The Internet and Health Health On The Internet Henry Hoang Self-Diagnosis Through The Internet Robert Magzanyan Drugs and Online Pharmacies Ron Johnson Enhancement: Is It For Real Tom Gruber 1 The Internet and Health Health On The Internet Henry Hoang 2 The Internet and Health Henry Hoang 3 The Internet and Health: There is a wealth of information available on the internet. Health Care is just another topic that is a part of this wealth. A Google search for “health” yields over 1.1 billion results. A Yahoo search yields over 6.9 billion results 4 The Internet and Health: Information available ranges from locating health care facilities to diagnosing and treating illness and disorders. You can even compare and purchase health insurance from the comfort of your own home through the internet. The Internet has made it possible to make vital information widely available and Health Care is definitely vital. 5 Most Searched Terms 1 Fat Embolism A process by which fat tissue passes into the bloodstream and lodges within a blood vessel 2 Impotence is a common problem among men characterized by the consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse 3 Parenting and healthy eating as nutrition experts suggest ways parents can learn how to get kids to go 4 Ringworm refers to fungal infections that are on the surface of the skin. 5 Bed Bugs Bed bugs are small, oval, wingless insects of the family Cimicidae, which have a flat, reddish-brown body and feed on human and animal blood 6 Diet and Weight Loss 7 Eating Healthy Living 8 Health News Health Magazine 6 Top Viewed Articles 1 Diabetes Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels 2 Quitting Smoking 3 MRSA for methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. This organism is known for causing skin infections in addition to many other types of infections 4 High Blood Pressure High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension means high pressure (tension) in the arteries 5 ADHD- refers to a chronic biobehavioral disorder that initially manifests in childhood and is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsivity, 7 and/or inattention The Internet and Health Self-Diagnosis Through The Internet Robert Magzanyan 8 Self-Diagnosis Through The Internet Many medical websites allow the visitor to check off their symptoms in order to identify their possible condition. This isn’t necessarily a replacement for your family doctor. It allows the average person to get an idea of their condition. 9 Self-Diagnosis Some websites even allow you to communicate with real doctors. We even have access to videos on healthcare. You can learn how to diagnose and treat simple illnesses yourself. It can help save a trip to the doctor’s office. The internet can also help with first aid and emergency preparedness. 10 Self-Diagnosis typical steps Log on to a health/medical website (in this case www.webmd.com) 11 Click on symptoms… 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Drugs! Online Pharmacies and Related Internet Activities having to do with drugs 20 How they compare Community Pharmacy Online Pharmacy Dispenses Drugs Brick and Mortar Face to Face Requires Prescription to be presented Pick up your Drugs Dispenses Drugs No “Store” Never see the Pharmacist Don’t always require a Prescription Drugs are mailed to you 21 Why Online? To save money Uninsured and Underinsured Americans Easily a 50 to 80% saving (Canadian) More in South Africa, India, Thailand, others Favored by Consumers and Legislators WSJ/Harris poll (2006) – 80% favorable Federal Budget supports foreign purchase Sales estimated at $75 billion 22 Online Drugs and the Law It is illegal to purchase drugs from overseas pharmacies Violates 2 or 3 federal laws Rarely enforced Importing prescription drugs is allowed From Canada Personal use (90 day supply) Copy of prescription Drug and Firm approved by FDA Final finished dosage FDA can ensure the public safety 23 -- Email Gangs -Buyer Beware!!! The Canadian pharmacy advertised in an email – isn’t – necessarily. FDA has approved lists of valid Canadian pharmacies. Russian gangs run pharmacies through email spam. Will never send drugs or will send reduced strength or even placebos Watch especially for ads for Viagra, Cialis, Vicodin or Oxycontin. 24 HMOs in the Act Many health plans now use the Internet to support Online Pharmacies. Reduced co-pays with online ordering Prescriptions sent through US Mail 90 day prescription refills common Usually 1/3 off from normal co-pay Almost always postage paid – even more money saved. 