Health Archives

The Tobacco Industry: How They Challenged Science

What is the history of science and the tobacco industry? Why did it take so long for most people to believe that smoking is harmful? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at doubt-mongering around the science of tobacco use. Their doubt-mongering was so successful that it took over 50 years for the majority of the public to believe that smoking is dangerous to health. Read on to learn about the history of science and doubt in regard to the tobacco industry.

Why Diet Cheats Set You Back: Don’t Give in

Is it okay to have a cheat day when on a food plan? Can diet cheats really set you back? According to Dr. Glenn Livingston in Never Binge Again, diet cheat days can be harmful to your food plan. When you break your diet to eat an unhealthy meal, your brain makes you feel bad and you tend to give up on your diet. Here is why Never Binge Again says that you need to stick to your food plan: all day, every day.

Witty Ticcy Ray: Oliver Sacks’ Tourette’s Patient

Who was Witty Ticcy Ray? Why do many patients who suffer from superabundance illnesses dislike the idea of treatment? How did Oliver Sacks compromise with Ray? In his book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, psychologist Oliver Sacks discusses brain illnesses that cause superabundance. One of his patients was Witty Ticcy Ray, a patient with Tourette’s Syndrome who allowed his Tourette’s to become a major part of his personality. Here is Oliver Sack’s research on superabundance and his experience with Witty Ticcy Ray.

The Long-Term Effects of Syphilis: The Case of Natasha

Who was the Frisky Natasha in the book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat? What long-term effects can syphilis have on the brain if left untreated? In psychologist Oliver Sacks’ research, he discusses an elderly woman who he calls the Frisky Natasha. Natasha had contracted syphilis over seventy years before and was suffering the long-term effects of brain damage. However, she seemed to be happy with her disease. Continue reading to learn about the case study of Natasha and the long-term effects of syphilis.

Scientific Skepticism: 10 Doubt-Mongering Tactics

How do people deliberately cultivate unhealthy, scientific skepticism? How do they create debate when an issue is already settled? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at some of the techniques that are used to stir up scientific skepticism. These doubt-mongering tactics have been deployed in several important “debates” such as tobacco use, nuclear disarmament, acid rain, the ozone layer, climate change, and the pesticide DDT. Read on to learn how merchants of doubt sow seeds of detrimental scientific skepticism.

Healthcare Data Privacy Is Threatened by Big Business

Did you know that your healthcare data privacy is compromised by big business? What factors propel the selling of patient data, and what factors counteract it? In Our Bodies, Our Data, Adam Tanner dives deep into the topic of healthcare data privacy. He identifies the forces for and against the selling of medical data and provides insight into what drives this big business. He also shares some aspects of the healthcare industry that frame their strategy. Read more to learn about important factors that impact healthcare data privacy.

What Is an Intellectual Disorder? Oliver Sacks’ Studies

What is an intellectual disorder? Why did psychologist Oliver Sacks find intellectual disorders especially interesting to study? What did he learn about concrete and abstract thought? In his book The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks explains that working with intellectually disabled patients was special to him. He was interested in the differences between concrete and abstract thought and trying to help intellectually disabled patients live lives rich with creativity and joy. Here are a couple of Oliver Sacks’ stories about his experiences working with patients with intellectual disorders.

Selling Your Healthcare Data: Who Buys It & Why

Did you know that the selling of healthcare data is big business? Where does the information come from, and how is it used? There’s a market for healthcare data. In Our Bodies, Our Data, Adam Tanner provides a fairly comprehensive list of who is selling the information. He also shares a surprisingly (perhaps disturbingly) long list of how different types of firms use medical data for their own purposes. Read more to learn the sources and uses of healthcare data—as well as the key players in the industry.

The Worrisome History of Selling Medical Data

Did you know that personal medical data is sold? How and when did this practice start and why is it a problem? In Our Bodies, Our Data, Adam Tanner shares a useful history of how resold medical data became increasingly personal and detailed over time. He identifies some of the key players in the healthcare data industry and how they gather and share information. Read more for a history of resold medical data.

Our Bodies, Our Data: Book Overview

What does Our Bodies, Our Data say about your health information? Is your medical data being sold? Our Bodies, Our Data is a useful survey of the medical data industry and its current worrisome capabilities. You’ll learn how the industry progressively sold more and more data, how patient records are compiled, and why there’s a market for this data. Keep reading for an overview of Our Bodies, Our Data.