Smart dummies, spreading

Understanding an avalanche

A manly march Out of Africa

To mammogram, or not to mammogram
I’m not surprised there’s so much confusion about the new mammogram recommendations from the Preventive  Services Task Force.  The findings are counter-intuitive.  And the message is coming from data people, who can’t communicate it in a way that makes sense. What’s more: There are a lot of people with a vested interest in the current mammogram regime.  I don’t mean to impugn their motives.  They have the best of intentions.  But, if your medical career, or your clinic, is built on the premise that all testing is good and early diagnosis is the Holy Grail, then it’s hard to be objective.  And, if you are affiliated with a non-p

Keeping up with all the flu news
A lot of people are wondering, Just how dangerous is the swine flu virus? (More formally known as, 2009 H1N1.) The word from epidemiologists is: Not very dangerous, for most of us. However ….  It’s quite dangerous to people falling in certain categories.  Watch out if you are: a pregnant women, a baby, elderly, immune-compromised, morbidly obese.  Or, if you have: any lung disease or disorder, an underlying chronic health problem.  (More details on this at the federal flu website.)