Best Buy Drugs Digital Health Finds for April 19 2013

How quickly the U.S. got fat (1985 - 2010 animated map)
[The Atlantic]
By now everyone knows obesity is a serious issue, but it always helps me to see things moving and in color, and makes the "epidemic" terminology make sense. Meanwhile, through 2012, no state has met the CDC's nationwide goal to reduce obesity to 15 percent. According to a Gallup poll out this morning, here are the least and most obese metropolitan areas:

3 reasons why patients should use social media

[KevinMd.com]
With patients becoming increasingly social media-savvy, it is safe to say that this phenomenon is here to stay. As a public policy initiative, the use of smart social media may in fact be a useful intervention to encourage patients to pursue healthy lifestyles while relieving pressures on health budgets. For this to happen, more research and analysis is required to better connect patients with their healthcare providers and to provide them with evidence-based, accurate information.

New moms likely to seek help for depression if its online

[CNET]
Postpartum depression afflicts between 10 percent and 15 percent of new moms. But with some never seeking help, those numbers may be even higher. And in a new study out of Case Western Reserve, researchers found that many women don't seek counseling because of the stigma attached to depression and because they feel they simply don't have the time -- but they would go online for help if professionals were available and they could remain anonymous.

Use of mobile healthcare apps on the rise 

[Healthcare Global]
Physicians think the apps are of real value. eClnicalWorks performed a survey that revealed nine in ten physicians are in favor of mobile health apps, particularly when integrated with electronic health records (EHR’s). Recently we reported that the use of EHR systems were on the rise in the US and are already in wide use in other countries. It only makes sense that mobile health app integration is next to appear in the health care industry.

How social networks influence parents’ decision to vaccinate

[TIME/Healthland]
At least 95% of parents in both groups indicated that they had consulted their “people network” for insight into making vaccination decisions. Parents reported they paid the most attention to their spouse or partner’s opinion. Pediatricians were next in line, followed by friends and relatives. (Interestingly, 10% of parents who followed CDC guidelines — the “conformers” — and 12% of parents who didn’t — the “nonconformers” — failed to list doctors among the top five people in their network.) Here’s why that’s important:


Events worth attending:
#39Weeks Twitter Chat: On Tuesday, April 23, please join @WSMADocTalk and @CR_health in promoting why carrying a baby to at least 39 weeks is healthier for moms and babies. Follow and participate using hashtag #39 weeks. Participants include Dr. Dale Reisner, Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle Washington, and Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson (@SeattleMamaDoc) is a pediatrician with The Everett Clinic and author of the popular Seattle Mama Doc blog at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She is also the mother of two young boys and shares her insights for raising healthy children as a pediatrician and a mom.

@USNewsHealth Twitter Chat: Diabetes in Kids: On Thursday, April 25, 2 - 3 p.m. EST, please join U.S. News (@USNewsHealth), Mayo Clinic (@MayoClinic) and the American Diabetes Association (@AmDiabetesAssn) for a Twitter chat. We will cover such critical topics as the growing number of young people who develop diabetes, the challenge of managing the disease and reducing its risks, and ways that parents can help their children cope with medical issues and lifestyle changes. Follow and participate using hashtag #KidsDiabetes