Several years ago I got a full-body CT scan. It found a spot on my liver that was “statistically unlikely” to be anything serious. It also found something else that was just a typical anomaly and told me my coronary arteries were in great shape for my age. I don’t recall what else it found but it wasn’t something that changed my life. A few years earlier a relative got a full-body CT scan because of pain in his side that his doctor wasn’t taking seriously. It found kidney stones. Someone else I know got his & her body scans. What all these scans have in common was they were all direct-to-consumer, with no input from their doctors. They were also all paid for in cash.
Author: Devon Herrick
Is Your Doctor’s Advice Influenced by Money? Probably More Than You Realize
The Department of Health and Human Services, and many other federal agencies, love having experts to advise them. But are the experts always unbiased? Some are, while others are probably not. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is made up of 16 primary care experts, all volunteers who make recommendations about cost-effective preventive medical services and screenings….
Lead is a Wonderful Metal with Deadly Health Consequences
Lead, a dense, malleable metal is good for many things. The reason lead was (is) so prevalent in our society is due to its many desirable characteristics. In short, lead is a wonder of nature with many practical uses. It’s abundant and easily shaped. It has a low melting point, requiring less energy to mold. It is resistant to corrosion.
Are Dentists too Aggressive? Or not Aggressive Enough with Dental Care?
I’m scheduled to go to the dentist later this week. Years ago, the Wall Street Journal wrote about a dental divide. I searched for the old link but could not find one. The divide is between aggressive dentists who perform more procedures and conservative dentists who recommend fewer treatments. As I recall, the article said that within the dental industry there is friction between the two factions, with little agreement about what constitutes honest, recommended care and what constitutes excessive treatment. Purportedly, even the American Dental Association does not want to weigh-in and take a stand on the topic. It’s up to each dentist to decide.