Quantum Sufficit
Just Enough
When choosing a doctor, does a patient's race influence
the decision? Researchers surveyed more than 3,500 white, black, and Latino
patients and found that many black and Latino patients believe racism exists in
the health care system, and those who have this perception are more likely to
go to a doctor of their own ethnicity. The study, published in
Annals of Family Medicine, found that
nearly one fourth of black patients preferred a black doctor and one third of
Latinos preferred a Latino doctor. Patients who perceived racism were also more
satisfied with their doctor if he or she was of the same race, according to the
report.
A monthly shot may help patients with alcoholism stay on
the wagon longer. Data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial published in JAMA found that
long-acting injectable naltrexone significantly reduced heavy drinking among
patients with alcoholism and was well tolerated. Compared with daily oral
treatments, a once-a-month regimen may be more effective in the long-term
because adherence is easier. The authors hope that the shot becomes an
effective treatment option for patients with alcoholism as well as those with
other substance dependencies.
The risk of associated health problems might not be over
after the body has healed from a respiratory infection. Preliminary research
published in Clinical Infectious Diseases
shows a link between Chlamydia pneumoniae
and heart attack in young men. By age 30, one half of Americans have evidence
of C. pneumoniae antibodies in their blood.
The study included 600 men in the U.S. military between 30 and 50 years of age.
One half of the participants had been hospitalized for a previous heart attack.
Researchers found that high levels of C.
pneumoniae were associated with the occurrence of heart attack,
especially when the high levels were present one to five years before the heart
attack. Men in the military were studied because researchers had access to
stored blood samples taken before the heart attacks occurred.
Items in the grocery store that are labeled "reduced fat" and "reduced
sugar" are supposed to be healthier, but CNN.com reports that new reduced-sugar
versions of popular breakfast cereals offer no health benefit. Although these
cereals contain less sugar than their predecessors, the sugar has been replaced
with refined carbohydrates, which are no healthier than sugar, resulting in the
same number of calories as the original cereal.
Should bullies be sent to the doctor's office instead of
the principal's office? Bullying has become a serious public health issue,
according to researchers. According to a study published in
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent
Medicine, bullying might be a result of cognitive and emotional
deficiencies, excessive television watching, obesity, inattention, and
aggression. Maximizing cognitive stimulation and limiting the amount of time
young children spend in front of the television helped reduce their risk of
becoming bullies later in life. Emotional support during the children's early
years also independently protected them.
What could you accomplish if you had an extra year to
live? According to a study published in British
Medical Journal, you could find out if you adopted a Mediterranean diet.
The diet is high in fruits, vegetables, fish, and olive oil, with moderate
consumption of wine and low intake of meat and dairy products. The study of
74,607 men and women 60 years and older measured adherence to the Mediterranean
diet on a 10-point scale. Men who scored between 6 and 9 lived one year longer
than those who followed the diet less closely.
| Copyright © 2005 by the American
Academy of Family Physicians. |
