Black Physicians for Black America

Publix Super Markets, Inc., Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., and Kroger Co. have all announced voluntary recalls on beef products packaged on July 23, 2011, with a Freeze by date of August 12, 2011.

The E. Coli threat was found during a routine inspection conducted by the Ohio Department of Agricultureof a Dodge City, Kansas slaughterhouse. In the wake of the findings, National Beef Packing Co. LLC is recalling approximately 60,424 pounds of ground beef products.

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New Face of Chimpanzee Mauling Victim is Revealed

2011-08-11T20:45:00.001-07:00

This might be considered a miracle of modern medicine. A Connecticut woman was mauled two years ago by a chimpanzee and had her face disfigured. After two years of surgeries, doctors are finally revealing the woman’s new face to the public.

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Are For Profit Universities Doing a Disservice to Minorities?

2011-08-10T06:55:00.001-07:00

By JasmineHughes

Selected for their potential to succeed or for their potential to become indebted? Many are now questioning the targeted recruiting practices of for-profit colleges.

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Survey: More than Half of All African Americans Know of a Friend or Relative with HIV

2011-08-03T19:24:00.001-07:00

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

According to a new survey at Your Black World, it was found that over half (56.3%) of all African American respondents have a friend or relative who they know to have HIV. The number was higher among black women (58.7%) than black men (51.2%).

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Doctors Group Says Hotdogs are as Lethal as Cigarettes?

2011-08-02T05:18:00.001-07:00

by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World

Whether you are young or old, the findings of The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine may have you thinking twice before you eat a hot dog. The group recently showcased a new billboard on Monday close to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that features a cigarette box filled with hot dogs. The pack has a skull and crossbones on it, and the billboard reads “Warning: Hot dogs can wreck your health.” The purpose of the billboard is to make the public aware of the connection between colorectal cancer and hot dogs.

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Psychology Today Finally Apologizes for Scientist Who Says Black Women are Less Attractive Than Others

2011-05-28T19:31:00.001-07:00

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Mother Shoots It out With Police over Daughter’s Medication

2011-05-23T05:08:00.001-07:00

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Will.i.am Thinks that Condoms are “Tacky”

2011-05-06T07:45:00.001-07:00

Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas seems to think that women who own condoms are “tacky”.

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Technorati Tags: will.i.am,black eyed peas,black celebrities,black celebrity gossip

Which of the 5 Dominant Personality Traits Are You?

2011-05-05T03:27:00.001-07:00

From the UK Telegraph

Open

Defined by an inventive and curious nature, open people generally have an appreciation for art, adventure, unusual ideas, curiosity, and variety of experience. They can be highly emotional.

They are sensitive to beauty and tend to be, compared to closed people, more creative and more aware of their feelings. They are more likely to hold unconventional beliefs.

Open people are likely to agree with the following statements:

I have a rich vocabulary.

I have a vivid imagination.

I have excellent ideas.

I spend time reflecting on things.

I use difficult words.

I am interested in abstractions.

I do have a good imagination.

Conscientious

Defined as being efficient and organised, people in this category tend to show self discipline, act dutifully and are ambitious.

The trait shows a preference for planned rather than spontaneous behavior. It influences the way in which we control, regulate, and direct our impulses.

Conscientious people are likely to agree with the following statments:

I am always prepared.

I am exacting in my work.

I follow a schedule.

I like order.

I pay attention to details.

I rarely leave my belongings around.

I rarely make a mess of things.

I don't often forget to put things back in their proper place.

I don't shirk my duties.

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Dead NFL Player Dave Duerson would Not Have Qualified for Full Disability Benefits

2011-05-04T13:54:00.001-07:00

By ALAN SCHWARZ Published: May 4, 2011

BOSTON — As the football world absorbs Monday’s news that Dave Duerson had the football-related brain damage he suspected before fatally shooting himself in February, an overlooked detail has emerged: had Duerson reached out for help via the N.F.L.’s disability plan, which he helped administer, his neurological injuries would not have qualified for a high level of benefit, if any at all.

The disability program jointly run by the league and the players association gives its “football degenerative” award for total and permanent disability, up to $110,000 per year, for injuries deemed related to football that arise within 15 years of the player’s retirement. Anything that manifests itself later receives no more than $40,000, and players with neurological impairments have had difficulty getting that.

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2010-06-12T11:12:00.001-07:00

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The latest in African American Health - 3/15/10

2010-03-14T16:29:00.001-07:00

Obama delays Asia trip to deal with health care

By theGrio

10:06 AM on 03/12/2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Obama has delayed his first international trip of the year to focus attention on the final push to salvage his health care legislation...

> READ MORE

Too many Tigers, not enough Trojans

By Dr. Janet Taylor

7:05 AM on 03/12/2010

OPINION - What's notable is reportedly not only did Woods not wear a condom, but his partner's didn't insist upon it...

