Scipolicy.net

Aspiring doctors put in countless hours and rack up thousands of dollars in student debt, but not all are aiming for prestigious fields like cancer research and cardiology. In the past few years, the most sought-after fields in medicine have been much more superficial: plastic surgery and dermatology.

Figures from the Association of American Medical Colleges show that last year, about half of medical students who put dermatology as their first choice for residency were rejected. In contrast, the acceptance rate for internal medicine was 98%, while that for family medicine was 99%.

And it’s not a matter of competence: many of those who failed to get dermatology residencies were top students in their respective classes. The reason is that dermatology continues to be a niche field, with less than 500 residencies up for grabs. Internal medicine offers over 5,000 residencies, while family medicine has about 2,500.

The demand is understandable considering the high price of aesthetic procedure. A Botox treatment can pay 20 times as much as a heart disease check on a per-hour basis, with the added perk of flexible hours and not being on call all the time. These work conditions are attracting the country’s best medical students, leaving primary-care fields to graduates of foreign medical schools. These doctors, although just as capable, seldom stay longer than a few years, choosing instead to practice in their home countries. This explains the growing shortage of practitioners in many other medical fields, which in turn contributes to the less-than-ideal …

written by madamejune

Scientists at a Tel Aviv University (TAU) in Iran have turned to Facebook to help them track the spread of viruses and infections. Researchers Nir Ben-Tal  and Gal Almogy at the university’s Faculty of Life Sciences developed an app dubbed PiggyDemic, in which users can pass a simulated virus onto their friends or vice versa. Their plan is to see how social interaction affects where a virus spreads and how many people it infects.

The method challenges the current system of tracking virus spread through mathematical algorithms. The latter’s flaw is that it assumes that every virus is equally spread from one population to another, which is hardly ever the case—social interaction always comes into play and throws the pattern off track. For example, according to Almogy, Africa has a high concentration of HIV while Asia and North America have the largest share of some flu strains. This is proof that viral infections are in part a social phenomenon.

By adding (digital) human interaction into the mix, the researchers expect to get a more realistic look at viral interaction. Facebook, the world’s largest social network with 800 million active users, is an ideal place for such a study. Once a user installs PiggyDemic, the app follows his or her news feed to see which people they interact with. Uninfected users are given risk rankings such as “immune” or “susceptible” based on their interactions with infected contacts. A network visualization tool allows them to see how the viruses are passed on …

written by madamejune

You’d think sleeping would be the easiest thing in the world, but the number of Americans diagnosed with sleep problems in the last few years suggests otherwise. Part of the reason is that so many myths have been passed around and become common knowledge. Here are some things you may have heard about sleep—and need to unlearn.

Myth #1: Older people need less sleep

Babies sleep a lot longer than the recommended 6-8 hours, but that progression doesn’t continue into late adulthood. Once you hit your teens, you’re going to need the same amount of sleep until you’re 60. You may have problems sleeping as you grow older, and that’s why many grandparents are up at dawn. Chances are they take lengthy naps around midday to make up for it.

Myth #2: Alcohol is a sleeping aid

That last glass of wine may make you feel drowsy, but you don’t get the same kind of sleep. Alcohol-induced sleep tends to be shallow and restless, which explains why you often wake up the morning after feeling more tired than last night. You’re also more likely to snore and have dreams that wake you up in the middle of the night.

Myth #3: Snoring is okay

Most of the time, snoring is just an annoying habit, but sometimes it points to a deeper problem. A common cause is obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that blocks your airways as you sleep. Some people simply snore, while others stop breathing for long periods. In …

written by madamejune

With the sun setting earlier and temperatures hitting freezing, it’s little surprise that activity levels drop in the winter. Add to that the cabin fever that most of us get at some point, which we try to fix by loading up on often calorie-rich comfort foods. What we get is a double-edged sword that compromises your immune system as much as your waistline. If you want to stay in shape when spring comes around, you’ll have to get over the winter blues and take charge of your health. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Get some sleep: Young people tend to stay up way past midnight and wake up later in the day, thinking they’re still getting their eight hours. But it’s not about meeting the quota; it’s about getting rest when your body needs it most. If you have trouble falling asleep, try a glass of warm milk just before going to bed.

Skip the hot chocolate: Next time you’re in the mood for a nice warm drink, reach for some herbal tea instead of coffee or cocoa. Not only are they lower in calories; they’re also better for your digestive system and give you more energy. Green tea is especially good in cold weather because it’s rich in anti-oxidants, which help fight off disease.

