Posted 10:57 am Sunday, December 30, 2012
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People are talking about: health buzz from Twitter, Facebook and the web
Hospitals say goodbye to McDonalds.
In the past 30 years, fast food chains have had a presence in American hospitals, particularly McDonalds. Some hospitals are deciding to let go of the chain as leases expire. Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., and Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago cut ties with the restaurant chain, citing the need to have consistent messages about food and health. Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, Ky., has no plans of keeping an agreement with McDonald's when its lease expires in four years.
Stigma and lack of funding for mental illness hot topic following shootings.
In a year filled with mass shootings, awareness about mental health services is being highlighted. According to the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute, $4.35 billion in services have been cut from state budgets in the past three years. Mental health advocates assert that limited access to services due to a lack of insurance coverage and few providers should be addressed.
Infant recliners pulled from shelves.
About 150,000 Nap Nanny Recliners have been recalled after at least five infant deaths and dozens of reports of children falling out of the recliner surfaced, The Associated Press reported. Retailers Amazon.com, Buy Buy Baby, Toys R Us/Babies R Us and Diapers.com have voluntarily participated in the recall.
Dirty needles pose threats across the country
Since 2001, 150,000 people nationwide have been victims of unsafe injection practices, according to a USA Today report. Two-thirds of these injections happened over the past four years and led to 49 disease outbreaks, including drug-resistant strains of bacteria, the report said.
Go figure: Neuroticism may be healthy
In a University of Rochester Medical Center study, researchers found self-described neurotics who also have a high level of conscientiousness, have lower levels of interleukin 6, a biomarker for inflammation and chronic illness. While neuroticism is associated with drug abuse and increased risk of mortality, having a high level of conscientiousness buffers the negative effects of neuroticism, the report stated. A high level of conscientiousness is marked by extreme self-control, organization and planning ahead.
