There's really no explanation why critical illness insurance sales continue to lag in the U.S., declares Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance http://www.aacii.org. According to Slome, the protection first introduced in 1983 now sells well in 54 other countries worldwide.
"There are over 65 million Americans between the ages of 30 and 49, creating an enormous opportunity for the sale of critical illness insurance products," states Slome. "These adults understand the risk of being diagnosed with cancer or having a heart attack. They simply have no knowledge that an affordable financial solution like critical illness insurance exists but we are going to change that starting in 2011."
The industry trade association established in 2009 just announced a free education campaign for insurance and financial professionals. The trade group is waiving the $98 membership fee offering free sign-ups which includes access to the Association's online Learning, Marketing and Sales Center. The Center provides access to sales training modules, industry research, marketing and sales tools.
"We plan to educate 10,000 insurance professionals during the year and to significantly jumpstart product awareness and ultimately sales," Slome adds. "Every agent or broker who has clients in their 30s or 40s will benefit by understanding how simple it is to offer and sell this highly affordable form of protection."
The free membership offer will be continued for at least the first six months of 2011. For more information or to sign-up for free membership, visit the Association's website http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org/free .
Showing posts with label critical illness insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label critical illness insurance. Show all posts
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Calorie Intake Linked To Longevity And Cancer Development
Cutting consumption of glucose, the most common dietary sugar, can extend the life of healthy human cells and speed the death of precancerous cells, reducing cancer's spread and growth rate.
According to findings reported by researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, reducing calorie-intake can benefit longevity and help prevent diseases like cancer that have been linked to aging.
The researchers conducted tests by growing both healthy human-lung cells and precancerous human-lung cells in laboratory flasks. The flasks were provided either normal levels of glucose or significantly reduced amounts of the sugar compound, and the cells then were allowed to grow for a period of weeks. Restricted glucose levels led the healthy cells to grow longer than is typical and caused the precancerous cells to die off in large numbers.
Every year some 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer. It ranks as one of the leading factors for the need for costly long-term care according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance among aging seniors.
Two key genes were affected in the cellular response to decreased glucose consumption. The first gene, telomerase, encodes an important enzyme that allows cells to divide indefinitely. The second gene, p16, encodes a well known anti-cancer protein.
Healthy cells saw their telomerase rise and p16 decrease, which would explain the boost in healthy cell growth, the researchers explained. The research into the links between calorie intake, aging and the onset of diseases related to aging is thought to be a first of its kind given that it used the unique approach of testing human cells versus laboratory animals.
According to findings reported by researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, reducing calorie-intake can benefit longevity and help prevent diseases like cancer that have been linked to aging.
The researchers conducted tests by growing both healthy human-lung cells and precancerous human-lung cells in laboratory flasks. The flasks were provided either normal levels of glucose or significantly reduced amounts of the sugar compound, and the cells then were allowed to grow for a period of weeks. Restricted glucose levels led the healthy cells to grow longer than is typical and caused the precancerous cells to die off in large numbers.
Every year some 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer. It ranks as one of the leading factors for the need for costly long-term care according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance among aging seniors.
Two key genes were affected in the cellular response to decreased glucose consumption. The first gene, telomerase, encodes an important enzyme that allows cells to divide indefinitely. The second gene, p16, encodes a well known anti-cancer protein.
Healthy cells saw their telomerase rise and p16 decrease, which would explain the boost in healthy cell growth, the researchers explained. The research into the links between calorie intake, aging and the onset of diseases related to aging is thought to be a first of its kind given that it used the unique approach of testing human cells versus laboratory animals.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
First National Critical Illness Insurance Study Examines U.S. Buyers
Nearly half of individuals purchasing critical illness insurance protection were under age 45 according to the first national study of buyers conducted by the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance.
The industry trade group released the findings of a study that reveals one third (34%) of purchasers were between ages 45 and 54 and the majority (87%) purchased $50,000 or less in benefits. The study examined sales data for over 130,000 individual and voluntary worksite policies and certificates issued.
"Critical illness insurance is growing in acceptance as consumers understand the risk and financial exposure resulting from cancer, a heart attack or stroke," explains Jesse Slome, the organization's executive director. First introduced in the United States in 1996, some 600,000 individuals have purchased critical illness coverage available from about 20 insurance companies.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of individual buyers opted for coverage of less than $20,000 according to the study's findings. For those purchasing in the worksite setting, some 65 percent chose benefits of $20,000 or less.
The vast majority of purchasers do so prior to turning age 55. Among those purchasing individual critical illness insurance policies, 20 percent were under age 35; 27 percent were between ages 35 and 44 and 34 percent were between 45 and 54. Buyers purchasing coverage in the workplace were about the same age according to the Association report. Policies providing a $10,000 benefit for a 40 year old can range from $150 to $300-per-year.
Individual buyers tended to be male (52% versus 48% female) while those purchasing in the workplace were more likely to be female (59% versus 41% male).
"We anticipate the market for critical illness insurance products will increase in the years ahead," predicts Slome. The Los Angeles-based association will undertake an aggressive consumer awareness campaign in 2010 to build an understanding of the benefits of the protection that is popular outside of the United States. "Every year, millions of Americans are diagnosed with a critical illness and the vast majority survive," Slome explains. "The financial cost even for those with health insurance can be devastating and one of the leading reasons 1.5 million Americans declared bankruptcy even before the current economic crisis." Critical illness insurance policies range in cost based on the age, sex and use of tobacco products. A policy providing a $10,000 cash benefit can range from about $150 a year to $400 a year experts explain.
Access to the full study results can be viewed on the organization's website http://www.aacii.org.
The industry trade group released the findings of a study that reveals one third (34%) of purchasers were between ages 45 and 54 and the majority (87%) purchased $50,000 or less in benefits. The study examined sales data for over 130,000 individual and voluntary worksite policies and certificates issued.
"Critical illness insurance is growing in acceptance as consumers understand the risk and financial exposure resulting from cancer, a heart attack or stroke," explains Jesse Slome, the organization's executive director. First introduced in the United States in 1996, some 600,000 individuals have purchased critical illness coverage available from about 20 insurance companies.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of individual buyers opted for coverage of less than $20,000 according to the study's findings. For those purchasing in the worksite setting, some 65 percent chose benefits of $20,000 or less.
