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Women's Health

New Drug Approved for Hot Flashes

Divigel, from Upsher-Smith Laboratories, is a odorless gel that dries quickly. It is applied daily on the thigh. Significantly, it absorbs directly into the bloodstream thus bypassing the liver. The FDA just approved Divigel and it will be abailable in July 2007. The estrogen in Divigel (Estradiol gel) is identical to the primary estrogen produced by women before menopause. It is derived from plants and is available in the lowest dose of Estradiol available. Clinical trials of Divigel showed a... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on June 6, 2007 12:41 PM
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Voluntary HPV Vaccine Program In New Hampshire Well Received

New Hampshire has distributed 14,000 doses of Gardasil (Merck) at no charge since January. The HPV vaccination program aimed at girls 11 to 18 has proven to be 100% effective at preventing HPV which is responsible for 70% of new cervical cancer cases. (Search this blog for "HPV Vaccine" to view related articles). In 2007, New Hampshire will spend almost $5 mil (28% of it's immunization budget) on the Gardasil program. Private insurers and the federal government provide all of... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 18, 2007 10:27 AM
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New Treatment for Hot Flashes Offers Promise

Bianca Kennedy, age 41, suffered terribly from hot flashes after being treated for breast cancer. Up to 25 times a day, she turned red and sweated uncontrollably. For the last 18 months, she's been completely free of hot flashes after a series of 3 injections of local anesthetic into nerve tissue located in the neck. She calles the treatments "life changing". Stellate ganglion blocks (SGB), have been used safely for over 60 years to treat pain says board-certified anesthesiologist and... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 9, 2007 12:43 PM
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Public Outcry Against HPV Vaccine in Texas Delays Mandated Vaccination

Back in February 2007, I wrote that the state of Texas was mandating that all 6th grade girls be vaccinated with Gardasil, the Merck HPV vaccine, that promises to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in Texas by 70% within a generation. I applauded Gov. Rick Perry for getting out ahead of the curve with his bold public health policy mandate. In short order, the press questioned Perry's motivation when it disclosed that Merck (who manufactures Gardasil) had donated a... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on May 2, 2007 1:19 PM
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Herbal Extract Can Reduce 90% 0f Bladder Infections

Bladder infections infect women 400% more often than men. E. coli bacteria causes virtually all urinary tract infections in the bladder. It's a pesky infection to get rid of. More often than not, the infection returns after antibiotic treatment. Repeated antibiotic use is expensive, can cause liver and kidney damage, and could lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, so a successful treatment would be welcomed. Researchers* at Duke University found that some bacteria hide in tiny niches in the baldder lining, where... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on April 12, 2007 3:10 PM
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Non-surgical Treatment for Uterine Fibroids

At least 25 percent of women suffer from uterine fibroids and as many as 77 percent of women may actually have the condition but be unaware of it, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Although the tumors are benign, there are several uncomfortable and often very painful symptoms such as heavy bleeding, frequent urination, cramping and painful periods. Traditionally, treatment options have included some rather expensive hormonal treatments or even invasive surgical procedures like hysterectomies and myomectomies. The... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on February 19, 2007 1:35 PM
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Vitamin D Can Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer by 50%

A high level of vitamin D in the blood can reduce breast cancer risk by half. Edward Gorham, a professor of family and preventive medicine at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center, and colleagues analyzed data from two previous studies on the response to vitamin D among 1,760 people. The researchers divided participants into five groups based on vitamin D levels. The study found that participants with the lowest vitamin D levels had the highest incidence of breast cancer, while breast... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on February 14, 2007 2:43 PM
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Silicone Breast Implants are Unsafe

Despite FDA's recent approval (November 2006) of silicone breast implants, there still are considerable risks that women must consider before walking into the operating room. The FDA approval stipulates that the manufacturers inform women that the implants are not lifetime devices and that most recipients will need at least one additional surgery to replace or remove their implants. In addition, women also will need to receive magnetic resonance imaging every two to three years to ensure the implants are not... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on February 9, 2007 2:14 PM
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Texas mandates HPV Vaccine in Schools

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) signed an executive order mandating that girls entering the sixth grade receive a human papillomavirus vaccine beginning in September 2008. Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's HPV vaccine Cervarix in clinical trials have been shown to be 100% effective in preventing infection with HPV strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Perry said that parents who do not want their daughters to receive an HPV vaccine "for reasons of... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on February 8, 2007 7:33 PM
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Most People With Diabetes Don't Exercise

Study after study has confirmed that regular exercise, combined with modest weight loss and a healthy diet, can lower type 2 diabetes risk and improve outcomes once people have the disease. In one of the most persuasive, researchers from the Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group concluded that diet and regular exercise were more effective than one of the most widely prescribed drug treatments for preventing type 2 diabetes Yet, only 39% of surveyed adults with diabetes engaged in regular physical... read more

Posted by Phil Daigle on January 27, 2007 5:41 PM
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