Parents urged to let children participate in allergy treatment
As many as 20 percent to 40 percent of children in the U.S. have allergies and about 9 percent have asthma, and experts say parents can greatly improve their children’s quality of lives by letting them participate in their treatment. USA TODAY
Study: Chest Compressions more important in CPR
Chest compression is more important than mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in helping save lives during cardiac arrest, according to a new study. Researchers in Japan found that cardiac arrest patients were more likely to recover without sustaining brain damage if the rescuers focused on chest compressions instead of rescue breaths, and some rescuers advise dropping mouth-to-mouth altogether. Forbes/AP
States go online to help residents slim down
Indiana is among the growing number of states that are introducing online initiatives to help battle obesity. The state’s “10 in 10 Challenge” commits participants to lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks and assists them with weekly e-mails offering exercise and diet tips. Yahoo!/AP
Survey: Health plan satisfaction varies
A recent survey by J.D. Power and Associates found customer satisfaction responses varied widely, depending on region and between non-profit, privately held health plans and for-profit publicly traded ones. MarketWatch
Campaign urges exercise, other efforts to prevent falls among seniors
A new campaign launched this month is raising awareness to prevent people over age 65 from falling or being injured in a fall. Organizers with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and
United Healthcare to spotlight hospitals according to cardiac care
In response to recent research highlighting the need for more “round-the-clock” access to quality urgent cardiac care, Minnesota-based United Healthcare is launching a program to offer consumers better information on cardiac care facilities. The insurer said it would recognize hospitals that meet certain requirements for emergency cardiac treatment. Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
Saliva-based diagnostic tests could soon be standard
A novel protocol to use saliva for diagnostic tests could become available as a standard of care as soon as 2011, according to a consortium of researchers. The protocol could be used to screen for a variety of major diseases, and researchers are currently mapping so-called “diagnostic alphabets” present in saliva. HealthDay
Heart group backs anti-cholesterol statins for children
The American Heart Association urges the use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs for children and adolescents with high-risk lipid abnormalities, such as high cholesterol. The group said new data about the beginnings of heart disease make it necessary to update guidelines on the use of statins. Yahoo!/HealthDay