The vast majority of purchasers do so prior to turning age 55. Among those purchasing individual critical illness insurance policies, 20 percent were under age 35; 27 percent were between ages 35 and 44 and 34 percent were between 45 and 54. Buyers purchasing coverage in the workplace were about the same age according to the Association report. Policies providing a $10,000 benefit for a 40 year old can range from $150 to $300-per-year.
Individual buyers tended to be male (52% versus 48% female) while those purchasing in the workplace were more likely to be female (59% versus 41% male).
"We anticipate the market for critical illness insurance products will increase in the years ahead," predicts Slome. The Los Angeles-based association will undertake an aggressive consumer awareness campaign in 2010 to build an understanding of the benefits of the protection that is popular outside of the United States. "Every year, millions of Americans are diagnosed with a critical illness and the vast majority survive," Slome explains. "The financial cost even for those with health insurance can be devastating and one of the leading reasons 1.5 million Americans declared bankruptcy even before the current economic crisis." Critical illness insurance policies range in cost based on the age, sex and use of tobacco products. A policy providing a $10,000 cash benefit can range from about $150 a year to $400 a year experts explain.
Access to the full study results can be viewed on the organization's website http://www.aacii.org.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Study Drug Shrinks Lung Cancer Tumors In Mice
A potential new drug for lung cancer has eliminated tumors in 50% of mice.
Researchers report that the drug also stopped lung cancer tumors from growing and becoming resistant to treatment.
One in five people with lung cancer have small cell lung cancer and only three per cent of these people are expected to survive for five years. With this form of lung cancer, tumors spread quickly so it is rarely possible to remove the tumors surgically. Because of this, small cell lung cancer is treated with chemotherapy, with or without additional radiotherapy.
Initially, the treatment often appears to work, reducing the size of the tumors. However, the tumors usually grow back rapidly and then become resistant to further treatment.
The researchers have identified a drug that, in some mice, was able to completely shrink tumors away. In the mouse models, it was also able to stop tumors from growing and it helped other forms of chemotherapy to work more effectively. If the drug proves successful in humans, the researchers hope that it could help patients with this kind of lung cancer to live longer.
The Section of Molecular Oncology and Lung Cancer Research at Imperial College London which conducted the study suggests that it may be possible to develop the drug PD173074 into a new targeted therapy for small cell lung cancer. We hope to take this drug, or a similar drug that also stops FGF-2 from working, into clinical trials next year to see if it is a successful treatment for lung cancer in humans. An added bonus of this drug is that it could be taken orally, which would make it less invasive than some other forms of cancer therapy.
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer killer in the world according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. Around one in five of people diagnosed with lung cancer will have small cell lung cancer. Although it responds to chemotherapy initially, the tumors soon become resistant to treatment and sadly nearly all people with the disease do not survive.
The Cancer Treatment and Research Trust, Cancer Research UK and the UK Department of Health funded the research.
Researchers report that the drug also stopped lung cancer tumors from growing and becoming resistant to treatment.
One in five people with lung cancer have small cell lung cancer and only three per cent of these people are expected to survive for five years. With this form of lung cancer, tumors spread quickly so it is rarely possible to remove the tumors surgically. Because of this, small cell lung cancer is treated with chemotherapy, with or without additional radiotherapy.
Initially, the treatment often appears to work, reducing the size of the tumors. However, the tumors usually grow back rapidly and then become resistant to further treatment.
The researchers have identified a drug that, in some mice, was able to completely shrink tumors away. In the mouse models, it was also able to stop tumors from growing and it helped other forms of chemotherapy to work more effectively. If the drug proves successful in humans, the researchers hope that it could help patients with this kind of lung cancer to live longer.
The Section of Molecular Oncology and Lung Cancer Research at Imperial College London which conducted the study suggests that it may be possible to develop the drug PD173074 into a new targeted therapy for small cell lung cancer. We hope to take this drug, or a similar drug that also stops FGF-2 from working, into clinical trials next year to see if it is a successful treatment for lung cancer in humans. An added bonus of this drug is that it could be taken orally, which would make it less invasive than some other forms of cancer therapy.
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer killer in the world according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. Around one in five of people diagnosed with lung cancer will have small cell lung cancer. Although it responds to chemotherapy initially, the tumors soon become resistant to treatment and sadly nearly all people with the disease do not survive.
The Cancer Treatment and Research Trust, Cancer Research UK and the UK Department of Health funded the research.
Free Membership Offer For Insurance Agents Ends Soon
The American Association for Critical Illness Insurance was established to build the market and sale of critical illness insurance products in the United States.
Launched in 2009, the organization recently unveiled an Online Learning, Marketing & Sales Center which is available exclusively to members of the organization.
As part of the launch, the organization offered free membership to all insurance and financial professionals. The free offer ends December 31, 2009. Those joining prior to that date will be members of the organization through December 31, 2010.
Starting in January 2010, the cost of membership in the organization will be $49 per-year.
For more information or to access the online sign-up page, go to:
http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org/sales-center/
Launched in 2009, the organization recently unveiled an Online Learning, Marketing & Sales Center which is available exclusively to members of the organization.
As part of the launch, the organization offered free membership to all insurance and financial professionals. The free offer ends December 31, 2009. Those joining prior to that date will be members of the organization through December 31, 2010.
Starting in January 2010, the cost of membership in the organization will be $49 per-year.
For more information or to access the online sign-up page, go to:
http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org/sales-center/
Monday, November 9, 2009
More Adults At Risk Of Heart Disease
Only 7.5 percent of Americans are now in the clear when it comes to heart disease risk factors according to a new study.
Resaerchers found that several decades of steady reductions in heart disease may be on the wane. The obesity epidemic affecting millions of Americans bears much of the blame for the increased risk. As a result, the decline in cardiovascular disease mortality in the U.S. seems to be coming to an end and may even reverse itself.
A worsening cardiovascular risk profile in the population could potentially lead to increases in the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease, noted researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The increases in cardiovascular disease and diabetes will affect the nation's medical costs, stated Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. Medical costs account for two-thirds of all U.S. bankruptcies, he noted.
The researchers collected data on adults 25 to 74 years of age looking for low-risk factors for heart disease. These include items such as not smoking, having low blood cholesterol, normal blood pressure, normal weight and no sign of diabetes.
Using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, the study found that in 1971 to 1975, a paltry 4.4 percent of adults had all five of these heart-healthy factors. However, by 1994 that number had risen to 10.5 percent of adults.