> READ MORE

How black women can combat genital herpes crisis

By Dr. Janet Taylor

10:42 AM on 03/11/2010

OPINION - According the Center for Disease Control nearly half of all African-American women are infected with the HSV-2 virus...

> READ MORE

New studies reveal the urgency of first lady's obesity fight

By Janice K. Bryant

8:44 AM on 03/10/2010

Risk factors leading to higher rates of obesity begin as early as pregnancy, especially among African-American and Hispanic children...

> READ MORE

Alzheimer's cases rising among blacks, Hispanics

By theGrio

5:07 PM on 03/09/2010

VIDEO - It's an increase in Alzheimer's cases at a time when heart disease, breast cancer and prostate cancer deaths are all going down...

> READ MORE

10-year-old becomes health care reform lobbyist

By theGrio

3:44 PM on 03/09/2010

VIDEO - Marcelas Owens has been campaigning for changes in the health care system since his mother died after she fell ill and lost her job and her insurance...

> READ MORE

Black News: Shortage of Doctors?

2010-02-27T09:46:00.001-08:00

By Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

I did an appearance last night on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 to discuss the issue of Health care reform. This has been heavy on the mind of our president for his entire first year in office and has led to quite a few political battles on Capitol Hill. Health care is in serious jeopardy, as the cost of entitlement programs such as Medicaid/Medicare and Social Security threaten our nation's economic security. Our national debt has risen to unprecedented and frightening levels, and our politicians have little incentive to do anything about it.
One additional problem that we are running into on the issue of health care is the fact that our nation doesn't have enough Primary Care physicians. These doctors are incredibly important, since they are the first line of defense against illness in America.
Over the next 10 years, our nation is expected to have a shortfall of 40,000 Primary Care doctors. By 2025, that number is expected to balloon to over 120,000. To make matters worse, our population is aging, implying that there will be a greater demand for these doctors in the future.

Click to read.

The Latest in African American Health – 2/14/10

2010-02-14T06:06:00.001-08:00

First lady launches 'Let's Move' effort against childhood obesity

By theGrio

9:35 AM on 02/09/2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - Michelle Obama says she loves burgers and fries, but she wants her daughters -- and the rest of America's children -- to learn about better nutrition...

> MORE

Bad malaria pills in Africa raise resistance fears

By theGrio

10:06 AM on 02/08/2010

High rates of the most effective type of malaria-fighting drugs sold in three African countries are poor quality...

> MORE

Denver boy, 9, died after state-benefits error denied him asthma medication

By theGrio

5:04 PM on 02/04/2010

A Montbello mother says her 9-year-old son's death from severe asthma could have been prevented had Denver Human Services resolved problems with his Medicaid pharmacy benefits...

> MORE

Among black girls, challenges of fighting obesity go beyond diet

By theGrio

9:02 AM on 02/01/2010

CHICAGO (AP) - Like nearly one-third of American teens, Paris Woods is overweight. Her doctor worries her weight will creep up into the obesity range. One out of four black girls her age is obese.

> MORE

Obese African-Americans at higher risk of stroke

By theGrio

11:21 AM on 01/22/2010

Obesity raises the risk of stroke regardless of race or sex, according to a new study that is one of the first to show a link between obesity and stroke risk in blacks...

> MORE

Cancer victim sheds light on bone marrow donor crisis

By Todd Johnson

1:07 PM on 01/13/2010

VIDEO - Seun Adebiyi is proud of his many accomplishments -- graduating from Yale Law School, working for Goldman Sachs and even training for the 2014 Winter Olympics...

> MORE

Hepatitis B and C often ignored as health threat to blacks

By theGrio

12:26 PM on 01/11/2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - They're the overlooked viruses: Hepatitis B and C together infect three to five times more Americans than the AIDS virus does, and most don't know it...

> MORE

KFC pulls Australian ad over US racism complaints

By theGrio

11:51 AM on 01/08/2010

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- Fast food giant KFC has pulled an Australian television advertisement after it was branded racist in the United States...

> MORE

7 ways to keep your resolution to work out

By Dr. Jeff Gardere

8:18 AM on 01/05/2010

OPINION - There are many strategies and techniques to following through on your resolution of joining and actually working out in the gym on a long-term and regular basis.

> MORE

Tiny newborn girl may break world record

By theGrio

9:29 AM on 12/22/2009

VIDEO - A little girl born in Mobile, Alabama may be the world's tiniest baby...

> MORE

NBA star's wife uses baby to exercise

By theGrio

11:19 AM on 12/11/2009

VIDEO - Jamison knows a little something about shedding baby weight. The wife of the Washington Wizards superstar gave birth to her third child, Rucker King...

> MORE

Dr. Fleming lives with sickle cell disease and no boundaries

By theGrio

1:14 PM on 12/10/2009

VIDEO - Dr. Lester Fleming is learning to be a pilot --something he once thought would never be possible. Fleming was born with sickle cell disease, a red blood cell deficiency...

