Health Apps on iTunes

I read this article and thought it was really interesting. First off, it reported that there are about 9,000 health related apps on iTunes currently. This number really surprised me, I didn't realize there were that many health apps out there! I currently use apps on my droid that measure exercise distance, calories burned and my favorite app that is a reference for calories in foods at popular restaurants. Who knew Olive Garden salad was so unhealthy?
Using apps on phones to improve and aid in health really is a brilliant idea. We take our phones everywhere with us and by having access to a constant source of information on them is really priceless.
Here's a link to the full article:
http://www.health2news.com/2011/10/24/are-health-apps-the-cure-for-anything-that-ails-you/

Cialis approved for the treatment of BPH!

We learned this other day in class, here is the fda press announcement!

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm274642.htm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

FDA approves new drug to treat type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol in one tablet today!

The new drug is called: Juvisync (sitagliptin and simvastatin) and is the first of its kind to treat both high cholesterol and Type II Diabetes in one tablet. 
Read today's FDA press announcement here: 


http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm274748.htm

Man's best friend

As a dog owner I am biased. As a poor student I'm also biased, why are we looking for expensive screening and diagnostic mechanisms, it seems as though the answers to a lot of health questions are right in front of us. Albeit not a complete answer, but a place to start that seems logical. I stand by a firm belief that the answer to all of our health problems lies on this Earth, not created or synthesized in a lab. We just need to look. For the diseases that some may think will never be cured, why not start looking at a more basic level? Although to some this may seem like hocus pocus medicine, it makes sense to me. If animals can sense cancer, glucose levels etc through scent, why not put more research into finding out what these scents/markers are? Take this knowledge and create tools and screening methods that utilize them.

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/04/133498144/can-dogs-smell-cancer

Diabetes moving beyond finger sticks

Personally I think that finding an alternate way to test blood glucose in place of finger pricking is a huge opportunity currently and even more so in the future. I was reading this article recently regarding breath testing for blood glucose.  I think that breath testing for blood glucose is such a great non-invasive idea, however a very difficult thing to develop. There are many details to work out before something like this comes into common therapy practice, but I do think it is something we will be seeing in the future.

Here's a link to the full article:

http://forecast.diabetes.org/magazine/your-ada/breath-test-blood-glucose

RIP Steve Jobs

As many of you know Steve Jobs passed away on October 5th, I just wanted to share this speech he made at the 2005 Stanford Commencement. Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com  As one of our time's greatest innovators, its unfortunate and sad that his life ended so prematurely.

Furthermore, what many of you may not have known or realized is that Steve Jobs left quite a mark in healthcare before his untimely passing : http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2011/10/6/industry-leaders-reflect-on-how-steve-jobs-has-influenced-health-care.aspx

I never really thought about how much apps and smartphones have changed healthcare or even pharmacy practice so drastically just in the last 5 years even. I can't imagine my life without a smartphone now. I may not be lucky enough to have an iPhone, but my Droid offers an array of apps and information access which aids my pharmacy student life. Even more exciting, which is mentioned in the this article is the growing number of physicians using iPads in their practice for electronic health records.