The latest data, from 2004, found that the fraction of American adults with all five healthy characteristics had dropped to 7.5 percent. Minorities tended to fare worst, since whites tended to have more low-risk factors than either blacks or Mexican-Americans, the report found.
The reserachers identified three reasons for the backslide in health; decreases in the percentages of adults who were not overweight or obese, a decrease in those who had a favorable blood pressure, and an increase in the number who have diabetes. There was one bright spot in the report, a decrease in the percentage of adults who were not currently smoking.
Because excess weight is a major cause of diabetes and hypertension, it is critical that the percentage of adults who are overweight or obese be reduced, the researchers noted. "This alarming development is occurring despite great improvements in medical interventions to prevent cardiovascular diseases," he said. "It is of particular concern that these trends do not yet reflect the consequences of the current epidemic of childhood obesity."
If these trends continue, the recent gains in life expectancy in the U.S. will be lost, the medical experts noted.
The study was published in the Sept. 14 online edition of Circulation.
SOURCES: Earl S. Ford, M.D., M.P.H., U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Rob M. van Dam, Ph.D., assistant professor, medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston; Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., professor, cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles; Sept. 14, 2009, Circulation, online.
Resaerchers found that several decades of steady reductions in heart disease may be on the wane. The obesity epidemic affecting millions of Americans bears much of the blame for the increased risk. As a result, the decline in cardiovascular disease mortality in the U.S. seems to be coming to an end and may even reverse itself.
A worsening cardiovascular risk profile in the population could potentially lead to increases in the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease, noted researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The increases in cardiovascular disease and diabetes will affect the nation's medical costs, stated Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. Medical costs account for two-thirds of all U.S. bankruptcies, he noted.
The researchers collected data on adults 25 to 74 years of age looking for low-risk factors for heart disease. These include items such as not smoking, having low blood cholesterol, normal blood pressure, normal weight and no sign of diabetes.
Using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, the study found that in 1971 to 1975, a paltry 4.4 percent of adults had all five of these heart-healthy factors. However, by 1994 that number had risen to 10.5 percent of adults.
The latest data, from 2004, found that the fraction of American adults with all five healthy characteristics had dropped to 7.5 percent. Minorities tended to fare worst, since whites tended to have more low-risk factors than either blacks or Mexican-Americans, the report found.
The reserachers identified three reasons for the backslide in health; decreases in the percentages of adults who were not overweight or obese, a decrease in those who had a favorable blood pressure, and an increase in the number who have diabetes. There was one bright spot in the report, a decrease in the percentage of adults who were not currently smoking.
Because excess weight is a major cause of diabetes and hypertension, it is critical that the percentage of adults who are overweight or obese be reduced, the researchers noted. "This alarming development is occurring despite great improvements in medical interventions to prevent cardiovascular diseases," he said. "It is of particular concern that these trends do not yet reflect the consequences of the current epidemic of childhood obesity."
If these trends continue, the recent gains in life expectancy in the U.S. will be lost, the medical experts noted.
The study was published in the Sept. 14 online edition of Circulation.
SOURCES: Earl S. Ford, M.D., M.P.H., U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Rob M. van Dam, Ph.D., assistant professor, medicine, Harvard Medical School; Boston; Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., professor, cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles; Sept. 14, 2009, Circulation, online.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Migraine Headaches With Aura Can Double Stroke Risk
Young women who smoke and use birth control pills may be susceptible to getting migraine headaches with aura.
Medical researchers advise that those with the combination of conditions should stop smoking and using birth control pills because new findings reveal they may increase their risk of stroke.
People who suffer migraine headaches with aura experience visual disturbances before or during the migraine. For these individuals, the medical scientists found that the risk for ischemic stroke is doubled. Being female, under 45, smoking and using oral contraceptives that contain estrogen added to the risk. Studies were conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
According to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national organization that tracks data on strokesm heart attacks and cancer, an ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel. The connection between migraine and stroke was already suspected executives note. What was unknown was the extent of risk and who is most at risk.
Migraine headaches affect up to 20 percent of the U.S. population. Women are up to four times more likely than men to get migraines, and as many as one third also experience an aura before or during a migraine.
Migraine with aura is associated with a twofold increased risk for ischemic stroke compared to people without migraine. The report notes that migraine without aura does not appear to change the risk.
The report is published in the Oct. 27 online edition of the British Medical Journal confirms that the risk appears to be highest among women with migraine with aura who smoke and use oral contraceptives. The medical reserachers add that migraine alone does not appear to alter the risk for heart attack and death from cardiovascular disease.
Medical researchers advise that those with the combination of conditions should stop smoking and using birth control pills because new findings reveal they may increase their risk of stroke.
People who suffer migraine headaches with aura experience visual disturbances before or during the migraine. For these individuals, the medical scientists found that the risk for ischemic stroke is doubled. Being female, under 45, smoking and using oral contraceptives that contain estrogen added to the risk. Studies were conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
According to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national organization that tracks data on strokesm heart attacks and cancer, an ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel. The connection between migraine and stroke was already suspected executives note. What was unknown was the extent of risk and who is most at risk.
Migraine headaches affect up to 20 percent of the U.S. population. Women are up to four times more likely than men to get migraines, and as many as one third also experience an aura before or during a migraine.
Migraine with aura is associated with a twofold increased risk for ischemic stroke compared to people without migraine. The report notes that migraine without aura does not appear to change the risk.
The report is published in the Oct. 27 online edition of the British Medical Journal confirms that the risk appears to be highest among women with migraine with aura who smoke and use oral contraceptives. The medical reserachers add that migraine alone does not appear to alter the risk for heart attack and death from cardiovascular disease.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Link Between Depression And Kidney Disease Identified
A new study finds that one in five patients with chronic kidney disease is depressed, even before beginning long-term dialysis therapy or developing end-stage renal disease.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center conducted the first study to examine the relationship. Medical experts have noted that patients in the early stages of chronic kidney disease are at increased risk for clinical depression according to the study in the current issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
According to the American Association for Critical Illness insurance, some 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and millions more are at increased risk. If treatment does not begin early, the condition progresses to end-stage renal disease. At that point, a patient's kidneys have failed to the point where dialysis is needed. Dialysis involves filtering of toxic chemicals in the blood and removing fluid to help control blood pressure.