Opt for natural sugars: The sweet tooth is a lot more active in the winter, but don’t give in to every craving. White sugar, commonly found in candy, …

written by madamejune

Just like the temperature, the number of runners on the streets goes noticeably down in the fall and winter. People tend to think of cold weather as a sedentary period, an excuse to stay in and fight off the chills. But the unsurprising truth is that people need to stay active throughout the year, and in some ways even more so when it’s cold. After all, few things warm you up better than working up a sweat. If it helps, think of it as preemptive measures to make up for all that hot chocolate.

Most people associate exercise with the outdoors, so going to the gym just doesn’t cut it. For one thing, some find that treadmills and spinners are poor imitations of grass, pavement and fresh air. For another, many gyms require a one-year membership when one can exercise outdoors for free for half of the year. But it may be worth checking out—perhaps individual sessions aren’t that much more expensive if you go twice a week and don’t work with a personal trainer. University and high school gyms may also offer lower rates, although the latter may have fewer facilities.

That being said, try to keep your routine for as long as you’re able to. Invest in cold-weather gear such as a fleece sweater, thick socks, and thermal tops so you can adapt to the weather. While you’ll reach your limit eventually, it’ll allow you to enjoy the outdoors longer. Keep doing this year after year and you’ll …

written by madamejune

Ayurveda is an Indian science that places importance in five basic elements: earth, air, fire, water, and ether (the space in which everything exists). Practitioners believe that these elements are found on earth as well as the human body, and that they must always exist in balance. Natural disasters are believed to be caused by disruptions of this balance, and disease comes from a similar disturbance in the body.

The concept has been widely applied in alternative medicine, and in recent years has even found its way to cancer patients. Ayurvedic treatment for cancer differs from traditional treatment in that it’s largely about rejuvenating the affected cells, rather than killing them (as chemotherapy and radiotherapy do). It’s a known fact that these treatments kill healthy cells alongside the cancerous ones, causing numerous side effects. By applying a gentler hand to these cells, according to advocates, Ayurveda not only eliminates discomfort, but also improves one’s overall well-being.

The science behind Ayurvedic treatment stems from evolution, which states that when an organism (such as a cell) is no longer able to survive in its environment, it responds by changing its form. The same thing happens when a cell becomes cancerous, according to Ayurveda. Doctors know for a fact that cancer cells develop from a mutation in the cell’s genetic makeup, but aren’t sure whether the cause is genetic, environmental, or a combination of both.

Ayurvedic treatment is made up of three elements: diet, medicine, and Panchakarma. Patients are put on a diet …

written by madamejune

Spring is almost in full bloom, and in the West, it’s time to dust off the old running shoes and get some fresh air. Shedding the winter weight is on top of many people’s to-do lists. But with tank top and swimsuit season just weeks away, many are resorting to crash diets. About.com guide Paige Waehner says that easing into a healthy lifestyle is more practical, not to mention more efficient—it will keep you in top form long after summer’s over.

By taking it slow, according to Waehner, one loses fat instead of muscle, which is the way sustainable weight loss should work. Diving straight into intense exercise can slim you down, but not necessarily in the right places.

Waehner says the first step is getting a checkup, especially if you’ve been ill or had an injury over the winter. You’ll want to know if your body is up for a new fitness regimen, and what approach will work best for your condition.

Next, she says, you must commit to 20 minutes to one hour of exercise for four to five days a week. Try to get access to basic equipment such as resistance bands, free weights, or treadmills and elliptical machines. You’ll also need to commit to a healthy diet on most days, if not all.

Cardio is vital to any weight loss program, according to Waehner. Besides burning calories, it conditions your heart and lungs for a range of fitness activities, whether it’s yoga, kick-boxing, or weight lifting. …

written by madamejune

Everyone knows how important it is to look after your health. But its even more crucial to look after the health of your eyes. At some point during your lifespan, it’s a good bet that you or someone in your family is going to require eyeglasses. This doesn’t have to be as intimidating an action as you might think.  You can always book a free eye exam using an eye exam coupon.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses can be expensive, even with health insurance. The smartest idea is finding a respected company that offers coupons or a vouchers on eye products and exams. This means, you will be able to get the quality spectacles you need, without spending more than needed. Following are a a couple of the more reputable companies and the discounts they have to offer.

Pearle Vision Center

Pearle Vision is one of the premier centres for eye care. Pearle has some really trendy prescription glasses for the whole family. Pearle Vision began as the agency of doctor. Stanley Pearle, but became one of the premier optical centers of the country. Dr. Pearle’s unequalled ability to combine superior eye care with an unbelievable value has shaped the way we see vision centers today.

Pearle Vision works with families, Men, women and kids, as well as older members of the public. You can set up an appointment for eye exams, at any of their stores throughout the country, or use their website and arrange an appointment online. They …

written by The Scientist

written by The Scientist

written by The Scientist