> MORE

Dr. Conrad Murray Still has Patients Who Love Him

2010-02-11T08:33:00.001-08:00

One involuntary manslaughter charge later ... and Dr. Conrad Murray's patients in Las Vegas still can't wait to put their lives in his hands.
One of his patients -- Marietta Lewis -- claims Dr. Murray is responsible for saving her life, and she told us, "I made sure to call and have my name added to his patient wait list, so that when he comes back, I will still be under his care."
Well he's back ... Dr. Murray was photographed going into his Las Vegas office yesterday, just two days after he was freed on $75,000 bail.

Click to read.

Black News: Towanna Freeman on Domestic Violence

2009-11-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

One in every four women will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime, women 20 to 24 are at the greatest risk, and most cases of domestic abuse are never reported to the police. Victims of domestic abuse often feel as though no one will believe them, or they think they have nowhere to go for help. Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviors used to control and dominate someone. Domestic abuse comes in many forms; the most common includes criminal behavior such as physical assault, sexual abuse, and stalking, as well as noncriminal behavior including emotional and psychological abuse. An abuser can be a spouse, former spouse, or any other person who is a present or former household member.

The following are a few red flags that should be taken seriously: jealousy, isolation, threats of violence, verbal abuse, controlling behavior, does not respect privacy, and disrespects others. If someone you know demonstrates one or more of these characteristics on a consistent basis, he or she has the potential of being an abuser. Often these red flags are not obvious at the start of any relationship, but if you see these characteristics get out of the relationship and seek help immediately. Here are some steps you can take to help a friend experiencing domestic abuse:

1. Tell your friend, “I see what is going on.”

2. Tell your friend, “Abuse is not their fault and it is not normal.”

3. Tell your friend, “You deserve a healthy non-violent relationship.”

4. Tell your friend, “The number to the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.”

5. Ask your friend, “How can I help support you?”

Everyone has the power to prevent domestic abuse not just those who are directly affected. The proactive actions of a bystander in the prevention of domestic abuse send a powerful message to both the victim and the abuser.

To report domestic abuse or learn about prevention and services call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Help is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Your Black Health: Depression Hits the Black Community Hard

2009-11-19T06:41:00.001-08:00

Medicine on Call with Dr. Elaina George

Dr George and Delores Jones, a correspondent for AOL speak about dealing with depression and change through inspiration and spirituality.

Click here to listen!

Dr. Elaina George Critiques the Healthcare Bill Passed by Congress

2009-11-12T10:37:00.001-08:00

Dr. Elaina George, MD

The health care reform bill (HR 3962) that just passed the House of Representatives is bad on so many levels it is difficult explain. As it stands, it will destroy both the doctor patient relationship and change the practice of medicine as we know it.

We have one of the finest health care systems in the world. It has been built on a foundation of choice. Doctors were free to choose the care that they deemed necessary to treat their patients, and patients were free to seek the medical care of their choice. Initially, the foundation was shaken by the rise of the managed care system with capitation. However, over the past 10 years, capitated plans which limit access to specialists have given way to the rise in power of insurance companies. They have used their anti-trust exemption to craft a system that has used monopoly to increase profits on the backs of both doctors and patients.

Click to read.

Barack Obama Declares National Emergency for Swine Flu

2009-10-24T13:12:00.001-07:00

President Obama has declared a national emergency to deal with the "rapid increase in illness" from the H1N1 influenza virus.

"The 2009 H1N1 pandemic continues to evolve. The rates of illness continue to rise rapidly within many communities across the nation, and the potential exists for the pandemic to overburden health care resources in some localities," Obama said in a statement.

"Thus, in recognition of the continuing progression of the pandemic, and in further preparation as a nation, we are taking additional steps to facilitate our response."

The president signed the declaration late Friday and announced it Saturday.

Calling the emergency declaration "an important tool in our kit going forward," one administration official called Obama's action

Click to read.

Black Health News: Americans Struggle with the High Cost of Health Insurance

2009-10-11T08:21:00.001-07:00

"The high cost of each premium and the high deductible a person or family must pay per year is my biggest complaint against health insurers."

"For example, I pay around $300 a month for my wife and me for basic coverage, and pay a deductible of $750 each every year, not to mention a co-pay of $15 to $20 at the window."

"My yearly income is around $32,000 a year. Very little is left for goodies. Meanwhile, a doctor takes in $80 to $120 a visit that lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Imagine how much he makes a day, a week, a month, a year. Plenty of goodies here."

Click to read.

76 Children Die from Swine Flu in the US

2009-10-11T07:40:00.001-07:00

From Yahoo News

Health officials said Friday that 76 U.S. children have died of swine flu, including 19 new reports in the past week — more evidence the new virus is unusually dangerous for the young.

The regular flu kills between 46 and 88 children a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That suggests deaths from the new H1N1 virus could dramatically outpace children's deaths from seasonal flu, if swine flu continues to spread as it has.