Previous research has shown that depression rates in the general community are 2 percent to 4 percent. Among diabetes patients, the rate is 11 percent. Among congestive heart failure patients, 14 percent; and among coronary artery disease after heart attack patients, 16 percent.
Chronic kidney disease patient depression numbers may be higher due to the presence of the same simultaneously occurring conditions that resulted in progressive kidney disease, such as diabetes and atherosclerotic vascular disease, one of the researchers noted.
Some 21 percent of those studied by researchers were found to be depressed. The mean age of depressed patients was about 65. The researchers also found that diabetic patients were twice as likely to be depressed as those without diabetes; 63 percent of patients had at least three other medical conditions; and 41 percent had at least four other diseases.
Expenditures for end-stage renal disease patients totaled $15.5 billion, which is approximately 6 percent of the entire Medicare budget, and are projected to consume $28 billion by 2010.
For more information on critical illness insurance and to learn the cost for this protection, visit the website of the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance where you can access a free cost calculator to look up rates for coverage starting at $10,000 and increasing to $50,000.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center conducted the first study to examine the relationship. Medical experts have noted that patients in the early stages of chronic kidney disease are at increased risk for clinical depression according to the study in the current issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
According to the American Association for Critical Illness insurance, some 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and millions more are at increased risk. If treatment does not begin early, the condition progresses to end-stage renal disease. At that point, a patient's kidneys have failed to the point where dialysis is needed. Dialysis involves filtering of toxic chemicals in the blood and removing fluid to help control blood pressure.
Previous research has shown that depression rates in the general community are 2 percent to 4 percent. Among diabetes patients, the rate is 11 percent. Among congestive heart failure patients, 14 percent; and among coronary artery disease after heart attack patients, 16 percent.
Chronic kidney disease patient depression numbers may be higher due to the presence of the same simultaneously occurring conditions that resulted in progressive kidney disease, such as diabetes and atherosclerotic vascular disease, one of the researchers noted.
Some 21 percent of those studied by researchers were found to be depressed. The mean age of depressed patients was about 65. The researchers also found that diabetic patients were twice as likely to be depressed as those without diabetes; 63 percent of patients had at least three other medical conditions; and 41 percent had at least four other diseases.
Expenditures for end-stage renal disease patients totaled $15.5 billion, which is approximately 6 percent of the entire Medicare budget, and are projected to consume $28 billion by 2010.
For more information on critical illness insurance and to learn the cost for this protection, visit the website of the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance where you can access a free cost calculator to look up rates for coverage starting at $10,000 and increasing to $50,000.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Breast Cancer Hits Well Educated Women Hardest By Breast Cancer
Well-educated women are emotionally the hardest hit by breast cancer.
A study undertaken by Australia's Monash University Medical School's Women's Health Program, found that well-educated women and those who live alone are emotionally the hardest hit.
Nearly 1.5 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2010 according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the industry trade group, including almost 180,000 breast cancer cases in women. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. With improvements in detection and treatment of breast cancer, 87 per cent of women affected survive five years or more from the time of detection.
The researchers found that two years post diagnosis women with breast cancer were not more likely to be depressed but were more likely to experience a lowered sense of control over their life, and lower general health, with lessened vitality being limited to older women.
Women living alone were more likely to have a lower well being is an important finding suggesting that such women may benefit by targeted provision of social support.
The study reported that women's well being two years out from being treated for the disease was overall only modestly lower than for women in general.
Posted by Jesse Slome
For information on long-term care coverage, visit the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.
A study undertaken by Australia's Monash University Medical School's Women's Health Program, found that well-educated women and those who live alone are emotionally the hardest hit.
Nearly 1.5 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2010 according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the industry trade group, including almost 180,000 breast cancer cases in women. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. With improvements in detection and treatment of breast cancer, 87 per cent of women affected survive five years or more from the time of detection.
The researchers found that two years post diagnosis women with breast cancer were not more likely to be depressed but were more likely to experience a lowered sense of control over their life, and lower general health, with lessened vitality being limited to older women.
Women living alone were more likely to have a lower well being is an important finding suggesting that such women may benefit by targeted provision of social support.
The study reported that women's well being two years out from being treated for the disease was overall only modestly lower than for women in general.
Posted by Jesse Slome
For information on long-term care coverage, visit the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Protein May Predict Heart Attack
October 21, 2009. People with high levels of a protein called C-reactive protein may be at higher risk for heart attack.
According to a study published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology the C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation in the blood, may predict those at higher risk for heart attack and death but not stroke.
The study involved over 2,200 people who were 40 years old or older and stroke-free. All participants had their blood tested for CRP levels and were evaluated for stroke and heart attack risk factors.
Participants were followed for an average of eight years. In that time, there were 198 strokes, 156 heart-related events and 586 deaths. The group was comprised of 63 percent Hispanic, 20 percent non-Hispanic black and 15 percent non-Hispanic white residents.
The study's researchers found that people with CRP levels greater than three milligrams per liter were 70 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack and 55 percent more likely to die early compared to people who had levels of one milligram per liter or less of the protein in their blood. The protein was not associated with an increased risk of stroke once other risk factors were taken into account.
Prior studies have found the C-reactive protein to be a marker for predicting risk of heart disease. CRP protein levels are associated with such medical and lifestyle risk factors as diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity. A lead researcher noted that by living a healthy lifestyle, one may be able to lower these protein levels, thus lowering the risk of cardiac events and possibly early death.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health. Reported by Jesse Slome, American Association for Critical Illness Insurance.
According to a study published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology the C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation in the blood, may predict those at higher risk for heart attack and death but not stroke.
The study involved over 2,200 people who were 40 years old or older and stroke-free. All participants had their blood tested for CRP levels and were evaluated for stroke and heart attack risk factors.
Participants were followed for an average of eight years. In that time, there were 198 strokes, 156 heart-related events and 586 deaths. The group was comprised of 63 percent Hispanic, 20 percent non-Hispanic black and 15 percent non-Hispanic white residents.
The study's researchers found that people with CRP levels greater than three milligrams per liter were 70 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack and 55 percent more likely to die early compared to people who had levels of one milligram per liter or less of the protein in their blood. The protein was not associated with an increased risk of stroke once other risk factors were taken into account.
