Search Results for "coronary calcium"
The dangerous duality of the TV MD-“journalist” – 2 examples in 2 nights on network TV news
One night this week, NBC’s chief medical editor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, urged women over 40 to consider having the C-reactive protein or CRP test for heart disease. She said on the air: “If you’re over the age of 40, this is the time to have a conversation with your doctor about this very simple blood […]
8/4/2009A growing public health threat: network TV morning health news segments
By reviewing health news coverage every day, we are able to see big pictures of clear patterns unfolding that the casual day-to-day news consumer may miss. One picture is quite clear. The morning health news segments on ABC, CBS and NBC do the following regularly: Unquestioningly promote new drugs and new technologies Feed […]
8/3/2009Network TV morning health news segments may be harmful to your health
By reviewing health news coverage every day, we are able to see big pictures of clear patterns unfolding that the casual day-to-day news consumer may miss. One picture is quite clear. The morning health news segments on ABC, CBS and NBC do the following regularly: Unquestioningly promote new drugs and new technologies Feed the “worried […]
4/12/2009Bad week for Good Morning America
In a little more than a week, 3 health segments on ABC’s Good Morning America received pretty bad reviews from health care and journalism observers on HealthNewsReview.org. All 3 stories are currently on the site’s home page. The story, “Cutting Edge Nail Cure” got one of our rare, lowest, zero-star scores: The advantages were unsubstantiated, […]
6/19/2008Disease-mongering by Russert pundits
There has been a lot of speculation about what happened to and what could have saved Tim Russert. Some, like a Wall Street Journal piece, “A Visceral Fear: Unexpected Heart Attacks,” bordered on disease-mongering. That story discussed: “…experts who think wider use of coronary calcium CT scans could help spot more people at risk of […]
Contrary to claims, heart scans don’t save lives, but subsequent interventions might
Mentioning alternative screening methods, conflicts of interest, and potential downstream costs and risks would have improved this release.
Scans cut heart attack rates and save lives, major study finds
In embracing medical cannabis, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta cultivates another ethical quagmire
In a promo for his upcoming report on the role of marijuana in alleviating the opioid crisis, CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, MD, beckons viewers: “Join us as we investigate a search for answers and meet potential pioneers and outspoken critics. Whether you struggle with opioids or know one of the millions who do, […]
Informative release on managing ‘prehypertension’ should’ve toned down the headline
Aside from an overreaching headline and sub-headline, the news release delivers essential information including costs, harms, availability, and study limitations.
Personalized treatment for those in blood pressure 'gray zone'
Fact-checking the Trump – Oz health sitdown
Kevin Lomangino is the managing editor of HealthNewsReview.org. He tweets as @Klomangino. We’re no strangers to the wacky claims of ratings-driven TV docs and the often evidence-free statements of their guests. But the Trump – Oz health sitdown promised to bring a new level of surreality to our corner of the media landscape. The cognitive […]
Release on using mammograms to detect early heart disease raised some red flags
This release engaged in some fear mongering when describing a study showing benefits of using mammograms as a way to test for heart disease risk.
Mammograms: Another way to screen for heart disease?
Recycled PR release doesn’t tell us anything new about garlic
Just like it did in 2014 when first announced, this release makes over-reaching claims about garlic and heart health, a heavily researched topic.
New study shows aged garlic extract can reduce dangerous plaque buildup in arteries
Evidence overstated in coverage of drug to reduce blood transfusions
Strong on independent sources, this story fell short in the way that it quantified the benefits of this study and in how it framed the evidence.
Could an Inexpensive, Underused Drug Reduce Blood Loss During Surgery? Study finds tranexamic acid reduces the need for blood transfusions during joint replacement procedures.
Optimal balance of competing views on value of CT heart scans
Could heart scans help identify people who don’t need to take statins? This well-written story checks most of our boxes and provides an optimal blend of optimism and skepticism regarding this approach.
Heart Scan Can Fine-Tune Risk Estimate for Patients Considering Statins
Comprehensive coverage of two new statin studies
This was an excellent story that covers nearly all our criteria.
2 Studies Back Guidelines for Wider Use of Statins
A tale of two observational studies – peanuts, coffee, heart health – and how the journals & some journalists handled them differently
I saw this coming as soon as I saw the BMJ news release about a study published in one of its journals, Heart. The BMJ, which seemed to have turned a corner recently, starting to include at least boilerplate news release language about the limitations of observational studies, dropped the ball on a new one. […]