CDC officials say 10 more states, a total of 37, now have widespread swine flu. A week ago, reports suggested that cases might be leveling off and even falling in some areas of the country, but that did not turn out to be an enduring national trend.

"We are seeing more illness, more hospitalizations, and more deaths," the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat said at a press conference Friday.

The new virus, first identified in April, is a global epidemic. The CDCdoesn't have an exact count of all swine flu deaths and hospitalizations, but existing reports suggest more than 600 have died and more than 9,000 have been hospitalized. Health officials believe millions of Americans have caught the virus.

The virus is hitting young people harder. Experts believe older people are suffering from it less, perhaps because they have a bit of immunity from exposure over the years to somewhat similar viruses.

Click to read.

Visit Your Black World

A Doctor Says She Won’t Be Taking the Swine Flu Vaccine

2009-10-09T12:07:00.001-07:00

by Dr. Elaina George, Your Black World

I have had several patients ask me whether or not they should get the swine flu (H1N1) vaccine. My response has been the same. I will not be getting the vaccine because I don’t think it is safe.

I am an MD who was trained to practice medicine the old fashioned way. My education was based on understanding and treating disease. As a surgeon, I was taught that in some cases surgical correction is the most efficient and expedient way to fix a problem or cure a disease. In short, I have a healthy respect for the standard medical care that is practiced in this country.

However, over the past 10 years since I have been in practice, I have seen a disturbing trend that has become increasingly more common. Although we have the most advanced medical system in the world, the best trained physicians, and access to new and ever evolving medications, we as a nation and particularly the minority population are getting sicker at a younger age, and our quality of life is suffering. There are more people suffering from depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities than at any time in our history. Unfortunately, we have learned to manage diseases by taking a pill everyday instead of doing what it takes to prevent the illness in the first place. It is past time to look to good nutrition and prevention as a means of preventing and curing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and some cancers which have risen to epidemic levels.

When I made the personal decision to ask questions about the Swine flu vaccine, the answers that I discovered contradicted the mantra that has been championed by the media, government officials, and the vaccine manufacturers. What we are being told simply does not make any sense. The most important question that I have learned to ask (from the politics of healthcare to every other facet of our society that affects us as individuals) is - who stands to gain?

I will not be getting the swine flu vaccine because:

The vaccine makers have been given immunity from being sued for any bad outcome

After the deaths and injuries associated with the Swine flu vaccination campaign in 1976, the vaccine manufacturers lost billions of dollars in civil suits. That cannot happen this time around. Congress has since passed two bills that shield vaccine makers from civil suits. The first in 1986 protects vaccine makers from civil suits filed by people who have been injured by a vaccine due to ‘unavoidable side effects’. In 2006 another iteration of the shield law (The Epidemic Preparedness Act) was passed as part of the Patriot Act and extends the shield to include protection if the drug maker has ‘no willful knowledge’ that a vaccine may cause injury. In short, a maker of the Swine flu vaccine simply has to say they didn’t know the vaccine was going to cause harm then they cannot be sued. This won’t be hard to do since they have not fully tested the vaccine.

There are many ingredients in vaccines called adjuvants that are put in to stimulate the immune response

Click to read.

Dr. George Advice: What to Ask Before Taking that Swine Flu Vaccine

2009-10-05T06:36:00.001-07:00

Dr. Elaina George, MD, Your Black World Medical Contributor

With the H1N1 swine flu virus vaccine becoming available this month, there is a big push to vaccinate as many people as possible. However, whether

or not you decide to take the vaccine, there are important questions you should ask your doctor or other health practitioner to make sure it is the right choice for you and your family.

1. Does the Vaccine contain additives such as mercury or squaline?

Additives called adjuvants like mercury (thiamerisol) are added to inhibit bacterial contamination. However, some studies have

implicated mercury as a cause of autism and squaline as a cause of neurological damage respectively.

2. How can I avoid getting a vaccine that contains mercury?

Ask to receive your vaccine from a single dose vial. Unlike the multiple dose vials which contain thiamerisol, the single dose

vials do not contain that additive.

Click to read.

Health News: 5 Things You can Do to Stay Healthy

2009-09-27T11:39:00.001-07:00

by Dr Elaina George, MD

Instead of waiting for the outcome of the healthcare debate to decide your fate, use some simple common sense strategies to take back the power to control your own health.

Start exercising

An increase in activity of as little as 20 minutes 3 times a week can make a difference in your risk of heart disease,

diabetes and obesity. You don’t have to get fancy with a gym membership. Try taking the stairs at work instead of the

elevator, or park further from the entrance when you go to the market or mall.

2. Eat Smaller portions

You may not want to give up your junk food or fried food, but try to limit your portions. Instead of buying a six pack

of soda, buy a two liter bottle. You can better control the portions along with your intake of calories.

3. Drink more water

The average person should be drinking 1 ounce per kilogram of his/her weight in water per day. (1 lb = 2.2kg).