Prior studies have found the C-reactive protein to be a marker for predicting risk of heart disease. CRP protein levels are associated with such medical and lifestyle risk factors as diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity. A lead researcher noted that by living a healthy lifestyle, one may be able to lower these protein levels, thus lowering the risk of cardiac events and possibly early death.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health. Reported by Jesse Slome, American Association for Critical Illness Insurance.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Breast Cancer Developing Earlier
Researchers noted that breast cancer may be developing in more women at younger ages.
The findings presented at the 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium, held last week in San Francisco, could potentially affect how women are screened for breast cancer.
Reserachers reported that women with a high genetic risk of developing breast cancer are being diagnosed sooner than similar women in the past. They note this may suggest that tumors are being found earlier in the younger generation.
About 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are thought to be connected to a genetic mutation that is also linked to ovarian cancer. Women with the mutations, known as BRCA1 or BRCA2, have an increased risk of developing breast tumors the scientists noted. Over a lifetime, 60 percent of these women will develop the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. By comparison, 12 percent of women in the general population will develop breast cancer.
Women who have the genetic mutation are advised to be screened for breast cancer starting when they are 25. The same they note is true for women whose mothers or aunts have the genetic mutation. A Mammography and MRI are now recommended for these women.
Some 1.4 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer last year according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. About 26 percent of cases diagnosed in women are breast cancer.
In the new study, the researchers examined the medical records of women with the genetic mutation who took part in the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's clinical cancer genetics program. The median age of diagnosis in the newer generation was 42, but 47 in the older women. The study authors report that this is worrisome because it could mean that the cancer is developing earlier.
The findings the researchers noted are concerning and could have implications on the screening and genetic counseling of these women.
The findings presented at the 2009 Breast Cancer Symposium, held last week in San Francisco, could potentially affect how women are screened for breast cancer.
Reserachers reported that women with a high genetic risk of developing breast cancer are being diagnosed sooner than similar women in the past. They note this may suggest that tumors are being found earlier in the younger generation.
About 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are thought to be connected to a genetic mutation that is also linked to ovarian cancer. Women with the mutations, known as BRCA1 or BRCA2, have an increased risk of developing breast tumors the scientists noted. Over a lifetime, 60 percent of these women will develop the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. By comparison, 12 percent of women in the general population will develop breast cancer.
Women who have the genetic mutation are advised to be screened for breast cancer starting when they are 25. The same they note is true for women whose mothers or aunts have the genetic mutation. A Mammography and MRI are now recommended for these women.
Some 1.4 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer last year according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. About 26 percent of cases diagnosed in women are breast cancer.
In the new study, the researchers examined the medical records of women with the genetic mutation who took part in the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's clinical cancer genetics program. The median age of diagnosis in the newer generation was 42, but 47 in the older women. The study authors report that this is worrisome because it could mean that the cancer is developing earlier.
The findings the researchers noted are concerning and could have implications on the screening and genetic counseling of these women.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Smoking Bans Reduce Heart Attack Occurrence
October 19, 2009. Smoking bans are effective at reducing the risk of heart attacks and heart disease associated with exposure to secondhand smoke.
A new report from the Institute of Medicine confirms that there is sufficient evidence that breathing secondhand smoke boosts nonsmokers' risk for heart problems. The medical researchers added that indirect evidence indicating that even relatively brief exposures could lead to a heart attack is compelling.
According to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, some 43 percent of nonsmoking children and 37 percent of nonsmoking adults are exposed to secondhand smoke in the United States. Experts report that roughly 126 million nonsmokers were still being exposed in 2000.
A 2006 report from the U.S. Surgeon General's office concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke causes heart disease and indicated that smoke-free policies are the most economical and effective way to reduce exposure. However, the effectiveness of smoking bans in reducing heart problems has continued to be a source of debate.
The Institute of Medicine researchers conducted a comprehensive review of published and unpublished data and testimony on the relationship between secondhand smoke and short-term and long-term heart problems. Eleven key studies that evaluated the effects of smoking bans on heart attack rates informed the committee's conclusions about the positive effects of smoke-free policies. The studies calculated that reductions in the incidence of heart attacks range from 6 percent to 47 percent.
The report was sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine provides independent, objective, evidence-based advice to policymakers, health professionals, the private sector, and the public.
A new report from the Institute of Medicine confirms that there is sufficient evidence that breathing secondhand smoke boosts nonsmokers' risk for heart problems. The medical researchers added that indirect evidence indicating that even relatively brief exposures could lead to a heart attack is compelling.
According to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, some 43 percent of nonsmoking children and 37 percent of nonsmoking adults are exposed to secondhand smoke in the United States. Experts report that roughly 126 million nonsmokers were still being exposed in 2000.
A 2006 report from the U.S. Surgeon General's office concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke causes heart disease and indicated that smoke-free policies are the most economical and effective way to reduce exposure. However, the effectiveness of smoking bans in reducing heart problems has continued to be a source of debate.
The Institute of Medicine researchers conducted a comprehensive review of published and unpublished data and testimony on the relationship between secondhand smoke and short-term and long-term heart problems. Eleven key studies that evaluated the effects of smoking bans on heart attack rates informed the committee's conclusions about the positive effects of smoke-free policies. The studies calculated that reductions in the incidence of heart attacks range from 6 percent to 47 percent.
The report was sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine provides independent, objective, evidence-based advice to policymakers, health professionals, the private sector, and the public.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Skin Cancer Can Be Inherited
Two new studies suggest that skin cancer can be inhereited.
One study found that having an identical twin with melanoma increased a person's own risk of developing the disease much more than having a fraternal twin with this type of skin cancer. The other study revealed that having a parent or sibling with one of several different types of non-melanoma skin cancer increased risk as well.
Having an identical twin with melanoma increased a person's own risk of the disease nearly 10-fold, while melanoma associated with having a non-identical twin with the disease was roughly doubled.
Prior studies have suggested melanoma and other skin cancers run in families. But medical experts note it has been difficult to separate the difference between the influence of genes and those caused by other environmental conditions. Some 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia looked at twin pairs in which at least one sibling had been diagnosed with melanoma. After looking at hundreds of candidates, the researchers found that in four of the 27 identical twin pairs, both had melanoma, while three of the 98 fraternal twin pairs had both been diagnosed with the deadly skin cancer.
