Aaron E. Carroll's Blog, page 19

Beauty Products, Hair Chemicals, and Uterine Cancer

There’s a lot of buzz around beauty products and how the chemicals in them may affect hormones, and thus contribute to the development of certain cancers. How much weight should we give to studies that report these associations?

 



The post Beauty Products, Hair Chemicals, and Uterine Cancer first appeared on The Incidental Economist.

Ketamine for Mental Health Treatment: How Promising Is It?

Since the pandemic’s start, rates of depressive symptoms among U.S. adults have nearly tripled. The search for fast-acting and sustainable mental health treatments has gained more traction in academic and public discourse. This piece, recently published in Behavioral Health News, covers the benefits and potential risks of one emerging (and unorthodox) treatment that’s been receiving a lot of attention — ketamine.  

We explore why traditional treatments may not work and where ketamine comes in, particularly how ketamine works, the risks, and the potential benefits of this treatment. While there is a wealth of excitement and some promising research, using ketamine to treat depression and other mental health conditions is still in its early stages. The associated risks are significant and need to be better understood. Nonetheless, this new approach provides hope to those who struggle with depression and feel left behind by conventional treatments. 

Read the full article here.  

The post Ketamine for Mental Health Treatment: How Promising Is It? first appeared on The Incidental Economist.

Are Video Games GOOD for Kids?

Many people like to argue about whether video games cause violence, but what about evidence for the positive effects games might have? The research is out there, so what do we think about it?

 



The post Are Video Games GOOD for Kids? first appeared on The Incidental Economist.

Does Cold Weather Cause Colds?

Did your parents ever tell you to put your coat on before going outside so you didn’t catch a cold? I’m sure they meant well, but did all those efforts on their part actually save you some sniffles? Let’s ask the data.

 



The post Does Cold Weather Cause Colds? first appeared on The Incidental Economist.

Is Marijuana Safe During Pregnancy?

Marijuana is the most commonly used recreational drug among pregnant people, and there are a lot of clashing opinions about whether or not it’s safe. So whose side are the data on?

 



The post Is Marijuana Safe During Pregnancy? first appeared on The Incidental Economist.

Smartphones, Early Puberty, and Bad, Scary Headlines

A recent headline sounded the alarm about a study reporting that smartphone use was related to the early onset of puberty in children. This headline was a real triple threat: fear of technology, children under threat, and sexualization of kids. BUT. The study was not a study. It was an abstract presented at a conference talking about an unpublished paper. And critically, the study in question looked at rats that had been exposed to blue light for upwards of 12 hours a day. There are a lot of problems with the connections being made here and with all the fearmongering. Let us tell you about them.

 



The post Smartphones, Early Puberty, and Bad, Scary Headlines first appeared on The Incidental Economist.

Healthcare Triage Podcast: Regenerative Medicine and Reprogramming Tissues Using Your Body

Dr. Chandan Sen talks with Dr. Aaron Carroll about regenerative medicine, including some of his current research in diabetic wound healing and ongoing work to help other people in the future. Sen talks about his research into reprogramming tissues without using a laboratory, since it has the potential to be done inside a patient’s body.

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!

This Healthcare Triage podcast episode is co-sponsored by Indiana University School of Medicine, whose mission is to advance health in the state of Indiana and beyond by promoting innovation and excellence in education, research, and patient care, and the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, a three way partnership among Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame, striving to make Indiana a healthier state by empowering research through pilot funding, research education and training. More information on the Indiana CTSI can be found by visiting IndianaCTSI.org.

The post Healthcare Triage Podcast: Regenerative Medicine and Reprogramming Tissues Using Your Body first appeared on The Incidental Economist.

Depression and Saint John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort has been used for centuries as a treatment for a wide variety of ailments. It’s often promoted in modern times as a treatment for depression, ADHD, and many others. So, what does the research say? Is St. John’s Wort likely to help with depression, and what are the risks of taking it?

 



The post Depression and Saint John’s Wort first appeared on The Incidental Economist.

Does Coffee Increase Lifespan?

