Idea #315 for December 30th, 2009: Passing Muster or Stricter Device Approval Guidelines At The FDA

The FDA has announced plans to implement a more strict process for the approval of medical devices. This decision comes after several journal articles brought to light flaws in the current approval process. For instance, an article in JAMA showed that the approvals of a number of cardiovascular devices in the last decade were based on a single study. Also, only about half of the outcomes in the studies were compared to control groups. Rigor has certainly been lacking in these FDA approvals. It might be a case of too little, too late, but at least the FDA has admitted to the problem and will make an effort to address it.

Read more about this story here.

Idea #254 for October 30th, 2009: Another Reason To Quit or Smoking a Single Cigarette Can Harden Arteries

A few days ago, this blog dealt with the issue of occasional smokers, and how that particular group is often overlooked by researchers and providers alike. Now there’s more evidence that even the occasional cigarette is indeed harmful. The study found that even one cigarette will temporarily harden the arteries of young adults by 25%.

The study specifically looked at the effects of smoking before exercise and involved subjects between 18-30 years old who smoked about five cigarettes daily as well as non-smokers. Before exercising, both the smokers and non-smokers had the same level of arterial stiffness. Prior to exercise, the smoking group was allowed to smoke a single cigarette, and all participants were assessed on the hardness of their arteries afterward.

In non-smokers, arterial stiffness actually decreased slightly after exercise. In smokers, the stiffness increased by 25%. Even for members of the smoking group who did not have a cigarette before exercise, their arterial stiffness still rose slightly following exercise. The effects of this hardening can make the vascular system less able to deal with physical stress, like running. This is further evidence that occasional smoking — even in young adults — can have quantifiable negative effects on health. Smoking just a few cigarettes a day is a harmful activity, despite what the occasional smoker may believe.

Read more about this issue here.

Idea #101 for May 30th, 2009: Just a Few Minutes of Your Time or Online Cardiovascular Health Assessment

A hospital near Chicago has a simple online tool that it hopes will lower the incidence of preventable heart disease. It’s a risk assessment calculator that takes only a couple minutes to complete. A staggering number of heart disease cases are preventable, and health workers’ are trying to make potential victims more aware of their risk. In fact, a physician at that hospital estimates that 90-95% of their cases of heart disease are preventable. With almost a million deaths a year in the US related to heart disease, there is clearly a need to catch early warning signs and risks of cardiovascular issues before they become deadly.

The tool asks for some basic information like age, weight, blood pressure, and family history, as well as checkboxes for a number of symptoms. Then, your estimated risk level is displayed and if the risk is determined to be high, a free cardiac screening is offered. In those cases, users enter their contact information and a nurse will follow-up by telephone.

Of the 7,000 people who’ve taken the test this year, more than a third have been deemed high-risk. Similar tools are available on other hospital websites as well. It’s a pretty low-cost way to reach out to patients who may otherwise be unable or unwilling to see a doctor. This is an example of a simple tool that should be publicized more and, hopefully, will compel potential heart disease patients to take the necessary steps to thwart the problem.

Read the story about this in the Chicago Tribune and try the test yourself here