Studies have shown that people eat more when they are dehydrated because the signals in the body can confuse

hunger with thirst. If you are hungry, try drinking an 8-12 oz glass of water before you decide to eat that snack.

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Health News: First Swine Flu Vaccines Set to Arrive Oct 5

2009-09-25T20:33:00.001-07:00

USA Today

U.S. health officials say the first swine flu vaccine should be in some doctors' offices as early as Oct. 5. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday the U.S. vaccine shipments will go directly to doctors, clinics and other providers designated by each state.

States are expected to begin ordering their share of the nation's H1N1 flu vaccine on Wednesday, said Paul Jarris, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. That day, the CDC brings its secure ordering site online.

Distribution will start with 6 million to 7 million doses of the nasal spray vaccine, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Thursday. Forty million doses of injectable vaccine are due to arrive soon after, with another 10 million to 20 million doses due weekly.

Click to read.

Political Scientists Break Down Healthcare Reform

2009-09-19T20:11:00.001-07:00

Your Black World

Listen up as Dr. Wilmer Leon speaks with Dr. Pearl Ford about President Obama’s Healthcare Reform Plan. Click here to listen to the latest exciting episode!

Both are graduates of Howard University’s Political Science Program

Obama Says Race Doesn’t Matter in Healthcare Fight

2009-09-18T18:49:00.001-07:00

from CNN, Your Black World

President Barack Obama said Friday that angry criticisms about his health care agenda are driven by an intense debate over the proper role of government — and not by racism.

"Are there people out there who don't like me because of race? I'm sure there are," Obama told CNN. "That's not the overriding issue here."

The nation's first black president spoke about the issue of race during a battery of interviews on Friday. In a media blitz aimed at pounding home his health care message, he taped interviews with ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Univision to be shown during the networks' Sunday morning talk shows.

Some excerpts aired during Friday night broadcasts.

Time and again, Obama was asked about whether the tenor of thehealth care debate turned nasty because of undercurrents in racism.Former President Jimmy Carter raised the point prominently this week when he said the vitriol was racially motivated.

Click to read.

Black Health News: The 6 Things You Need To Know Before You Take The Swine Flu Vaccine

2009-09-18T08:58:00.001-07:00

by Dr. Elaina George, Your Black World

Although the Swine flu virus has been identified in over 70 countries, it has not been as deadly as expected

The world wide number of swine flu cases currently is 209,500 with 2,185 deaths

The common flu is more deadly

In the US there have been 40,000 cases identified with 1,876 deaths. This is quite low when you compare the death rate to the typical flu virus which kills over 30,000 people per year.

Most cases of Swine flu have been mild

Most people have had mild self-limited symptoms that resolve without any medical intervention.

Click to Read.

Health News: Using a Tooth to Restore Vision?

2009-09-17T07:02:00.001-07:00

from the Black Doctors Blog

Doctors in Miami announced Wednesday that they had performed a vision-restoring surgery that used the 60-year-old patient's tooth.

The surgery, the first in the USA, was performed Labor Day weekend at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Afterward, patient Sharron Thornton was able to see for the first time in nine years. "Sharron was able to see 20/60 this morning. She was seeing only shadows a couple of weeks ago," says ophthalmologist and surgeon Victor Perez.

Thornton was blinded in 2000 by a reaction to a drug she was taking, which damaged her cornea. Perez likened Thornton's cornea to a dirty car windshield. He says her eye surface was too dry for a corneal implant, a standard treatment.

Click to read.

Health News: Should You Divorce just to pay Medical Bills? This Couple Did

2009-09-16T18:39:00.001-07:00

News from The Huffington Post

For Mary McCurnin and husband Ron Bednar, money trouble has followed health trouble. In 2003, the couple declared bankruptcy after their insurance covered only 10 percent of treatment costs for her breast cancer and his intestinal bleeding. In 2004, McCurnin's breast cancer returned, and Bednar underwent open heart surgery.

Now, after repeatedly refinancing their house to pay medical bills and living expenses, they're broke. To improve their chances of growing old together, they've filed for divorce.

"It occurred to me that I could get my first husband's Social Security," said McCurnin. Her first husband, to whom she'd been married 20 years, died in 1989. When she turns 60 in November, McCurnin said she will be eligible for $1,200 in monthly survivor's benefits from the previous marriage. As the Social Security Administration told her, she can't have the survivor benefit if she's married to someone else.

Black Health News: What’s Wrong with Healthcare? Listen Up!

2009-09-16T11:34:00.001-07:00

In this episode of Medicine on Call, Dr. Elaina George interviews Jason Rosenbaum from The Seminal, a healthcare publication. What is wrong with healthcare? What is the state of healthcare reform? What are the goals for healthcare?

Click here to listen!

Black Health News: President’s Speech Doesn’t Boost Him in the Polls

2009-09-14T10:17:00.001-07:00

President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress last week didn't provide much of a boost to his job approval rating, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday shows. The nationwide survey pegs his approval at 54%, precisely where it was in two USA TODAY polls in August.

