Unbiased Analysis of Today's Healthcare Issues
In my job, I spend nearly my entire day staring at a computer screen. Whether this is writing computer code, compiling a report, reading papers, or checking my email, I am constantly in a seated position. I do, however, exercise six mornings per week. Does this mean that I am an active, healthy person since…
This blog has posted frequently on comparisons between the U.S. and Canadian healthcare systems (see here, here, here and here). Although there are many points of contention, it is clear that the Canadian system is less expensive than the American. According to the OECD, in 2006 Canada spent $3,678 per person on health care and…
A new book by Dr. Michael Ozner takes on the cardiovascular surgery industry head-on. The aptly titled Great American Heart Hoax claims that although insurers pay $60 billion per year invasive cardiovascular surgery, 70%-90% of these procedures are unnecessary. The book has three major themes: What is heart disease? Why is heart surgery a…
Should doctors prescribe pharmaceuticals to patients who have heart disease. Statins and ACE inhibitors are frequently prescribed to patients with cardiovascular problems. These medications have been shown to decrease the risk of heart attack in clinical trials, but could they actually increase the risk of a heart attack in the real world? The answer is…