In the second study conducted at the University of California Los Angeles, researchers looked at the Swedish Family-Cancer Database to gauge the risk for several types of skin cancer among siblings and children of people diagnosed with these diseases.
They found that people with a sibling or parent diagnosed with some types of skin cancer were more likely to develop skin cancers of various types, not just the ones their relatives had. When tumors occurred at parts of the body more likely to have been exposed to the sun (such as the face, compared to the torso), the familial risk was stronger. The findings were reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, September 2009.
One study found that having an identical twin with melanoma increased a person's own risk of developing the disease much more than having a fraternal twin with this type of skin cancer. The other study revealed that having a parent or sibling with one of several different types of non-melanoma skin cancer increased risk as well.
Having an identical twin with melanoma increased a person's own risk of the disease nearly 10-fold, while melanoma associated with having a non-identical twin with the disease was roughly doubled.
Prior studies have suggested melanoma and other skin cancers run in families. But medical experts note it has been difficult to separate the difference between the influence of genes and those caused by other environmental conditions. Some 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia looked at twin pairs in which at least one sibling had been diagnosed with melanoma. After looking at hundreds of candidates, the researchers found that in four of the 27 identical twin pairs, both had melanoma, while three of the 98 fraternal twin pairs had both been diagnosed with the deadly skin cancer.
In the second study conducted at the University of California Los Angeles, researchers looked at the Swedish Family-Cancer Database to gauge the risk for several types of skin cancer among siblings and children of people diagnosed with these diseases.
They found that people with a sibling or parent diagnosed with some types of skin cancer were more likely to develop skin cancers of various types, not just the ones their relatives had. When tumors occurred at parts of the body more likely to have been exposed to the sun (such as the face, compared to the torso), the familial risk was stronger. The findings were reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, September 2009.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Women With Breast Cancer Have Low Vitamin D Levels
October 11, 2009. Women with breast cancer are likely to have low levels of vitamin D, which could contribute to decreased bone mass and greater risk of fractures.
The finding comes from scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center who recommend women should be given high doses of vitamin D. The U.S. Institute of Medicine suggests that blood levels nearing 32 nanograms per milliliter are adequate.
Vitamin D, obtained from milk, fortified cereals and exposure to sunlight, is well known to play an essential role in cell growth, in boosting the body's immune system and in strengthening bones. In a study of women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, nearly 70 percent had low levels of vitamin D in their blood, according to a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Breast Cancer Symposium in San Francisco.
The analysis showed women with late-stage disease and non-Caucasian women had even lower levels. Scientists analyzed vitamin D levels in each woman. They found the average level was 27 nanograms per milliliter. More than two-thirds of the women had vitamin deficiency.
Weekly supplementation with high doses of vitamin D -- 50,000 international units or more -- improved the levels, according to the researchers. Previous studies have shown that nearly half of all men and women are deficient in the nutrient, with vitamin D levels below 32 nanograms per milliliter. Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include muscle pain, low energy and fatigue, lowered immunity, symptoms of depression and sleep irregularities.
Some 692,000 American women are diagnosed annually with cancer in the United States according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national trade group. Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting 26 percent of women diagnosed with the illness.
The finding comes from scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center who recommend women should be given high doses of vitamin D. The U.S. Institute of Medicine suggests that blood levels nearing 32 nanograms per milliliter are adequate.
Vitamin D, obtained from milk, fortified cereals and exposure to sunlight, is well known to play an essential role in cell growth, in boosting the body's immune system and in strengthening bones. In a study of women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, nearly 70 percent had low levels of vitamin D in their blood, according to a study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Breast Cancer Symposium in San Francisco.
The analysis showed women with late-stage disease and non-Caucasian women had even lower levels. Scientists analyzed vitamin D levels in each woman. They found the average level was 27 nanograms per milliliter. More than two-thirds of the women had vitamin deficiency.
Weekly supplementation with high doses of vitamin D -- 50,000 international units or more -- improved the levels, according to the researchers. Previous studies have shown that nearly half of all men and women are deficient in the nutrient, with vitamin D levels below 32 nanograms per milliliter. Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency include muscle pain, low energy and fatigue, lowered immunity, symptoms of depression and sleep irregularities.
Some 692,000 American women are diagnosed annually with cancer in the United States according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national trade group. Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting 26 percent of women diagnosed with the illness.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Shingles Raises Risk Of Stroke In Adults
Adults with shingles were about 30 percent more likely to have a stroke during a one-year follow-up than adults without shingles.
According to a study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association the risk was even greater when the infection involved the eyes. Every 40 seconds someone in America has a stroke, according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States.
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus; the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Usually the virus doesn’t cause problems, but it can reappear years later, causing shingles.
Studies have shown that people with herpes zoster infection are more likely to develop stroke. The researchers noted that this is the first study to demonstrate the actual risk of stroke following herpes zoster infection.
Medical experts at the Taipei Medical University Hospital studied some 8,000 patients 18 years and older who received shingles treatment between 1997 and 2001. These people were matched by age and gender with 23,280 adults who weren’t treated for shingles (controls).
During the one-year follow-up, 133 shingles patients (about 1.7 percent) and 306 of the controls (about 1.3 percent) had strokes. The researchers noted that people treated for a shingles infection were 31 percent more likely to have a stroke, compared with patients without a shingles infection.
Patients with shingles infections that involved the skin around the eye and the eye itself were 4.28 times more likely to have a stroke than patients without shingles. Shingles patients were 31 percent more likely to develop an ischemic stroke during the one-year follow-up than those without shingles.
Ischemic strokes, which are caused by the blockage of an artery, account for 87 percent of the new or recurrent strokes that strike some 800,000 Americans yearly, Jesse Slome, executive director of the critical illness insurance trade group.
Shingles usually starts as a rash on one side of the face or body. The rash starts as blisters that scab after three to five days and usually clears within two to four weeks. There is often pain, itching or tingling in the area where the rash develops.
According to a study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association the risk was even greater when the infection involved the eyes. Every 40 seconds someone in America has a stroke, according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States.
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus; the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body. Usually the virus doesn’t cause problems, but it can reappear years later, causing shingles.
Studies have shown that people with herpes zoster infection are more likely to develop stroke. The researchers noted that this is the first study to demonstrate the actual risk of stroke following herpes zoster infection.
Medical experts at the Taipei Medical University Hospital studied some 8,000 patients 18 years and older who received shingles treatment between 1997 and 2001. These people were matched by age and gender with 23,280 adults who weren’t treated for shingles (controls).