(A separate, daily poll by Gallup showed Obama's approval dipping as low as 50% last month.)

USA TODAY's Susan Page reports that 43% disapprove of the job he's doing, a tick up from the August polls and a new high in the 14 surveys we've taken since the inauguration in January.

That's not to say Rep. Joe Wilson, the South Carolina Republican who heckled the president during his speech, fares well. Two-thirds of those polled, 68%, say they oppose what the congressman did, and about one in four (23%) say they're "outraged" by it. (That group included 41% of Democrats and 8% of Republicans.)

Click to read.

Health News: Can Anti-depressants Create Serious Sexual Problems?

2009-09-12T11:53:00.001-07:00

The rumble of a train on the tracks, the purr of a hairdryer, the rhythmic drone of a photo-copier are all enough to make her go oh oh oh, ahhhhh.

She had FIVE orgasms during our 40-minute interview. But I can't take the credit-it was just talking about her sex life that set her off.

Sarah, 24, suffers from Permanent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS), which increases blood flow to the sex organs.

She said: "Sometimes I have so much sex to try to calm myself down I get bored of it. And men I sleep with don't seem to make as much effort because I climax so easily."

As she chatted, Sarah became increasingly flustered.

"Sorry, you'll have to excuse me for a minute. I'll be with you in a sec," she mumbled before letting out a long sigh.

Sarah, from London, developed PSAS after being prescribed anti-depressants at 19.

Click to read.

Obama Says More Americans Uninsured than You Might Think

2009-09-12T11:06:00.001-07:00

In an effort to cast health care reform as helpful to more Americans, President Obama on Saturday pounded home a new statistic: Nearly 50% of people under 65 have gone without coverage for at least one month over a decade.

"It can happen to anyone," Obama said in his weekly address. "In the United States of America, no one should have to worry that they'll go without health insurance -- not for one year, not for one month, not for one day. And once I sign my health reform plan into law -- they won't."

The new figure comes from a Treasury Department analysis of survey data collected by the University of Michigan. The data tracked health insurance coverage through phone interviews with some 17,000 individuals from 1997 to 2006.

Click to read.

What’s the Secret? Black Woman Dies at 115 Years Old

2009-09-11T15:12:00.001-07:00

Although she liked her bacon crispy and her chicken fried, she never drank, smoked or fooled around, Gertrude Baines once said, describing a life that lasted an astonishing 115 years and earned her the title of oldest person on the planet.

It was a title Baines quietly relinquished Friday when she died in her sleep at Western Convalescent Hospital, her home since she gave up living alone at age 107 after breaking a hip.

She likely suffered a heart attack, said her longtime physician, Dr. Charles Witt, although an autopsy was scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

"I saw her two days ago, and she was just doing fine," Witt told The Associated Press on Friday. "She was in excellent shape. She was mentally alert. She smiled frequently."

Click to read.

Your Health News: Male or Female?

2009-09-10T14:03:00.001-07:00

The world of athletics is reeling today after a claim that South African champion runner Caster Semenya is a hermaphrodite with no womb or ovaries.

A Sydney newspaper claims it has a world exclusive in revealing the very private information about the sex of the 18-year-old runner.

Quoting a source closely involved with the IAAF, the Sydney Daily Telegraph said Semenya had internal testes - male sexual organs which produce testosterone and which in turn produces muscle bulk, body hair and a deep voice.

Dr. Elaina George Speaks on Obama’s Speech

2009-09-10T06:04:00.001-07:00

by Dr. Elaina George, YourBlackWorld.com

The suspense is over. For weeks we have been holding our collective breath to see if there would be real insurance reform. Now we know. President Obama’s speech this evening incorporated a lot of different ideas, but what was most striking was his statement that the public option was just one of the avenues that could be travelled to achieve an expansion of insurance coverage. Besides the demotion of the public option as an important tool to reign in the all powerful insurance companies, I noticed that there was no mention of universal health care. Wasn’t that the point of this whole exercise?

To be fair there are some good things. Under the President’s proposal there will be:

§ Coverage for pre-existing conditions

§ A cap on out-of-pocket expenses

§ People can no longer be dropped from insurance companies when they get sick

§ No further cap on what insurance companies will pay out

It is a good start, but it doesn’t go far enough.

Click to read.

Is there a shortage of Doctors?

2009-09-09T12:15:00.001-07:00

Obama administration officials, alarmed at doctor shortages, are looking for ways to increase the supply of physicians to meet the needs of an aging population and millions of uninsured people who would gain coverage under legislation championed by the president.

The officials said they were particularly concerned about shortages of primary care providers who are the main source of health care for most Americans.

One proposal — to increase Medicarepayments to general practitioners, at the expense of high-paid specialists — has touched off a lobbying fight.

Family doctors and internists are pressing Congress for an increase in their Medicare payments. But medical specialists are lobbying against any change that would cut their reimbursements. Congress, the specialists say, should find additional money to pay for primary care and should not redistribute dollars among doctors — a difficult argument at a time of huge budget deficits.

