Part 7 Health and Technology

Objectives Identify ways to take antibiotics correctly to prevent antibiotic resistance. 2. Discriminate between benefits and harmful effects of biotech innovations. 3. Illustrate why AIDS is a disease that the world cannot afford. 4. Address the value of telemedicine in rural areas.

Antibiotic Resistance Doctors must be cautious when prescribing antibiotics so that their patients will not develop antibiotic resistance (microbial resistance). According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) microbial resistance can be caused by patients who do not finish the entire prescription – the bacterial strain becomes stronger and more resistant to antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance makes it difficult to administer cures for diseases.

Making Well People Better Cephalon Inc. has developed a drug called Provigil for the treatment of narcolepsy (sleep attacks). It is attracting attention as a alertness aid for healthy people. Northwestern University has patented the circadian rhythm gene. It could be used for sleep related problems, jet lag, alertness, stress response, and enhance mood. A beta blocker meant for treatment of congestive cardiac failure is capable of blocking anxiety – used by 27% of musicians to prevent stage fright.

Making People Better Nootropics used to alleviate dementia in Alzheimer’s disease victims was a $94.5 million industry in We need to strengthen socially oriented public research and public health initiatives to help the 820 million malnourished poor to have their basic needs and human rights met.

Global Response to HIV and AIDS About 75 % of HIV transmission worldwide is through unprotected sex. The rest occurs through sharing of unsterilized needles, through childbirth from an infected mother to child, and from the use of infected blood in transfusions. AIDS now rivals tuberculosis as the world’s most deadly infectious disease. Since AIDS was first recognized in 1981, more than 47 million people have become infected and nearly 14 million have died.

Global Response to HIV and AIDS AIDS has taken the heaviest toll in Africa which has 10% of the world’s population but 68% of the HIV/AIDS cases. In 1996, about 63% of the $18.4 billion went to care, 23% went for research, and only 14% on prevention. Ultimately, successful containment and eventual eradication of HIV will require a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine. In the United States the cost of care and treatment is about $20,000.

Health System of Tomorrow In a special telemedicine booth a hundred miles away, a dermatologist sits in front of a video console and interviews the patient while directing a prison nurse where to point the tiny dermatology camera. He diagnoses the condition and prescribes a course of treatment. The prisoner’s condition is treated. Telemedicine links health care practitioners in hospitals and clinics to rural communities and prisons to reduce ambulance and salary costs.

Conclusion In 2003 the American life expectancy was 77.6 years (CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention), and is increasing every year. There are many reasons for this increase: 1. Awareness of responsibility in making healthy choices. 2. Public health interventions. 3. Medical treatment options. 4. New life saving technologies. 5. Decline in some diseases.

Home Work 1. Why must doctors be cautious when prescribing antibiotics? 2. Why do musicians like to use beta blockers? 3. What is the most common form of HIV transmission? 4. What is the advantage of telemedicine? 5. List 5 reasons life expectancy has increased?