Why you have to take health articles with a grain of salt (or a ton, in this case)

This morning, a Facebook friend posted a link to a story that declared that if you used sunscreen, you were more likely to die than if you didn't. In fact, the intro was: "According to a June 2014 article featured in The Independent (UK), a major study conducted by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that women who avoid sunbathing during the summer are twice as likely to die as those who sunbathe every day."

There is so much wrong with this sentence and the whole article itself. First of all, we all die. At least, at this point we still all die. What the future holds in terms of eternal life, we don't yet know.

The article, in case you haven't guessed, is anti-sunscreen. The author uses references such as this one from the journal Cancer, which doesn't say at all that sunscreen use will lead to an earlier death or that sunscreen causes melanoma, both of which the original article's author claims it says. The article says that if you use sunscreen, particularly the lower SPF types, you will likely spend more time in the sun, increasing your sun exposure, increasing your chances of developing skin cancer.

The article author also doesn't take into account that the people most likely to use sunscreen are people who are fair and who burn easily - and are by their genetics at higher risk of developing skin cancer. He also ignored that Australia, which has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, is starting to see a decline with its campaign to get people either out of the sun or to protect themselves with clothing and sunscreen.

Outside of that one scientific reference, which the article's author completely misinterpreted for his own means, his only other references are to newspaper articles or website articles, which are not credible first-line sources.

Are there problems with sunscreens? There may be with some types, considering what is put into them to produce them, which is why we need to be careful about what we use. Are there problems caused by not using sunscreens - yes and it's been proven. The problems are called cancer. If you have concerns about sunscreen, find out more about them and the type you use. But this type of article, which is making its rounds through social media, is not educational or beneficial in any way - it is fear mongering.

Folks, if you want to spread news about health issues, real news, please be sure that the articles are written with good scientific backup. This particular article is crap and may do more damage than good.

Duh studies not just for the public

And we have another Duh Study for the Duh Study files.

A couple of weeks ago, I came across a study that told radiologists that the newer CT scanners exposed their patients to less radiation than the older ones. Considering that this is one of the goals when researchers develop the new machines, I figured that was pretty well a Duh Study. Almost like telling physicians that oxygen helps people live (that was a comment from my editor for this client). But today I came across yet another Duh Study meant for radiologists. Did you know that the more experience you have reading mammograms, generally the better you will be at reading them? Yes! It's true!

A published study that looked at Australian and U.S. radiologists said that the sensitivity in reading the images increased with experience. Good thing we have researchers studying these things.

Final week blogathon round-up

Week 4 is over and this week has been a bit challenging in terms of finding topics I wanted to write about. Here is what we discussed:

Yesterday, June 28, I posted about three blogs I like, as well as a list of over 100 bloggers who were also participating in this blogathon.

On Friday, I addressed a question I get frequently - "Have I read anything you've written?" Maybe...maybe not!

Thursday's post was an excuse to write about my quilting, in a piece about how crafting is good for the brain. I put some nice photos too. :-)

Wednesday's post was about soccer and head injuries. I watched the Netherlands win over Mexico today and saw some nasty head collisions. Ouch! But I'm glad that the Dutch won!

On Tuesday, I covered an important issue, that of midwives and how they save lives all over the world.

And the week started with an interesting piece (I thought) about how a clinic in Montreal is bringing healthcare to the homeless and marginalized in Montreal.

Lots of variety!

Over 100 bloggers!

As a writer, I am fortunate to know many other writers - and several of them have blog, sites, or projects of their own. So today, I wanted to share with you three that I like. I hope I'm not hurting any feelings by not writing about all the blogs I like, but there would be so many and I'd still accidentally leave some out.

Jennifer Fink, a nurse, health writer, and mom to four boys started a new venture last year, BuildingBoys.net. She has great stuff on the issues surrounding raising boys. In my opinion, it's worth reading even if you don't have a son or your sons are grown up. I know some of her posts have made me stop and think about certain issues.