Some of the proposed solutions, while advancing one of President Obama’s goals, could frustrate others. Increasing the supply of doctors, for example, would increase access to care but could make it more difficult to rein in costs.

Click to read.

Where are the Parasites in your food?

2009-09-07T17:05:00.001-07:00

The parasitic life is all about finding niches in the ecosystem and exploiting them for all they're worth. And after billions of years mucking their way through blood vessels and intestines, you better believe they've gotten rather good at it. Untold billions are clamoring for a chance to get inside you -- and it just so happens that the best way to do that is to stow away in your next meal.

In this article, we're going to take a look at a few menu items with a high probability for parasites. By no means does this mean you're guaranteed a belly full of worms with each one! It's essential to stress that proper food storage, fresh ingredients and sanitary food preparation conditions vastly decrease the chances for food contamination.

Click to read.

How to deal with Chronic Pain – Medicine on Call

2009-08-26T10:52:00.001-07:00

Dr Elaina George gives you the medical advice that other doctors won’t give. Today she discusses alternative methods to treat chronic pain. The audio is below.

Click here to listen!

Dr. Elaina George Issues a Statement about the Michael Jackson Death

2009-08-24T19:42:00.001-07:00

For Immediate Release

Please Contact S Prewitt for Interviews at (901) 413-0203 or email information@yourblackpublicity.com.

Prominent Black Physician Says Michael Jackson’s Doctor’s Actions were Inexcusable

Dr. Elaina George, an Otolaryngologist out of Atlanta, says that the doctor alleged to have killed Michael Jackson was not only unethical, but incredibly irresponsible in his choice of medications. Dr. Conrad Murray is subject to investigation after Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide in initial autopsy reports. But while many believe that Jackson’s death was an accidental occurrence, Dr. George states that the combination of drugs given to Jackson was almost likely to kill him.

“There was no way that harm would not have come to Mr. Jackson,” says Dr. George, who advocates for doctors on a regular basis. “It was beyond negligent to give him a mixture of three different kinds of sedatives, a muscle relaxant, an antidepressant in addition to Propofol, a general anesthetic that is only used in an operating room setting (because it can stop someone’s breathing). Each of these drugs by themselves can be lethal, but together it is a recipe that will almost definitely kill someone.”

Click to read more.

News: MJ’s Doctor Had Serious Financial Woes

2009-08-24T18:13:00.001-07:00

AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Pool Photographer

Hmmm...maybe that's why Dr. Conrad Murray is being so cooperative with the Los Angeles Police Department. And the Las Vegas Police Department. And the Clark County Sheriff's Department. And the Drug Enforcement Administration.

It seems it's not the good doctor's first time at the rodeo.

A check of Michael Jackson's physician's legal past has revealed everything from domestic violence charges (of which he was acquitted) to financial woes (which at one point included a bankruptcy filing) to his latest headache (you know, other than that whole target-of-a-manslaughter-investigation thing), the possibility that his Las Vegas home could soon be foreclosed upon.

Let's hope the feds treaded lightly during yesterday's search. Depreciation can be a real bitch.

Documents filed July 23 with the Clark County Recorder reveal that Murray could face foreclosure on his gated country club estate as soon as November. Though the timing on the filing may seem a bit like kicking Murray when he's down, Jackson's doctor reportedly fell more than $100,000 into debt on the home, with his last payment, of $15,000, being made in January of this year. (Which may be why Murray was so keen to stay in Jackson's good graces and keep the $150,000-a-month salary that came with it.)

As for Murray's less current troubles, here's a rundown of his legal lowlights:

Click to read.

Medical News: Did Michael Jackson’s Doctor Give Him a Deadly Injection?

2009-08-24T14:15:00.001-07:00

Singer Michael Jackson had lethal levels of the drug propofol in his blood when he died, according to court documents.

A search warrant filed in court showed toxicology reports found propofol in Michael Jackson's body.

Los Angeles' coroner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran reached that preliminary conclusion after reviewing toxicology results carried out on Jackson's blood, according to an affidavit.

The drug Diprivan, known by its generic name propofol, is administered intravenously in operating rooms as a general anesthetic, the manufacturer AstraZeneca told CNN.

A source close to the investigation told CNN that Dr. Conrad Murray is believed to have administered the drug to Jackson within 24 hours of his death on June 25.

Investigators have searched Murray's home and clinics for evidence related to the anesthetic propofol, according to documents filed in court.

The drug works as a depressant on the central nervous system.

"It works on your brain," said Dr. Zeev Kain, the chair of the anesthesiology department at the University of California --Irvine. "It basically puts the entire brain to sleep."

Click to read.

Your Black News: Are Doctors to Blame for the High Cost of Healthcare?

