Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Postpartum Ads Featuring Women With Pacifiers Strikes Discordant Chord For Some
Stat: Sage's Campaign To Raise Awareness Of Postpartum Depression Hits A Nerve
The campaign’s message: “When it comes to postpartum depression, silence sucks.” It features close-up photos of distressed, tearful women who can’t speak — because they have pacifiers stuck in their mouths. The images have been plastered on bus stops, buses, conference booths, and on a dedicated website. The ads don’t specifically mention Sage’s drug, which still needs further testing before the company can bring it to the Food and Drug Administration for possible approval. Instead, they urge women to talk “openly and honestly” about postpartum depression. An estimated 600,000 women in the U.S. alone experience symptoms, which range from insomnia and irritability to difficulty bonding with their baby. (Thielking, 6/14)
NPR: Scientists Say Brain Cell Transplants May Help Treat Parkinson's
Researchers are working to revive a radical treatment for Parkinson's disease. The treatment involves transplanting healthy brain cells to replace cells killed off by the disease. It's an approach that was tried decades ago and then set aside after disappointing results. Now, groups in Europe, the U.S. and Asia are preparing to try again, using cells they believe are safer and more effective. (Hamilton, 6/13)
The Washington Post: America’s New Tobacco Crisis: The Rich Stopped Smoking, The Poor Didn’t
After decades of lawsuits, public campaigns and painful struggles, Americans have finally done what once seemed impossible: Most of the country has quit smoking, saving millions of lives and leading to massive reductions in cancer. That is, unless those Americans are poor, uneducated or live in a rural area. (Wan, 6/13)
Kansas City Star: HCA Midwest Researcher Finds New Long-Acting Insulin Medication Leads To Reductions In Diabetic Emergencies
An industry-funded study led by a Kansas City doctor found that a new type of long-acting insulin reduced hypoglycemic diabetic emergencies by 40 percent in people with Type 2 diabetes. Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, can cause seizures and loss of consciousness in severe cases. (Marso, 6/13)
The New York Times: Noise May Raise Blood Pressure Risk
Airport noise could raise the risk for high blood pressure, a new study suggests. Greek researchers studied 420 people living near Athens International Airport, where an average of 600 airplanes take off and land every day. Maps made during construction of the airport divided the surrounding area by noise level: less than 50 decibels, 50 to 60 decibels (60 decibels is about the noise level of a room air-conditioner), and more than 60 decibels, so researchers could track noise exposure precisely. (Bakalar, 6/13)
The New York Times: At Airports, Making Travel Easier For Autistic Passengers
For Gearoid Mannion and his wife, Michelle, who live in County Clare, Ireland, air travel with their two autistic sons, Conor, 9, and Darragh, 7, is usually nothing short of a nightmare. The noise level, crowds and announcements at airports overwhelm the boys, and waiting in security and boarding lines is a concept that they don’t understand, Mr. Mannion said. “They get red in the face and start running around and crying and screaming or run toward the exit, because they want to go back home,” he said. The family’s recent experience at Shannon Airport in Ireland, when they were en route to a vacation in Málaga, Spain, however, gave them hope that flying didn’t have to be so stressful. (Vora, 6/13)
Minnesota Public Radio: Is Your Well Water Poisoning You? Better Test It
Public water systems for towns and cities that provide about 80 percent of the supply and are tested regularly. But there are only minimal requirements for private well owners to monitor the safety of their own drinking water. (Steil, 6/14)
