LOOKING back in review, there was some fascinating news in medicine in 2015 — a few of them controversial, especially infectious diseases and cancer screening and prevention.
E-cigarettes more dangerous
A study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Jan. 22, 2015, revealed that “e-cigarette vapor can contain cancer-causing formaldehyde at levels up to 15 times higher than regular cigarette smoke.” Using a higher voltage on the e-cigarette unit to increase the delivery of vaporized nicotine poses a higher risk, according to study co-author James Pankow, a professor of chemistry and civil and environmental engineering at Portland State University in Oregon. The risk of developing cancer while using e-cigarettes is five to 15 times higher compared to the risk of long-term smoking regular cigarettes.
The influenza risk
The flu season in 2014-2015 was a severe one, according to US Centers of Diseases and Prevention (CDC). It also conceded that last year’s vaccine “was a very poor match” for the infecting strains. By February 2015, a high number of flu cases was reported, particularly among seniors and young children. This has led to better flu vaccines for 2015.
Concussions
Inspired by true scientific discovery, the movie ‘Concussion,’ starring Will Smith and Alec Baldwin, spotlights the link between head trauma and brain damage in contact sports, most especially in football. In November, it was reported that the autopsy on the late legendary National Football League hero, Frank Gifford, showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Two studies (in May and August 2015) “linked football in youth with brain damage observed decades later in retired NFL players.” CTE could even lead to suicide, like 43-year-old retired Linebacker, Junior Seau, who fatally shot himself in the chest on May 2, 2012. Hopefully, there will be multi-pronged changes in contact sports in general, especially among children, that will significantly reduce the incidence of CTE.
Measles controversy
Measles was eradicated and a piece of history in the United States — or so thought the authorities.
This goes the same with whooping cough and other infectious diseases among children. But the resurgence of a major outbreak that started at Disneyland in California in the spring of 2015 (five measles outbreaks causing 189 cases) brought back the old anti-vaccination controversy, where parents have decided against vaccination for their children. Experts now feel the resurgence was caused by the clusters of these unvaccinated children. In July, the California legislature “passed tough new laws mandating vaccination for nearly all children in the state’s public schools.” Parents who refuse vaccination for their children, in spite of medical advice, are doing a great disservice to their children and society as a whole.
Mammograms
Another hotly contested issue resulted from the revised guidelines on breast cancer screening, which the American Cancer Society released in October. The former start age for mammography of 40 was raised to 45. The ACS also suggested that after age 45, women can also decide to reduce screening to once every two years. In 2009, there was a national debate when the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended “the start age for a average-risk woman’s first mammogram to 50.” The medical community was outraged by this because some women as young as mid20s or mid-30s have fallen victims to breasts cancer. For those concerned, we suggest a consultation with their OB-Gyne specialist for a more personalized evaluation.
The pink sex pill
In 2015, advocacy for gender equality was much stronger than ever, and we saw the advent of the first US FDA-approved “Viagra for female,” a libido pink pill called “Addyi.” This medication is recommended for those women with low sexual desire. Detractors pointed out the potential bad side-effects that could include severe fall in blood pressure and loss of consciousness, albeit not very common. Greater use of this pink pill will eventually show if it is actually a safe sex aid as the “blue pill” (Viagra) is.
Killer narcotics
The epidemic of addiction to popular narcotic painkillers (Vicodin and OxyContin) was at alarming level, killing 120 Americans from overdosage each day, more deaths than from car crashes. Tighter controls on these prescription drugs simply pushed many abusers to heroin. Talking about addiction, while the usefulness of medical marijuana is documented and well-accepted, there is no wisdom at all why recreational marijuana should be legalized. Some bad behavioral side-effects of recreational marijuana are beginning to show.
Rate of autism
One in 45 kids is the calculated rate of autism spectrum disorders, according to the US-CDC last November. Studies by the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., estimated in December 2015 that the ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) rates in the US have risen 43 percent between 2003 and 2011, now “affecting 12 percent of kids aged 5 through 17.”
Skin cancer from tanning
The US Food and Drugs Administration advisory panel early in December “proposed new regulations that would ban the use of indoor tanning beds and booths by minors.” This was after studies have shown that exposure to the UV light with these tanning beds or booths is 17 times greater than from the sun, and that those fond of tanning had 59 percent increase in the risk of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. Dying to look good is not attractive.
New twist on fatty foods
For decades, studies after studies have warned the medical community and the public at large that eating animal-based saturated fats (red meats, butter, etc.) was unhealthy, inducing higher risk for heart disease, stroke, and early death. In 2015, “a meta-analysis of data from twenty different studies found no clear or consistent evidence that diets high in saturated fat were tied to those risks.” As far as cancer is concerned, it is a different story, because the scientific correlation appears to be convincingly valid. What is clear is that fish, vegetables, nuts, and fruits provide great antioxidants that boost our immune system, protect our cardiovascular system, and lower our risk for Alzheimer’s and cancer. Limiting red meat to twice a week is still a wise practice.
Global warming
Leaders of 195 countries met in France in late November for the Paris Climate Summit where they signed an agreement for each nation to help in slowing down global warming to protect “the health of the world’s people.” This accord is expected to positively impact public health for generations to come. Each of us as individuals — 7.3 billion world citizens — can play a vital role in helping combat global warming by protecting and being kind to our environment.
We look forward to this new year with an abiding faith, great optimism, and everlasting hope for mankind.
***
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: [email protected]