Monica Bhide is a food writer and a great all around person. Her blog talks about food, writing about food, and life in general. She is the author of a few cookbooks, including Modern Spice and The Everything Indian Cookbook.

Moving over to writing and earning money writing, Kelly James Enger's blog is chock full of great advice. Called Dollars and Deadlines, Kelly's posts are helpful for both beginning and experienced writers. Being a professional writer, working for yourself means that you have to make all the decisions yourself too. Sometimes, you need someone like Kelly to tell you the obvious (at least I do) or to explain the more complicated.

And here is a list of bloggers who were participating in this year's blogathon - which is almost over!

1. Nick DiUlio Twenty Pounds Of Headlines 
2. Jennifer Allen Pierced Wonderings 
3. David Allen David Allen in Catalonia 
4. Lois Alter Mark Midlife at the Oasis 
5. Karen Bannan Natural as Possible Mom 
6. T.A. Barnhart Carpe Bucko 
7. Pat Blumer patblumer 
8. Sue Ann Bowling Homecomingbook 
9. Deborah Brauser Travel Browsing with Deb 
10. Beverly Burmeier Going on Adventures 
11. Margarette Burnette Coupons and Kids 
12. Susan Caba Resale Evangelista 
13. Caren Chesler The Dancing Egg 
14. Doug Glenn Clark Author with Guitar 
15. Julie Cleveland Blue Morning Expressions Bluprint 
16. Katie Coakley Katie on the Map 
17. Tammy Petty Conrad tammyyoga 
18. Damage Control Damage Control Radio 
19. John Cooke CookeCapeMay 
20. Brandee Crisp Never Pity The Past 
21. Ruth Curran Cranium Crunches: The Quest to Find my Keys 
22. Katie Dancause TLC: The Lactating Catholic 
23. Mikaela D’Eigh La Belle Dame de Merci 
24. Laura Depta Depta Being Depta 
25. Jackie Dishner Phoenix Living on the Cheap 
26. Kristen Fischer Every Last Breath 
27. Kevin Flavin Carlisle Group 
28. Barb Freda Babette Feasts 
29. Laura French Words Into Action 
30. David Geer David Geer Talks Tech, Take Two 
31. Kristen Gillette Adult Ballerina Project 
32. Jenna GlatzerHot Diggity! 
33. Reyna Gobel Graduation Debt 
34. Jennifer Goforth Gregory The Content Marketing Writer 
35. Natasha Golinsky Next Level Nonprofits 
36. Sandra Gordon BabyProductsMom.com 
37. Debra Gordon Debra Gordon 
38. Carol Graham Battered Hope 
39. Yael Grauer Yael Writes 
40. Rose Green Drop 50 Fast 
41. Shihaam H Misplaced Indulgences 
42. Holly Hammersmith Keeping a Healthy Home and Lifestyle 
43. Elizabeth Hanes RN2Writer 
44. Heather harris Heather Harris 
45. Jennifer Harris Ponderings of an Elect Exile 
46. Christina Hernandez Sherwood Christina Hernandez Sherwood 
47. Megan hicks Life, the Universe, and Everything 
48. Joan Hocky grace and dirt 
49. Lisa Hubbell Landguppy Productions 
50. Leah Ingram Suddenly Frugal 
51. Kelly James-Enger Dollars and Deadlines 
52. Gauri Kekre Mind Brew 
53. Amanda Klenner Natural Living Mamma 
54. Alice Knisley Matthias herbinkitchen.com 
55. Nancy Koerbel Settled Work 
56. Megan Kopp Time. Travel. Trek. 
57. Elizabeth Kricfalusi Tech for Luddites 
58. Jody Kristina Wolfpack Lovin 
59. Nicky LaMarco Freelance Writing 4 Beginners 
60. Marla Lawrence bpnurse 
61. Christina Le Beau Spoonfed: Raising kids to think about the food they eat 
62. Annie Logue The Root of All 
63. Sarah Ludwig Parenting by Trial and Error 
64. Kirsten Madaus Farm Fresh Feasts 
65. Katy Manck BooksYALove 
66. Alana Mautone Ramblin’ with AM 
67. Jen Miller Notes from a Hired Pen 
68. Gwen Moran Biziversity 
69. Billie Noakes The BillieGram 
70. Anne Noble Mac’s Musings 
71. Holly Ocasio Rizzo California Wildwoman 
72. Holden Page Holden Page 
73. Andrea Payan Mrs Payan Reads 
74. Michele Phillips Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans 
75. Jennie Phipps What Freelance Success Says 
76. Jaya Powell Jaya Wrote This 
77. Sreeja Praveen The Alter Ego 
78. Shalini R Tale of Two Tomatoes 
79. Michelle Rafter WordCount: Freelancing in the digital age 
80. Kate Reilly Kathleen M. Reilly 
81. Meredith Resnick Reflections on Narcissism: Surviving the Self-Involved 
82. Meredith Resnick The Writer’s [Inner] Journey 
83. Corinne Rodrigues From 7Eight 
84. Pia savage courting destiny 
85. Joyce Schmalz The Skinny Pear 
86. Damita Shanklin Damita’s Life 
87. Irene B. Smithi Bentmom.com 
88. Randy Southerland Southwrite 
89. Vidya Sury Your Medical Guide 
90. Darci Swisher He Eats What I Make 
91. Jean Thilmany upanddownadoption 
92. Vilissa Thompson The World Through the Eyes of Ms. V 
93. Lori Tripoli Bashful Adventurer 
94. Marcia Layton Turner Association of Ghostwriters 
95. Paul Vachon Vachon’s Curiosity Shop 
96. Paula Vergara Paula Vergara 
97. Marijke Vroomen Durning Marijke: Nurse Turned Writer  (that's me!)
98. Rebecca L. Weber Backstory 
99. Susan Weiner Investment Writing 
100. Melissa Willis Ever Growing Farm 
101. Michele “Wojo” Wojciechowski My Life with Riley 
102. Lindsay Woolman Reasons to Live - 

