PlaneTree's website

November-December 2015

From the Editor's Desk

Old illustration of woman wielding a fountain pen

This has been a very busy year for PlaneTree Health Library, here behind the scenes. A long-time supporter's generosity has opened a door to the possibility of new community services. To explore what these might be, we have expanded our Board of Directors, recruiting a wider array of perspectives and skills, as well as fresh enthusiasm. We also said grateful goodbyes to two dedicated Board members: Evelyn Howard, who served as secretary and treasurer; and Susan Fuller, who astutely chaired our Board for over a decade.

During 2015 we have -

begun work on a major revision of our website that will better enable you to connect with quality health information
posted informative articles and fun tidbits on Facebook
updated the book collections we maintain for two Good Samaritan Hospital units
collaborated with Santa Clara County Library District to promote the District's reference services at PlaneTree Health Information Center.

These activities are continuing, even as we take a brief publishing break. This will be the last PlaneTalk issue of 2015. We hope our "News You Can Use" articles and event listings have enabled you to better understand and care for the health of yourself and your loved ones. If you value our work, please make a tax-deductible donation to support the research and creation of your favorite health e-newsletter.

We wish you a pleasant and peaceful holiday season, and a very healthy new year.

News You Can Use

Probing Probiotics

The effectiveness of probiotics, consumed via yogurt or supplements, to treat health conditions is explored in an excellent article.

The article's concluding paragraphs link to a potentially helpful document. Its initial pages are key to understanding the heart of the document, a chart which specifies the probiotic supplements that appear to benefit various conditions, including eczema, diarrhea and constipation, IBD, and IBS. As the document's creation was funded by a probiotic industry group, please use its information judiciously and in consultation with your health care provider.

Predicting Psychiatric Drug Effectiveness

Genetic testing can - allegedly - discern which drugs will most effectively treat certain psychiatric conditions. Aggressive marketing and minimal government oversight suggests consumers and their doctors might be misled. If you or a loved one is considering one of these expensive tests, learn more about them.

Heartburn and GERD

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, or reflux disease) or frequent heartburn, you may be routinely taking a proton pump inhibitor (P.P.I.), such as Nexium, Prilosec or Prevacid. A two-page summary or full report from Consumer Reports can help you choose which P.P.I. to use. Although these drugs are effective, be careful that your reliance on a P.P.I. is within safe limits; long-term use can cause serious problems.

For heartburn sufferers, the savvy use of antacids is just one component of self-care. Medical treatments, surgery, and self-care measures for GERD are described here.

Succinctly...

Learn what does - and does not - "boost" your immune system.

What did the World Health Organization (WHO) really say about meat and cancer risk?

If you are sleepy in the afternoon, this trick will perk you up more effectively than either coffee or a quick nap.

If you take a blood pressure medication, you might want to discuss this recent research with your doctor.

Will repeated teeth-whitening damage your teeth or gums?

External beam radiation therapy for patients with head and neck cancers is described in a new patient guide.

It is safe to refreeze thawed food that has been properly handled.

Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

Two respected organizations have issued advice regarding when women at average risk of breast cancer should receive mammograms. The similarities and differences in the two sets of guidelines were clearly illustrated and explained in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

JAMA previously described the harms and benefits of breast cancer screening.

Private Health Insurance

The open enrollment period for getting or changing private health insurance coverage will last from November 1 to January 31. Whether you are thinking of signing up or are already enrolled, this article may be helpful. More information is available from Covered California and HealthCare.gov.

In This Issue

News You Can Use

Events