25 Suppose that when you arrive at work one day, there’s a stranger there who says … Pee in the cup, Please. You can be ready! 27 Try FirstCheck first. Order the kit from the website It arrives by US Mail Pee in the cup Wait 1 hour Check for “Preliminary Positives” Attach an identifying number and mail in In a few days, check professional lab results on website using identifying # 28 Try FirstCheck first. Completely confidential Test for up to 12 controlled substances with each test. A description of each “actual positive” is provided in a complete report Details of the meaning and effect of each positive is included. firstcheck.com 29 The Internet and Health Enhancement: Is it for Real? Tom Gruber 30 The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? 31 The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? Misleading or False Subject Lines Subterfuge in Content Using Porn for Bait No Actual Business Name No BBB Membership Who Would Want to Do Business with Them? 32 The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? – contains false or misleading transmission information; – contains deceptive subject headings; – fails to contain functioning opt-out mechanisms or did not contain any opt-out mechanisms; – fails to identify the e-mail as an advertisement or solicitation – fails to provide the sender’s valid physical postal address. CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/15C103.txt 33 The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? They Want Your Email Address – Images – Actually Clicking on Something (Porn Angle) Buying Something – An Afterthought 34 The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? The Problem 1 Identity Theft If You Buy.. – Name, Address, Payment Information Scams – They Receive Payment – You Do Not Receive the Goods 1. Donald E. deKieffer, Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 19, No. 3, 171-177 (2006 35 The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? The Problem Counterfeit Looks Like the Real thing – Sugar Pill – Poison ‘Generic’ – – – – Licensing Questionable Ingredients and Effectiveness Sugar Pill Poison 36 The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? Your Problem Why Do They Expect You to Click? Locker Room Syndrome – His is Bigger Than Mine – That which is huge today will take much greater effort to erect as one gets older. Honest Problem – A Dysfunction See Your Doctor – Early Warning Signs Risks Wanjek, Christopher , Penis Enlargement Products Come Up Short, Cornell Sexual Medicine Program - Erectile Dysfunction The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? The Solution Turn Off Loading Images Thunderbird: Tools, Options, Advanced, Config Editor, Promise You Will Be Careful. Type in: mailnews.message_display.disable_remote_ image, Right Click, Toggle It From False to True You: Be Prompted Turn On for that Sender Seasider, Disable "load images" on Thunderbird 38 The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? You, Personally There is more to you than your external organs Augustine the Gardener Disable Auto Image Loading Don’t Play Into Their Hands (Better Yours and Hers/ His / Whoever's) – Than Theirs Sade, Philosophy in the Bedroom 39 The Internet and Health: References JD deKieffer, Donald E., THE INTERNET AND THE GLOBALIZATION OF COUNTERFEIT DRUGS, Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 19, No. 3, 171-177 (2006) http://jpp.sagepub.com/cgi/content/short/19/3/171 K Promodu, K V Shanmughadas, S Bhat and K R Nair, Penile length and circumference: an Indian study, International Journal of Impotence Research 19, 558-563 (November/December 2007) http://www.nature.com/ijir/journal/v19/n6/full/3901569a.html Seasider, Disable "load images" on Thunderbird?, 2 Years Ago, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081024130646AA6oVAs Wanjek, Christopher , Penis Enlargement Products Come Up Short, 20FEB2007, Live Science http://www.livescience.com/health/070220_bad_mad_column.html Z Awwad1, M Abu-Hijleh2, S Basri2, N Shegam3, M Murshidi1 and K Ajlouni3 , Penile measurements in normal adult Jordanians and in patients with erectile dysfunction , International Journal of Impotence Research (2005) 17, 191–195 http://www.nature.com/ijir/journal/v17/n2/full/3901272a.html 40 The Internet and Health: References Cornell Sexual Medicine Program - Erectile Dysfunction - Vacuum Devices http://www.cornellurology.com/sexualmedicine/ed/vacuum.shtml WebMD, Male Enhancement: Is It Worth a Try? http://men.webmd.com/features/male-enhancement-is-it-worth-try 41