Have I read anything you've written?

When people find out that I'm a health writer, one of the first questions I'm usually asked is "Do you write for magazines?" or "Have I read anything you've written?" The first question is easy - yes, I have. The second one, I'm never really sure what to answer. It's possible that you may have read something I wrote without knowing it.

Much of what I write isn't bylined. That means it doesn't say "By Marijke Vroomen Durning" under the title or at the end. There are several reasons for this. I may be hired to write content for a site, as I do for Sepsis Alliance. I may write brochures or newsletters for a client that are either online or in print. For one client, I summarize medical studies for physicians and while I did have my byline on those pieces, since I do several a week they were pretty well all you could find if you Googled my name. This isn't so helpful if I'm trying to market myself as a health writer for the general public. I still write them, but now as a "staff writer." And, occasionally I'll do some ghost writing for other clients, which means I write something for which someone else takes credit. That's my least favorite type of writing. I'm completely ok with not having my name on something I've written, but to see someone else's name on my work, that's different.

But back to things I've written that people may have read. I've written for a few magazines, including Costco Connection, Alive, Montreal Home, The Quilter, and Women of Influence. For a few months last year, I wrote for Forbes.com. There, I wrote about several things, including the importance of having a carbon monoxide detector in your home, if e-cigarettes are safe, and if your sexual identity should be part of the demographic information in your medical records.

I've also written for a couple of health news services, where wrote about breaking study news, such as how amputations related to diabetes complications were going down in numbers, and obesity may raise the risk of migraines. I've also written for popular sites that want fast, punchy, friendly pieces, such as homework tips for children with ADHD, and why practicing fire drills at home is essential.

But not everything is about coping with or preventing illnesses. Sometimes I have a bit of fun or I reflect on things, like with this article/essay, Every Patient Has a Story. I've also written some funny pieces for some nursing sites that were a nice break from the heavier health and medical news.

So, have you read something I've written? It's entirely possible but we may never know.