During the one-year follow-up, 133 shingles patients (about 1.7 percent) and 306 of the controls (about 1.3 percent) had strokes. The researchers noted that people treated for a shingles infection were 31 percent more likely to have a stroke, compared with patients without a shingles infection.
Patients with shingles infections that involved the skin around the eye and the eye itself were 4.28 times more likely to have a stroke than patients without shingles. Shingles patients were 31 percent more likely to develop an ischemic stroke during the one-year follow-up than those without shingles.
Ischemic strokes, which are caused by the blockage of an artery, account for 87 percent of the new or recurrent strokes that strike some 800,000 Americans yearly, Jesse Slome, executive director of the critical illness insurance trade group.
Shingles usually starts as a rash on one side of the face or body. The rash starts as blisters that scab after three to five days and usually clears within two to four weeks. There is often pain, itching or tingling in the area where the rash develops.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Stem Cell Research Offers Colon Cancer Vaccine Hope
October 10, 2009. Human stem cells may provide a means of creating a vaccine against colon cancer and other types of cancers.
Some 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer annually according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national trade orgganization. "Some 10 percent of cases in both men and women are colon cancer," notes Jesse Slome, executive director.
American and Chinese scientists reporting noted that cancer and stem cells share many molecular and biological features. Dr. Zihai Li, of the University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute, said in a news release that by immunizing the host with stem cells, the researchers were are able to 'fool' the immune system to believe that cancer cells are present and thus to initiate a tumor-combating immune program. The research by Li and colleagues is the first to make the connection between human stem cells and colon cancer vaccination.
The study authors noted that, it has long been believed that immunizing people with embryonic materials may trigger an anti-tumor response by the immune system, but this theory has never advanced beyond animal research. The finding that human stem cells may help immunize against colon cancer is new and unexpected they added. The study was published online Oct. 7 in the journal Stem Cells.
The researchers vaccinated mice with human embryonic stem cells and found that the mice developed a consistent immune response against colon cancer cells. The vaccinated mice showed a dramatic decline in tumor growth, compared with non-vaccinated mice.
Some 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer annually according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national trade orgganization. "Some 10 percent of cases in both men and women are colon cancer," notes Jesse Slome, executive director.
American and Chinese scientists reporting noted that cancer and stem cells share many molecular and biological features. Dr. Zihai Li, of the University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute, said in a news release that by immunizing the host with stem cells, the researchers were are able to 'fool' the immune system to believe that cancer cells are present and thus to initiate a tumor-combating immune program. The research by Li and colleagues is the first to make the connection between human stem cells and colon cancer vaccination.
The study authors noted that, it has long been believed that immunizing people with embryonic materials may trigger an anti-tumor response by the immune system, but this theory has never advanced beyond animal research. The finding that human stem cells may help immunize against colon cancer is new and unexpected they added. The study was published online Oct. 7 in the journal Stem Cells.
The researchers vaccinated mice with human embryonic stem cells and found that the mice developed a consistent immune response against colon cancer cells. The vaccinated mice showed a dramatic decline in tumor growth, compared with non-vaccinated mice.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
New Test Assesses Individual Breast Cancer Risk
October 7, 2009. Some 692,000 American women are diagnosed with cancer according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance. About one quarter (26%) have breast cancer.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a new report notes that analyzing individual breast tissue for specific structural characteristics may more precisely determine a woman's risk for developing breast cancer.
Reporting in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers report that the more acini a woman has and the larger her breast lobules, the higher the chance she will get breast cancer. Acini, the medical experts note, refers to a cluster of cells that in this instance are the sacs that produce milk.
Currently, factors such as family history of breast cancer, number of pregnancies and age at first pregnancy are helpful in predicting how often breast cancer will arise in a larger population. But, reserachers note, these same tools are poor indicators of individual risk.
Other than family history and genetics, the best tool experts have to predict individual breast cancer risk is the Gail model, which takes into account age and number of previous biopsies, as well as family history and pregnancy history. But, the authors of the report note that the Gail model is "only slightly better than chance alone.
Breast cancer originates in the breast lobules. The lobules are supposed to disappear as a woman ages, reducing her breast cancer risk, but this doesn't always happen. The researchers tissue from women with breast cancer (as well as earlier tissue samples taken before they developed the cancer). The more acini per lobule a woman had and the larger the lobule, the higher her risk for developing breast cancer, the researchers found. This new technique proved more accurate than the Gail model.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a new report notes that analyzing individual breast tissue for specific structural characteristics may more precisely determine a woman's risk for developing breast cancer.
Reporting in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers report that the more acini a woman has and the larger her breast lobules, the higher the chance she will get breast cancer. Acini, the medical experts note, refers to a cluster of cells that in this instance are the sacs that produce milk.
Currently, factors such as family history of breast cancer, number of pregnancies and age at first pregnancy are helpful in predicting how often breast cancer will arise in a larger population. But, reserachers note, these same tools are poor indicators of individual risk.
Other than family history and genetics, the best tool experts have to predict individual breast cancer risk is the Gail model, which takes into account age and number of previous biopsies, as well as family history and pregnancy history. But, the authors of the report note that the Gail model is "only slightly better than chance alone.
Breast cancer originates in the breast lobules. The lobules are supposed to disappear as a woman ages, reducing her breast cancer risk, but this doesn't always happen. The researchers tissue from women with breast cancer (as well as earlier tissue samples taken before they developed the cancer). The more acini per lobule a woman had and the larger the lobule, the higher her risk for developing breast cancer, the researchers found. This new technique proved more accurate than the Gail model.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Asian Spice Could Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
An estimated six million women in the United States currently use hormone replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause.
Taking a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy has increased their risk of developing progestin-accelerated breast tumors note medical experts. According to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance nearly 700,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with cancer this year and over one-quarter will have breast cancer.
University of Missouri researchers have found that curcumin, a popular Indian spice derived from the turmeric root, could reduce the cancer risk for women after exposure to hormone replacement therapy.
The results of the study showed that women could potentially take curcumin to protect themselves from developing progestin-accelerated tumors, researchers noted. In the study, researchers found that curcumin delayed the first appearance, decreased incidence and reduced multiplicity of progestin-accelerated tumors in an animal model.