A 2022 observational study publicized by Harvard Health claimed that drinking coffee could significantly lower your risk of dying. Is that true? Wasn’t there a study (or ten) in recent memory claiming that coffee would give you cancer? Well, it turns out observational studies are not very good for studying things like this.

 

The post Does Coffee Increase Lifespan? first appeared on The Incidental Economist.

Why some choose health care sharing ministries

Open enrollment is upon us. While many are focused on which health insurance company has the best deal, health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) are quietly offering cheaper and less regulated alternatives to traditional coverage. Despite being an inadequate substitute, for some, they’re a welcome one.

What are HCSMs?

HCSMs are not health insurance; they are cost-sharing organizations. The idea is that members help each other directly cover medical costs. Members pay monthly contributions, similar to premiums, but can also make additional donations to cover specific bills from other members.

HCSMs are allowed to exclude pre-existing conditions from eligibility, exclude various health care services altogether, such as maternity care or contraception, and cap the lifetime financial assistance for which a member is eligible. They also do not guarantee claims will be reimbursed. (One review of HCSMs in Massachusetts found that only half of submitted claims were eligible for reimbursement.)

They are often, if not always, religiously affiliated. Members commit to a code of conduct, which may include abstaining from tobacco use and holding a traditional view of sex and marriage.

HCSMs and the Affordable Care Act

Because they are not insurance and because they are religiously affiliated, HCSMs are not regulated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They are not subject to minimal coverage guidelines and members are not subject to the individual mandate.

HCSMs are a notable exemption to the ACA. Supporters lobbied for the exemption based on a few reasons, including former President Obama’s promise that Americans could keep their coverage if they liked it. But the main motive was religious freedom. They argued that sharing health care costs was a “religious right and a privilege.” Congress agreed to the carveout to minimize religious opposition, and advocates lauded the decision as “Obamacare’s Silver Lining.”

The appeal of HCSMs

Some see HCSMs as a viable alternative to traditional health insurance and research suggests there may be a few reasons why.

Perhaps the most significant reason is freedom: freedom of religious expression and freedom from government oversight. The Bible encourages Christians to “bear one another’s burdens,” and HCSM members see their approach to health care costs as a fulfillment of that command. Additionally, many religious individuals oppose abortion and other medical services. As such, they may see HCSMs as a way to pay for their own health care needs without funding religiously prohibited services even indirectly.

HCSMs promote a sense of freedom beyond religion, including provider choice and less government interference. For example, members essentially pay out of pocket for health care, getting reimbursed later, so they can choose any provider that accepts self-paying patients. HCSMs also allow members to bypass “the system,” staying out of the carousel that is the heavily regulated health insurance industry.

A more tangible reason why some prefer HCSMs to traditional health insurance is thrift. Monthly contributions are typically less than monthly insurance premiums. This makes sense; HCSMs are set up to cover health care expenses after they’re accrued so upfront costs can be lower. Plus, the list of reimbursable services is often limited in exchange for even lower costs.

For healthy individuals, especially those who don’t use much health care, this kind of “low cost up front” arrangement can be enticing. But, if a member has an emergency or an extended hospital stay, or develops a chronic condition, they may be stuck with significant medical bills. Monthly contributions can also increase due to changes in health status, even common ones like weight gain.

While freedom and thrift are conscious reasons to prefer HCSMs, others may choose them due to inadequate health insurance literacy. Individuals less familiar with terms like coinsurance and deductibles may have difficulty choosing from a set of ACA-compliant health insurance plans. This difficulty likely extends to evaluating the relative costs and benefits of HCSMs.

Challenges differentiating between insurance and HCSMs may also increase when small businesses list HCSMs as a potential source of coverage for health care costs. Deceptive advertising by HCSMs and insurance brokers adds further confusion.

While HCSMs are an unregulated, risky alternative to traditional insurance coverage, some find the freedom and cost savings they provide attractive. Others don’t know of a better option and join an HCSM without understanding the potential consequences. Given that inadequate insurance coverage is associated with greater medical debt and delays in seeking necessary care, it’s important that consumers have clear, accurate information to facilitate coverage decisions.

Research for this piece was supported by Arnold Ventures. 

The post Why some choose health care sharing ministries first appeared on The Incidental Economist.