Crafts are good for the brain

I love making things with my hands. Ever since I can remember, I've made things. I've knitted, sewed, done needle point, counted cross stitch, decorated cakes, painted, and more. Almost 25 years ago, I picked up quilting and I've never looked back. Occasionally I'll do another craft for a while, but I always come back to quilting. Over the years, I've made probably close to 200 hundred quilted pieces, from queen-sized quilts to small wall-hangings - mostly hand quilted.

Quilting relaxes me. When I get particularly anxious, it calms me down. When I get depressed, I seem to be even more creative than usual. It keeps my hands busy while I'm watching TV. If I'm in my sewing room, using my machine, I may be thinking about important issues, coming up with story ideas or sometimes, nothing at all other than the process of creating my next piece.

I also get a tremendous amount of pleasure giving my quilted items to people who I feel will enjoy them. Sometimes the recipient knows he or she is getting it, other times, it may arrive in the mail or be given during a visit. As much as they have told me they enjoyed receiving these gifts, I have enjoyed creating the pieces, with each one meant specifically for the person who received it. Maybe I get even more pleasure, come to think of it.

The cushion above was for someone who has that phrase in his email signature. It just struck me one day that I had to make it for him. The phrase pushed me to design it and I had great fun doing so. Other creations, like this birch tree wallhanging, were patterns specifically purchased for someone. In this case, for my best friend, who loves birches.

Other quilts are for special occasions (weddings, babies, etc) and some are just because I want to make them.

I've learned over the years that crafts are good for you in so many ways (other than the bank account, perhaps). For some people, having a dedicated craft adds to their social life. They get out and meet others who have similar interests. They talk about their crafts and their creations, sharing ideas, and learning new skills. The ideas you get when you think about your craft keep stimulating your mind. I know I get so many ideas just from looking around and seeing the different shapes and colors in my surroundings, from carpets to stained glass windows to gardens and bus stops.

I read an article the other day about knitting and how it was good for the brain (Why Crafting Is Great For Your Brain: A Neuroscientist Explains) so now I know this idea wasn't my imagination. I've also read articles where people who have PTSD often do better with a repetitive craft because of the repeating motion and the attention that you have to put into it to prevent errors. Although in quilting, errors can be referred to as design elements - in my world at least.

Here are a few other photos of some of my quilts. If you want to see more, you can visit my Pinterest page, where I've put a gallery of some quilts that I remembered to photograph before giving them away.

World Cup games - highlighting the dangers of concussions?

Is the "beautiful game" causing too many concussions among its athletes, particularly the younger ones? If you're watching the World Cup, you would see how it's possible. Between heading the ball (hitting the ball with your head while it's in the air) and the players smacking heads against each other as they vie to head the ball, sometimes it's a wonder that more injuries don't happen. Head injuries can also occur if a player's head hits the ground or, less frequently, the goal post.

Obviously, head injuries are a concern. While heading the ball can be done safely if the players use the proper technique, not all who play are taught this. The CBC network ran a news piece about soccer concussions yesterday: Concussions in soccer: Neurologists raise red flag over heading hazards. The researchers say that a one-time header isn't likely to cause an obvious concussion, but there are worries about the frequency of the hits to the head.

Now, today, Canadian concussion experts have launched guidelines for concussion care in children. These guidelines are essential because of the increased risk that children have in sustaining a concussion over adults.

If your child plays soccer, it's important that you know if the coach is qualified to teach proper heading and if he or she is doing so. If not, your child should not be heading the ball. Incorrect heading can result in consequences not even noticed until several years later.

If you or someone you know has experienced a blow to the head, watch for the following symptoms. If any occur, a doctor's visit is advised:

· Headaches, nausea, or sleepiness that won't go away or get worse
· Changes in behavior, such as irritability or confusion
· Dilated pupils (pupils that are bigger than normal) or pupils of different sizes
· Trouble walking or speaking
· Vomiting
· Seizures
· Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
· Bloody or clear fluids draining from ears or nose