2009-08-21T20:22:00.001-07:00

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

Dr. Elaina George, a prominent family practice physician in Atlanta, has a bone to pick with President Obama. During various healthcare town hall meetings and press conferences, the president has villified doctors as the cause of the high cost of healthcare. But Dr. George doesn't agree.

As one of the few black doctors in America who is taking the time to speak out in the current healthcare debate, Dr. George says that the culprits in the high cost of healthcare are The American Medical Association, hospitals, big pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies. Here is how she breaks it down.

1) Our country has gotten away from preventing illness and is instead engaged in the high cost of managing disease. Dr. George explains in the interview below that rather than actually curing illnesses or preventing them, we simply try to manage them. Her argument, as with many others in the healthcare profession, is that this attitude is driven by the fact that pharmaceutical and insurance companies only maximize profits when people stay sick. Symptoms tend to be treated instead of the underlying cause of the illness, making problems worse in the long-term.

2) According to some physicians, the public option on healthcare may not be as great as it sounds. When it comes to the public option (which is being heavily debated right now), Dr. George argues that while the option may provide health coverage for many Americans who don't have it, it may not cause insurance companies to pay their fair share of the cost of healthcare reform. "The argument that the public option will drive down costs is disingenuous," says Dr. George. "How can a program designed to cover about 10 million people (as per the Congressional Budget Office) really exert any pressure on the health insurance industry when a company like Blue Cross and Blue Shield has over 30 million members and United Healthcare is even larger?"

Click to read.

Where is the Healthcare Debate Right Now?

2009-08-18T19:21:00.001-07:00

by Dr. Elaina George

The debate on healthcare reform is in full swing, but no one is paying attention to the long term effects.

I am for universal healthcare in theory. As a physician, I believe that it is a fundamental right. Unfortunately, the way the debate and pending legislation has been crafted, the outcome will result in unintended consequences.

As a physician in solo practice, I am in a unique position to see the outcome if we continue on the path that Congress is proposing in HR 3200.

A single payer system that pays the same rate as Medicare or as the bill stipulates (5% above Medicare) will lead to LESS choice. People are overlooking the fact that most private physicians are currently NOT accepting new Medicare patients because they can’t afford to do so and stay open. There will be no reason for this to change if the reimbursement scale is adopted.

Unintended consequence: The network of private physicians would be smaller and more patients will be placed in a system of fewer physicians, less choice and longer waiting times to be seen. This would have the opposite effect – what is the point of universal healthcare if you don’t have quality physicians to provide it?

2. The proposed healthcare bill sets up a bureaucracy run by a National health insurance commissioner and sets up an insurance “self regulatory agency” – made up of national insurers, national agencies, and insurance producers. There are no physicians or patient advocates.

Click to read.

Black Health News: Healthcare Reform 101

2009-08-17T20:05:00.001-07:00

Walter Gaines Jr., left, who supports health care reform, confronts a man who opposes health care reform in Alhambra, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Dr Tyeese Gaines Reid – TheGrio.com.

With the bombardment of speeches, commentaries and rowdy town forums, many Americans are struggling to decipher the current state of health care reform. Understanding the ins and outs of over 1,600 pages of proposed law is daunting. Unfortunately, there is no politician or any crystal ball that can predict either plan's success at this stage.

To date, two bills have been proposed - the 1,017-page House bill (H.R. 3200) and the 615-page Senate Health Committee bill. A third bipartisan bill is said to be in the works from the Senate Finance Committee. Until September, when Congress reconvenes, we will continue to wait and debate on the limited information we do have.

Here is a summary of those bills, commonly-raised concerns and the debate as it now stands.

1) Problem: The Uninsured
Millions are uninsured and falling ill without insurance can be financially catastrophic. Many of these are working people, or recently unemployed, who can't afford to buy insurance plans. Others are self-employed or small business owners who also can't afford insurance. Some are between the ages of 55 (retirement age) and 65 (Medicare-eligible age), and thus have no coverage. In 2008, the Kaiser Commission reported that 41 million were uninsured, while another 35.8 million people had no insurance during part of the year.

Proposed Solution: "Health care for all." Both bills have outlined strategies to include all Americans in some form of a health insurance plan - whether Medicaid, Medicare, the private or the public/community option.

2) Problem: Pre-existing conditions
People with any history of medical problems ("pre-existing conditions") can be denied coverage by certain insurance plans because their condition makes them too high-risk.

Proposed Solution: Ban the pre-existing condition clause for all health insurance companies, including those in the private option. The hope is that as more young and healthy Americans have insurance and pay their premiums, that money will offset the costs of taking care of the sicker Americans.

3) Problem: The under insured
Some people with health insurance have plans that don't cover all basic health care needs (the "under-insured").

Proposed Solution: All health insurance plans will cover hospitalizations, outpatient hospital and clinic care, physician fees, equipment, prescription drugs, rehabilitation, maternity care, child care, preventive care, mental health, and marriage and family therapy. The addition of coverage for mental health and counseling is an added benefit not often covered currently.

Click to read.