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Mammography guidelines issued earlier this week by a panel of federal experts have caused confusion. The Preventive Services Task Force said that women should not get routine mammograms any earlier than at age 50, with tests every two years. But federal Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius took the unusual step Wednesday of discrediting that recommendation, saying that the government’s guidelines had not changed. She urged women to begin getting mammograms at age 40, which is also the American Cancer Society’s ...

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Just over half of Americans believe healthcare reform would do more harm than good and disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president, according to a University of Iowa Hawkeye Poll released today. The national poll showed that 52 percent of Americans disapprove of Obama's performance, while 48 percent approve. When asked about healthcare reform, 52 percent said government action would do more harm than good, and the remaining 48 percent supported change. Conducted Oct. 23-31, the phone ...

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Low rates of uninsured Iowans and high graduation rates helped boost the state one spot from last year in an annual health rankings report. Iowa ranked 15th in America’s Health Rankings, released today by United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention. The state faces challenges with a high prevalence of binge drinking — ranked 48th with a rate of 20 percent — and limited availability of primary care physicians — 47th, with 83.9 per 100,000 people. Vermont ranked ...

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What Ann Jubeck didn’t know could have killed her. Jubeck, 50, of Marion, had no idea that heart disease was the number one killer of women until her own close calls. She will be among the heart disease survivors featured in a video at the Go Red for Women luncheon Friday in Cedar Rapids. Johnson County’s luncheon will be Dec. 10. A customer service and collection manager at Alliant Energy, Jubeck said she was always on the go until, at age 45, her ...

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Tara Nurre just wants her life back. Diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, the Marion mother of three has lived with pain for the past five years. Simple chores like laundry or vacuuming are exhausting and even turning her head can be difficult. Because she is only 33, surgery to fuse the spinal discs in her neck is not recommended and steroid epidural injections have not relieved the pain. Nurre underwent two surgeries at a clinic in Florida, but the pain continued. As a last resort, ...

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A life or death situation is a valid reason for an early birth; an upcoming visit from your mother is not. Given Iowa’s D grade on today’s March of Dimes Premature Birth report card, experts are on a campaign to reduce the numbers of elective preterm births in the state. “Many women do everything right, yet they still have their babies born too soon,” said Dr. Stephen Hunter, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic, where ...

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Alzheimer’s disease continues to move up the list of the top causes for deaths among Iowans. The incurable, degenerative and terminal disease first identified in 1906 now ranks fifth among Iowa’s morbidity rates, according to the 2008 vital statistics data issued by the state Department of Public Health, moving ahead of accidental or unintentional injuries that include motor vehicle crashes. “We’ve been seeing the numbers increase exponentially,” said Carol Siple, executive director for the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Iowa. Experts say the climb ...

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While a state board is considering the medical benefits of marijuana, some Eastern Iowans admit they already turn to the drug to ease an array of health problems. “It allows me to get up every day and function as a mother,” said Lisa Jackson, 43, of rural Crawfordsville, who has the long-term pain syndrome fibromyalgia. Opponents say marijuana is already Iowa’s most abused illegal drug, and allowing it for medical reasons will make the state’s problem even worse. “It’s definitely seen as a ...

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The obituary for a Kirkwood Community College student said the 21-year-old died due to complications of bacterial meningitis. Chris VanSpeybroeck, of Conona, Ill., died Monday, according to information from the Van Hoe Funderal Home in East Moline, Ill. VanSpeybroeck was living in Cedar Rapids and pursuing an associate degree in fire science at Kirkwood. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, East Moline, Ill. Earlier this week, Linn County Public Health had reached 10 people in close contact with ...

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As a youth, Anne Michael Langguth spent her allowance buying medical books and turned one of her dad’s old workshirts into a lab coat. As Miss Iowa and in her new partnership with the University Hygienic Laboratory, Langguth, 22, will promote science careers to Iowa youths who might have similar dreams. The Iowa City native was introduced today as the Coralville-based lab’s Environmental and Public Health Ambassador. Studies show in the next 11 years, more than 4,200 public health jobs are expected to ...

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Imagine easily finding calorie counts posted at restaurants and supermarkets; cigarette sales prohibited from stores where customers buy nicotine patches; unhealthy trans fats banned from restaurants and kids no longer eating candy bars instead of school lunches. Where some might cry foul, or government intrusion, Curtis Dickson, director of Linn County Public Health, sees the road to a healthier state. The health department plans to apply for federal stimulus money to implement policies that address disease prevention as a model for the ...

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Times are tough, but the Midwestern work ethic says grin and bear it. Grind and bear it may be more accurate. A North Liberty dentist reports some of her patients are so stressed, it’s taking a toll on their teeth. Dr. Kristen Waldschmidt of North Liberty Dental has heard complaints of jaw pain and headaches from patients in her dental chair. “When I ask if they are stressed, they nod,” said Waldschmidt. “That’s when they make the connection. They are clenching their mouth a ...