Taking a combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy has increased their risk of developing progestin-accelerated breast tumors note medical experts. According to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance nearly 700,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with cancer this year and over one-quarter will have breast cancer.
University of Missouri researchers have found that curcumin, a popular Indian spice derived from the turmeric root, could reduce the cancer risk for women after exposure to hormone replacement therapy.
The results of the study showed that women could potentially take curcumin to protect themselves from developing progestin-accelerated tumors, researchers noted. In the study, researchers found that curcumin delayed the first appearance, decreased incidence and reduced multiplicity of progestin-accelerated tumors in an animal model.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Mini-Stroke Precedes Just 1 In 8 Strokes
October 1, 2009. One out of every eight strokes is preceded by a milder interruption of blood flow to the brain, called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Canadian researchers conclude that such an attack is not the crucial warning sign that physicians need.
For the study published in the Sept. 29 issue of Neurology, researchers found that, of the 16,409 people diagnosed with stroke over a four-year period, 2,032 -- or 12.4 percent of them -- had a TIA in the weeks before the stroke.
As a result, the medical experts concluded that a TIA does not have enough predictive power to warrant intensive preventive measures.
A TIA, which some refer to as a mini-stroke, occurs when a clot briefly blocks a brain artery. Symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke -- sudden onset of weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, loss of vision or double vision, speech difficulty, dizziness, loss of balance -- but they go away, often in a few minutes. Many people ignore the symptoms, but they are clear signs of possible trouble.
Dr. Larry B. Goldstein, director of the Duke Stroke Center. But he disagrees with the Canadian report's interpretation of the predictive importance of TIAs. "They predict 10 to 15 percent of strokes," Goldstein said. "This is not a small number, so it is an opportunity to prevent stroke that you don't want to miss when it happens."
Some medical experts noted that better predictive tools are available. Many prefers carotid ultrasound, an inexpensive way to listen to blood flow in the main artery to the brain.
Stroke is a leading cause of critical illness with over one million new cases diagnosed in the United States annually according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance the national trade organization.
For the study published in the Sept. 29 issue of Neurology, researchers found that, of the 16,409 people diagnosed with stroke over a four-year period, 2,032 -- or 12.4 percent of them -- had a TIA in the weeks before the stroke.
As a result, the medical experts concluded that a TIA does not have enough predictive power to warrant intensive preventive measures.
A TIA, which some refer to as a mini-stroke, occurs when a clot briefly blocks a brain artery. Symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke -- sudden onset of weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, loss of vision or double vision, speech difficulty, dizziness, loss of balance -- but they go away, often in a few minutes. Many people ignore the symptoms, but they are clear signs of possible trouble.
Dr. Larry B. Goldstein, director of the Duke Stroke Center. But he disagrees with the Canadian report's interpretation of the predictive importance of TIAs. "They predict 10 to 15 percent of strokes," Goldstein said. "This is not a small number, so it is an opportunity to prevent stroke that you don't want to miss when it happens."
Some medical experts noted that better predictive tools are available. Many prefers carotid ultrasound, an inexpensive way to listen to blood flow in the main artery to the brain.
Stroke is a leading cause of critical illness with over one million new cases diagnosed in the United States annually according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance the national trade organization.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Study: PSA Test Considered Unreliable Prostate Cancer Screening
Researchers noted that the inability of the PSA test to distinguish between deadly and harmless prostate cancers makes it unusable as a population-wide screening tool. PSA is a protein made by the prostate gland. It is found in small amounts in the blood of healthy men, and is often elevated in men with prostate cancer, but also in men with benign prostate enlargement.
Some 745,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer this year according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the industry trade group. Nearly 300,000 will die and prostate cancer causes about a quarter of all cancer deaths among men.
The lead author of one study, a urologist with Gavle Hospital in Gavle, Sweden, noted that in addition to PSA, further biomarkers are needed before inferring population-based screening for prostate cancer. The claim was based on a study of PSA tests of over 500 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Their PSA was measured several years before being diagnosed. Scientists compared those tests with PSA tests from over 1,000 men without prostate cancer.
Reserachers reported that in men with a prediagnostic PSA level below 1 nanogram per milliliter, only six men [1.2 percent] were later diagnosed with a high-risk prostate cancer. Hence, PSA levels below [that] almost ruled out a future high-risk prostate cancer diagnosis. They noted that the direct implication of their findings in a screening situation was that no matter which PSA cut-off you adopt for selecting men for further diagnostic work-up, you will either have too many false positives or too many false negatives.
Given the current trend in lowering the PSA cut-off to about 3 nanograms per milliliter, the medical reserachers noted that a large number of healthy men will be subject to painful, stressful and costly diagnostic procedures. Their report worried that the wide overdiagnosis of slow-growing tumors causing unnecessary medical treatment and anxiety.
Although most agencies providing recommendations on prostate cancer screening, especially those outside the United States, do not recommend routine PSA testing for the early detection of prostate cancer, it continues to be performed frequently medical experts noted.
Some 745,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer this year according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the industry trade group. Nearly 300,000 will die and prostate cancer causes about a quarter of all cancer deaths among men.
The lead author of one study, a urologist with Gavle Hospital in Gavle, Sweden, noted that in addition to PSA, further biomarkers are needed before inferring population-based screening for prostate cancer. The claim was based on a study of PSA tests of over 500 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Their PSA was measured several years before being diagnosed. Scientists compared those tests with PSA tests from over 1,000 men without prostate cancer.
Reserachers reported that in men with a prediagnostic PSA level below 1 nanogram per milliliter, only six men [1.2 percent] were later diagnosed with a high-risk prostate cancer. Hence, PSA levels below [that] almost ruled out a future high-risk prostate cancer diagnosis. They noted that the direct implication of their findings in a screening situation was that no matter which PSA cut-off you adopt for selecting men for further diagnostic work-up, you will either have too many false positives or too many false negatives.
Given the current trend in lowering the PSA cut-off to about 3 nanograms per milliliter, the medical reserachers noted that a large number of healthy men will be subject to painful, stressful and costly diagnostic procedures. Their report worried that the wide overdiagnosis of slow-growing tumors causing unnecessary medical treatment and anxiety.
Although most agencies providing recommendations on prostate cancer screening, especially those outside the United States, do not recommend routine PSA testing for the early detection of prostate cancer, it continues to be performed frequently medical experts noted.
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