-

Archive for June, 2011

Podcast 124: Getting more accuracy into blood pressure measurements

Joe Elia • June 25th, 2011

Categories: Audio, Blood Pressure, hypertension, Quality of care, Uncategorized

(10 votes, average: 3.20 out of 5)

Patients’ systolic pressures vary by about 10%, regardless of whether they are measured at home or under the duress of a visit to the doctor. That variation is troubling when deciding whether to put a patient on an antihypertensive regimen: how reliable are the measurements that will form the basis of your decision? How [...]

Podcast 123: Calcium’s benefits seem to peak out at about 800 mg daily

Joe Elia • June 3rd, 2011

Categories: Audio, Calcium, diet, Uncategorized

(6 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

On the basis of evidence from a Swedish cohort, calcium intakes much above that country’s recommended 800 mg daily don’t have added protective value against fracture and osteoporosis. The authors of this BMJ paper suggest we’d be better off making sure those at the low end of the calcium-intake spectrum get their 800 mg, [...]