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The University of Iowa Foundation is delaying a plan to ask patients at UI clinics for donations. “We want to take additional time to hear from staff and others who have concerns and to listen to suggestions for how we might improve the program and attain UI Health Care’s philanthropic goals,” Jean Robillard, UI Vice President for medical affairs, said today in a statement. No timeline has been set for refining or resuming the process. The donor program, known as philanthropic contact consent, ...

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IOWA CITY — A lack of platelet donations at the DeGowin Blood Center has led to a shortage at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Paula Dayton, Donor Recruitment for the UI DeGowin Blood Center, said the high number of sick people has most likely caused donations to drastically drop in the past two weeks. “We need a steady supply of healthy donors,” Dayton said, noting people must be healthy for a period of five days before they can qualify to ...

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The City Council Wednesday night followed up a Tuesday news conference by approving a “memorandum of understanding” between the city, the two hospitals and a physicians group to create the Cedar Rapids Medical District along and in the vicinity of 10th Street SE stretching from St. Luke’s Hospital to Mercy Medical Center. The idea for a medical district was first hatched back in 2006, council members said last night, and the idea has been part of two major planning documents, one ...

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Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa plans to build a $40-million “medical mall” building on both sides of Second Avenue SE at 10th Street SE so it can consolidate five existing offices into one new place and have room to expand. Mike Sundall, PCI’s chief executive, said Tuesday that the plan is to build the new 180,000 square foot building in 2011 and 2012 and to move into it by late 2012 or early 2013. Sundall and the top executives at the city’s two ...

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A new regional medical district is coming to Cedar Rapids. The city of Cedar Rapids, St. Luke's Hospital, Mercy Medical Center and Physicians Clinic of Iowa are all entering a cooperative venture. Specifics of the plan were announced at a news conference today at PCI. The Physicians Clinic of Iowa plans to consolidate five offices into a "medical mall", located on 10th Street SE in Cedar Rapids, running between the two hospitals, Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke's. There are a number ...

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The City of Cedar Rapids, Physicians Clinic of Iowa, Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital will participate in a joint news conference Tuesday to talk about the creation of a new Cedar Rapids Medical District. The location of the district and concept drawings will be unveiled. In addition, there will be a major announcement about construction in the newly established district. The news conference is planned for 11 a.m. at the Physicians Clinic of Iowa, 600 Seventh St. SE.

Mercy Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital are working together to provide general guidance to individuals on when to seek medical care during the 2009-2010 flu season. This information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s important to note that each person should ultimately determine their own medical emergency and seek care when needed. Generally, if an individual gets sick with flu-like symptoms this season, they should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical ...

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Both the Linn and Johnson County Health Departments say most flu cases right now are probably the H1N1 strain. The health departments say they're putting almost as much work into fighting the flu as they are fighting the rumors and unnecessary concern. Fighting sickness, whether it's the flu or just a cold is always a concern at Showtime Daycare. But this year, daycare provider and mother of three, Rosie Tharp says she's on extra high alert because of H1N1. "I am very worried ...

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Medication errors, some of which result in death, could be prevented with a first-in-the-nation statewide initiative announced today by the Iowa Health System. The organization, which includes St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, is committing $500,000 in the initiative’s first year to implement electronic prescribing in doctor’s offices across Iowa. Iowa Health System is teaming with Chicago-based Allscripts to help doctors implement the technology for free. The goal of “ePrescribe Iowa” is to convert a majority of Iowa physicians from paper prescriptions to ...

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To date, more than 10,300 people have registered to participate 19th annual Especially for You Race Against Breast Cancer. This year’s race is Sunday. The competitive 5K run is open to women and men this year, but only women may compete for prizes. Awards will be given to the first three female runners and walkers who finish the 5K course. Awards also will be given to the top three female 5K runners and female 5K walkers in each age group. Additional opportunities ...

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Before the widespread use of antibiotics and the existence of many of today’s vaccines, quarantine and isolation were commonly used by Iowa communities to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. Placards, like sign pictured here, were yellow with its bold black lettering were placed by local boards of health on the front and back doors of homes warning community members to keep their distance. The signs warned friends and neighbors that someone within the house has been isolated with mumps, a ...

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The number of sick students has decreased at Iowa City High School. About 23 percent of the school’s students were out sick Friday. The school reported 397 students absent Thursday. About 400 students were out of school Wednesday with flu like symptoms, about 25 percent of City High’s student population. Student illnesses also dropped Grant Wood and Horace Mann elementary schools, both which had 10 percent of their students absent Friday. The percentage of sick students at Tate High School dropped below 10 ...

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Health care workers began lining up for H1N1 flu immunizations today, becoming the first in Iowa to receive the vaccine. St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids received 135 doses of the nasal spray form of vaccine that was used today during an employee flu clinic. Iowa began receiving its first vaccine shipments Thursday and should receive flu shots in upcoming weeks. The state received 18,000 doses of FluMist, the nasal spray that contains a weakened live virus. Because the spray is not recommended for ...

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