Health

The Sun's Blood Pressure Benefits

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:06:00 +0000

For years, fear of skin cancer has had us slathering 50+ SPF sunscreen, donning hats or avoiding prolonged sun exposure under umbrellas or shade. Some unexpected research recently out of Edinburgh University could shift the perception of sun as unrelenting enemy. In the study, UV rays were found to release a compound that lowers blood pressure. On the line to explain how we might weigh the sun’s benefits and drawbacks is Doctor Richard Weller, Senior Lecturer of Dermatology at Edinburgh University.

An Alarming Rise In Food Allergies

Laura Knoy — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

A recent report by the Center for Disease Control shows a huge jump in the number of American kids with food and skin allergies. Some are so severe, they’re life-threatening. There are several theories about why this is happening, including the proliferation of anti-bacterial soaps. We’ll talk about that, and why advances in treatment has been so frustratingly slow.

Guests:

Commissioner Says Money Will Put 'Flesh On The Bones' Of Health Exchange Outreach Effort

Todd Bookman — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:08:02 +0000

State officials continue to press for action on $340,000 in federal money meant to help implement the health exchange in New Hampshire.

Speaking to the Joint Health Care Reform Oversight Committee, Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny repeated the need for quick acceptance of the grant money. Last month, a different legislative body, the Joint Fiscal Committee, delayed the funds, citing concerns over a lack of information.

What If You Couldn't Taste Or Smell?

Virginia Prescott — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:54:59 +0000

Impaired sight often requires glasses – impaired hearing, a hearing aid. But what about people who suffer from an impaired sense of smell or taste? Depending on the source, somewhere between two and five million people suffer in varying degrees from anosmia, the loss of the sense of smell. Here to tell us more is rhinologist Dr. Carl Philpott – Director of the Smell and Taste Clinic at James Paget University in Norfolk, the only clinic devoted to smell and taste disorders in the United Kingdom.

We read about his work in New Scientist, and invited him on the program to tell us more.

Forget Dogs...How About Therapy Llamas?

Taylor Quimby — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:46:48 +0000

There are many ways to ease the pangs of loneliness, illness, and old age –among them, spending time with a friendly animal companion. More than ten thousand animals are currently registered as care workers in the United States - only fourteen of them however, are llamas. I recently spoke with llama trainer Niki Kuklenski of J.N.K. Llamas about how this unusual animal is playing a role in human therapy.

Check out a video from Colors Magazine that shows Niki's llamas in action.

New Hampshire Not Alone In Health Exchange Setbacks

Todd Bookman — Mon, 06 May 2013 08:43:00 +0000

The new health exchanges are often described as something akin to Orbitz or Travelocity. A central place--a website--where insurance can be researched, compared, and purchased.

“Competition in markets, of course, is the way in this country we try to make reasonable prices and good quality available to people and so that is one of their roles,” says Professor Timothy Jost with Washington and Lee University in Virginia.

Jost says another key role of the exchanges is subsidies.

Sunshine Having An Impact On Drug Company Payments To Doctors In N.H.

Todd Bookman — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:45:45 +0000

As part of the Affordable Care Act, pharmaceutical company payments to doctors will become public information starting in 2014. But a slice of those disclosures is already available, and the impact of transparency is being felt across New Hampshire.

In the last four years, New Hampshire doctors and nurse practitioners have taken in $5.8 million in money from drug companies.

N.H. Residents Breathing Easy

Todd Bookman — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:36:05 +0000

A report out today from the American Lung Association says that New Hampshire’s air quality continues to improve.

The level of smog is falling in Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties. Both received a grade of ‘C’ this year compared to a ‘D’ in 2012.

Cheshire and Grafton earned an ‘A’, ranking them among the cleanest areas in New England. Coos County also saw its grade improve.

Money To Implement Portion Of Health Law In N.H. Put On Hold

Todd Bookman — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:16:08 +0000

State lawmakers today put off a key vote on whether to accept Federal funds meant to support a partnership health exchange.

Earlier this month, the Feds awarded the state’s Insurance Department $5.4 million to pay for implementation of the Consumer Assistance portion of the new health exchange marketplace.

But on an 8-2 vote, members of the Joint Fiscal Committee tabled the motion, effectively delaying use of the portion of funds allocated for this fiscal year, roughly $340,000.

Insurance Company Practice Of 'Fail First' Called Into Question

Todd Bookman — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:48:00 +0000

“I have Crohn’s Disease, I have diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and I had a stroke. From all of this, I am on medication for depression as well.”

Chalk it up to bad genes: Amanda St-Amour struggles with a lot of health conditions.

She’s 30, lives in Merrimack, and pulls out a small laundry basket full of pill bottles.

“Basically, I take about 1, 2, 3…15 pills a morning.”

Report: More Than 96,000 In N.H. Eligible For Health Insurance Tax Credits

Todd Bookman — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:29:49 +0000

A report out today estimates that 96,000 New Hampshire residents will be eligible for health insurance tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. The credits will be available starting in January, 2014, when the individual mandate kicks in.

Forest Pharmacy

Dave Anderson — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Chairman of the Society of Forest Medicine at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, Japan Dr. Qing Li, studies nature’s effect on the human immune system. A person’s natural immune cells called “NK cells” can be reliably measured in a lab. NK cells function like white blood cells to increase resistance to illness including cancer by sending self-destruct messages to tumors and virus-infected cells. Stress, aging and pesticides reduce NK counts.

State Republicans Push For More Input As Health Exchange Planning Takes Shape

Todd Bookman — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:24:48 +0000

With an October 1^st deadline looming, the state continues to move forward with implementation of a partnership health exchange. In agreeing to that partnership, state Republicans say they were promised input on a planning document called a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU.

Knee And Hip Replacement Goes Robotic

Todd Bookman — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:26:00 +0000

It’s been two weeks since Bonnie Parker had her hip replaced.

She is 50, petite, a tattoo artist. So she’s no stranger to pain, but says the past few years have been really tough.

“I watched my mother suffer from arthritis, and she sat down one day and never got back up. And I found myself sitting down more and more and not getting up, and I thought, ‘No, I can’t do this.’"

Proposed Change In Dental Care Workforce Losing Steam

Todd Bookman — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:00:00 +0000

On Thursday, the New Hampshire State Senate is scheduled to vote on a bill that’s getting a lot of attention in the dental community. The measure would expand the role of some hygienists. Advocates say this could help increase access in the state, but dentists argue it’s a misguided solution for a problem that may not exist.