Cecily O’Connor, April 13, 2007

Which came first? The chicken or the dinosaur? It looks like the dinosaur. Researchers who decoded proteins from a 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex say they have found an evolutionary link between the T rex and common birds. The finding adds support to the theory that today’s birds are descendants of the mighty dinosaurs. The ability to find such a link through protein analysis could represent an important step in a new "avenue of research that involves anything extinct," according to a curator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. But the big question on my mind, is what implications does this finding have for humans and their well-being? Could this window into how species evolved change health care research?

Cecily O’Connor, April 9, 2007

I read with interest the article on how health savings accounts can cause women more financial pain than men. That’s mainly because mammograms, pregnancy-related services and other routine medical costs add up fast, especially as women age, according Harvard researchers who studied HSAs. Consider that the median health care costs were $1,849 for men ages 45 to 64, compared to $2,871 for women in the same age group. This is concerning news at a time when more employers are thinking about ways to trim health care expenses, and consumer-driven plans are being touted as a remedy. However, the Harvard researchers make a strong point about the ramifications of putting workers in such plans, which come with low premiums and high deductibles. "When an employer switches all his employees into a consumer-driven health plan, it’s the same as giving all the women a $1,000 pay cut, on average, because women on average have $1,000 more in health costs than men," said Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, the study’s lead author. Granted, not all health plans are designed the same, but the median health care cost differences between men and women are enough to convince me that some HSA offerings might need an injection for balance.

Cecily O’Connor, April 3, 2007

The mystery of the unknown is frightening. I sometimes find myself wishing I had a looking glass to see into the future. I could avoid that bad stock investment, or take more vitamins to prevent illness. Now it looks like researchers are exploring ways to predict exactly who is at risk of epilepsy. Some of their efforts involve pilot studies to see if the newer seizure-treating drugs might actually thwart epilepsy if they’re taken immediately after a serious brain injury. "It is among the most frustrating things in medicine to know that someone’s at risk… and be unable to do anything about it," says Dr. Marc Dichter of the University of Pennsylvania, who is leading the Topamax study and pushing for better recognition of such patients. Adding to their struggle: Epilepsy may not begin with the classic jerking seizures, but instead with memory loss, attention problems or other more subtle symptoms that doctors can mistakenly attribute to the original brain injury, post-traumatic stress or some other factor.

Cecily O’Connor, March 28, 2007

Our family friend Deborah underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer about five years go. And like the very different stories of Tony Snow and Elizabeth Edwards, Deborahâ€™s cancer has since come back. The prospect of battling cancer for a second time is encouraging many of us to think about wellness and fighting the good fight. For Deborah, who cares for her grandson full time, giving up was never in the cards. As an artist, Deborah has always found energy in expressing herself through her painted pictures of nudes, flowers, and even 80s pop artists like Boy George during his Culture Club hey-day. And with cancer in her body, Deborahâ€™s her hair has morphed into a canvas with which she can express herself. Before treatment began the first time, Deborah cut her hair down to short spikes, and dyed the tips ruby red. A few months later, she donned vibrant pink and green patterned scarves that hung down her back the way her long blonde locks did at one time. While functioning pretty normally today, Deborah, like Mrs. Edwards, is living with a disease that is treatable, not curable. Deborahâ€™s hair is now coiffed into a short, Meg Ryan-esque cut that is platinum blonde at the core, with hot pink streaks. Deborahâ€™s hair is healthy.

Cecily O’Connor, March 27, 2007

A cure for what ails you? Daily aspirin use has long been controversial. But at a time when prescription drug affordability challenges many Americans, itâ€™s exciting to know there may be cost-effective options out there that will only set you back $6.99 a bottle. A new study conducted over a 24-year period found aspirin just might benefit adults, especially women who take a moderate dose, reduce their risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. Still, aspirin shouldnâ€™t be swallowed like a full-proof vitamin. Because aspirin â€“ which has been around for 100-plus years – can result in ulcers or bleeding, experts cautioned that aging men and women should not take these pills without talking to a doctor.

P.A. MacLean, March 25, 2007

Frightening enough not to have insurance. But to lose it when an insurer has a department set aside to systematically drop customers who get sick or pregnant, now thatâ€™s scary. Thatâ€™s apparently what Blue Cross did, according to the California Department of Managed Health, which fined the company $1 million for illegally dumping 100 customers. Imagine if youâ€™re among the 15 million people who help care for an elderly parent, the prospect of a parent without health insurance is daunting. The National Alliance of Caregiving estimates that children contribute roughly $200 a month to help older parents. Here are a few ideas on protecting them â€“ and yourself. Insurance companies have rescission review committees that will reconsider dropped coverage if you complain. The AARP provides a state-by-state report card of HMOâ€™s to check out. And the National Association of Insurance Commissioners provides information about what your state is doing to regulate insurance abuses. Those are good places to start to protect yourself and your parents.

Cecily O’Connor, March 22, 2007

I have a friend who says she suffers from â€œhalf-timers.â€ When she forgets a lunch date or a shopping-list item, she often quips that she remembers things only half of the time. To be sure, itâ€™s a demanding job that typically clutters her 30-something brain, and likely not the onset of dementia. But as most of us know, Alzheimerâ€™s disease isnâ€™t a condition to be taken lightly. An article about a recent study delivered bittersweet findings about brain degeneration. In successfully fighting heart disease, cancer and other conditions, it turns out that people are living longer â€” long enough that they might suffer from Alzheimer’s. With baby boomers nearing retirement, and growing concern over healthcare costs and worker shortages, it seems wise for lawmakers to consider funding for research into Alzheimerâ€™s and other aging diseases all of the time. Not half the time.

Redwood Age: Healthy Ways