area Hospital offers latest in cataract treatment 2010.10.13 A new, ground-breaking cataract surgery that results in greater comfort, faster recovery, and improved vision is now available at Charlevoix Area Hospital.
- Health department offers flu shots 2010.09.22 The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is offering flu shots at it Charlevoix County office, 220 West Garfield on Friday, Oct. 1.
- Mixing health care with spiritual care 2010.09.16 At Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey, an increased number of patients are treated not only medically, but through spiritual guidance as well. On Wednesday, Sept. 15, Rev. George Handzo, the vice president of Pastoral Care Leadership and Prac
- FDA panel: cough meds should stay over-the-counter 2010.09.15 A panel of medical experts said Tuesday that cough medicines like Robitussin and Nyquil should continue to be sold over-the-counter, despite increased abuse among teenagers that has prompted calls to restrict sales of the products.
- Michigan prepares for 2010-2011 influenza season 2010.09.09 The Michigan Department of Community Health is taking steps to educate the public about the flu.
- Unwanted medication drop-off scheduled 2010.09.08 The tip of the Mitt Watershed Council will host a pharmaceutical collection event from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Charlevoix County Road Commission building, located at 1251 Boyne Ave. (M-75) in Boyne City.
- New test seen as big advance in diagnosing TB 2010.09.02 Scientists are reporting a major advance in diagnosing tuberculosis: A new test can reveal in less than two hours, with very high accuracy, whether someone has the disease and if it's resistant to the main drug for treating it.
- Look Good… Feel Better program hosted by Northern Michigan Regional Hospital 2010.08.23 Northern Michigan Regional Hospital will host the "Look Good ... Feel Better" program, a free program that teaches beauty techniques to cancer patients in active treatment to help them combat the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment.
- New law requires student vaccinations 2010.08.18 All Michigan students entering the sixth grade this fall are now required to receive immunizations before they will be allowed to attend school.
- Report: Cancer is the world's costliest disease 2010.08.17 Cancer is the world's top "economic killer" as well as its likely leading cause of death, the American Cancer Society contends in a new report it will present at a global cancer conference in China this week.
- Northern Michigan Regional Hospital recognized as top connected hospital 2010.08.12 Northern Michigan Regional Hospital was recently recognized for being one of the top connected hospitals in the nation.
- New gel could speed wound healing 2010.08.12 For three years, Connie McPherson had debilitating leg ulcers that were so painful she sometimes couldn't sleep. Despite repeated surgery, antibiotics, steroids and other treatments, nothing helped.
- WHO declares swine flu pandemic finally over 2010.08.11 The World Health Organization acknowledged Tuesday that the swine flu pandemic is finally over, long after many national authorities started canceling vaccine orders and shutting down telephone hot lines as the disease ebbed from the headlines.
- Charlevoix Area Hospital Wellness Wednesday Aug. 4 2010.07.29 Charlevoix Area Hospital’s next “Wellness Wednesday” will be from 8 -11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 4.
- AIDS breakthrough: Gel helps prevent infection 2010.07.19 For the first time, a vaginal gel has proved capable of blocking the AIDS virus: It cut in half a woman's chances of getting HIV from an infected partner in a study in South Africa. Scientists called it a breakthrough in the long quest for a tool to help
- Microneedles may make getting flu shots easier 2010.07.18 At least that's the hope of researchers developing a new method of vaccine delivery that people could even use at home: a patch with microneedles.
- Joey Haderer: A force behind art in healing at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital 2010.07.14 Joey Haderer is a force behind art in healing at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey. She said there’s a difference between art therapy and art in healing. With art therapy, art is used to diagnose and then treat. Interpretation of created wor
- Closing in on genes that help people live to 100 2010.07.02 The oldest among us seem to have chosen their parents well. Researchers closing in on the impact of family versus lifestyle find most people who live to 100 or older share some helpful genes.
- External Community Health Feeds
- Fat Tissues In Sheep Affected By Prenatal Exposure To BPA New research suggests that fetal exposure to the common environmental chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, causes increased inflammation in fat tissues after birth, which can lead to obesity and metabolic syndrome. Results of the animal study were presented at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco...
- Increased Risk Of Prostate Cancer In Human Stem Cells Following Exposure To Low Doses Of BPA Exposing developing tissue to low levels of the plastic bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, is linked to a greater incidence of prostate cancer in tissue grown from human prostate stem cells, a new study finds. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco...
- Link Between BPA And Defects Of A Testicular Hormone In Newborn Boys With Undescended Testicles A new study links fetal exposure to a common chemical pollutant, bisphenol A (BPA), to defects of a testicular hormone in newborn boys with undescended testicles. The results, which were presented at The Endocrine Society's 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, suggest yet another potential harmful effect of BPA, which is widely used in many plastics, liners of food cans and dental sealants...
- Variations In Quality And Outcomes Of Care In Teaching And Safety-Net Hospitals Teaching hospitals with a higher intensity of physician-training activity achieve lower mortality rates, but higher hospitalization readmission rates for key medical diagnoses, reports a study in the July issue of Medical Care, published by Lippincott Williams&Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health...
- Improving Health Care Access In Developing Countries, Remote Regions, Using Mobile Health Devices Mobile health technology has substantial potential for improving access to health care in the developing world and in remote regions of developed countries, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)...