Top stories in health and medicine this morning, January 12, 2012

Medpage is getting an update so I can’t read the whole story, but I find the headline on smoking interesting. I work next to a smoker and it comes in on his clothes in the morning, after lunch, and any breaks we have (random fire alarms, etc). I get immune to it during the day but just have to get close to his winter coat to know that you can’t really hide it. So I’m suprised that docs don’t smell it for even the 1/2 a pack a day smokers, which is what I would guess my coworker is.

Also, had my own 12 yr old boys to family doc recently for an asthma follow up for one and it came up as a joke by the other brother who is quite sarcastic. The doc said to make sure they “aired out” for a LONGGGG time before coming home b/c I’d know about it from the smell on their clothes. I have a super sensitive nose too so they’d be caught in a heartbeat!   He was joking back but at the same time working into the conversation the hazards. He knows we’re a healthy family and pretty open about all topics since the kids were little.

A big stink in our tobacco dependent state recently came about when a major health employer announced it would not even hire anyone who screened positive for tobacco use. That’s a huge step from not allowing smoking on the hospital campus. I suppose it’s their right but I certainly appreciated the letter to the editor that followed and asked how far does it go in employment – employers already do background checks, financial checks, internet checks, drivers license checks, now health checks. At some point they will scan your food intake too? Who will be employable at what standards? Beware – big brother certainly is watching…