Community Health
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.
- 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.
- NHS Will Have To Be Re-Reformed Within Five Years, UK In five years the NHS will require another reform, caution the editors of three leading healthcare publications. In addition, they request a public debate regarding the NHS's future to "salvage some good" from the government's "damaging" reforms. According to a second BMJ report discarding the Health and Social Care Bill, now would save more thanã1 billion in 2013...
- IPM Decreased Pesticide Use In Univ Of Florida Housing A new study recently published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management (JIPM) shows that from 2003 to 2008, the use of insecticide active ingredients was reduced by about 90% in University of Florida housing buildings after an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program was implemented...
- Malaria Deaths Grossly Underestimated A new analysis of malaria mortality published in The Lancet this week suggests deaths to the parasitic disease worldwide have been grossly underestimated, especially in adults. If confirmed, the study has huge implications for how large amounts of charity money are spent in controlling the disease...
- Sugar Should Be Regulated Like Alcohol And Tobacco Say Scientists Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), argue that added sweeteners pose dangers to public health, and the government should regulate sugar in the same way as it regulates alcohol and tobacco. They set out their reasons for viewing sugar as "toxic" in a comment article published in Nature this week. First author Robert H...
- Pedestrians Detected From Within The Car By A New System Of Stereo Cameras A team of German researchers, with the help of a lecturer at the University of Alcala (UAH, Spain), has developed a system that locates pedestrians in front of the vehicle using artificial vision. Soon to be integrated into the top-of-the-range Mercedes vehicles, the device includes two cameras and a unit that process information supplied in real time by all image points...
- CDC Environmental Health 08.04.08 Environmental health topics at the CDC.
- Northern Michigan Regional Hospital 08.04.08 Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey is the comprehensive regional provider of health services in northern Michigan.
- Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency 08.04.08 Health Department of Northwest Michigan has operated as the official health department serving the residents and vistors of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties since 1930.
- MI Department of Community Health 08.04.08 Michigan community health information provided by the state government.