Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Speed bumps used to diagnose appendicitis?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/speed-bumps-used-to-diagnose-appendicitis/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/speed-bumps-used-to-diagnose-appendicitis/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/27/speed-bumps-used-to-diagnose-appendicitis/#commentsFiled under: ,



This... doesn't seem right, but just bear with this report from Wired. It seems as though driving over speed bumps can reveal those who are enduring acute appendicitis. This was a rumored thing among medical circles based purely on anecdotal data, but now there is an empirical study by the University of Oxford and Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the UK to back it up.

Apparently, when attempting to diagnose appendicitis, some doctors would ask if pain worsened when driving over speed bumps. It was not exact medicine, but according to Dr. Helen Ashdown of Oxford, it has been "as good as many other ways of assessing people with suspected appendicitis."

The Oxford study showed that the speed bump test was more helpful at ruling out appendicitis than confirming its diagnosis since other abdominal issues could also cause pain in those situations. So patients with acute appendicitis would experience pain going over a speed bump, but those who don't feel a jolt can be ruled out entirely as having acute appendicitis. That said, don't go driving over speed bumps expecting to perform your own diagnosis. Your results may vary!

Speed bumps used to diagnose appendicitis? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apendicitisautopiadoctorhealthuniversity of oxfordwiredwired.comThu, 27 Dec 2012 17:14:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20409574/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/27/speed-bumps-used-to-diagnose-appendicitis/20409574/article-detail.xml 20409574 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/343538029749722db05fo-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/343538029749722db05fo-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Obese drivers more likely to die in car crashes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/obese-drivers-more-likely-to-die-in-car-crashes/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/obese-drivers-more-likely-to-die-in-car-crashes/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/04/obese-drivers-more-likely-to-die-in-car-crashes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

McDonald's drive-thru

Moderately obese people, who have a body mass index greater than 30, typically shave three years off of their lives, just by being overweight. (Morbidly obese people lose 10 years, according to one study.) And then there's that long list of potential health problems obese people face in America ranging from asthma and diabetes to heart disease and cancer - as well as scorn and ridicule from skinny judgmental people. So it only makes sense that obese people are statistically less likely to survive a severe automobile accident.

A study of fatal accidents by the University of Buffalo suggests that the bigger you are, the more likely you'll die from injuries sustained in an accident.

In a severe accident, moderately obese people face a 21 percent greater risk of death and morbidly obese people are 56 percent more likely to die than those of lesser weight.

"The severity and patterns of crash injuries depend on a complex interaction of biomechanical factors, including deceleration velocity at impact, seat belt and air bag use, vehicle type and weight, and type of impact," says Dr. Dietrick Jehle, professor of emergency medicine at University of Buffalo School of Medicine.

With nearly one-third of the American population now considered obese, Jehle suggests carmakers begin testing safety equipment with big boned dummies and devise other means to help obese people better survive accidents.

"The rate of obesity is continuing to rise, so it is imperative that car designs are modified to protect the obese population, and that crash tests are done using a full range of dummy sizes," Jehle states.

Dieting and exercise were never mentioned.

Obese drivers more likely to die in car crashes originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 May 2012 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidenthealthobeseobese safetyoverweightsafetyFri, 04 May 2012 19:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20230800/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/04/obese-drivers-more-likely-to-die-in-car-crashes/20230800/article-detail.xml 20230800 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/obese-accidents-safety_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/obese-accidents-safety.jpg <![CDATA[Working for Toyota makes you healthier?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/15/working-for-toyota-makes-you-healthier/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/15/working-for-toyota-makes-you-healthier/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/15/working-for-toyota-makes-you-healthier/#commentsFiled under: ,

Happy Toyota

Toyota has just released its annual sustainability report - a tome that delves into everything from the company's air-conditioning habits and the environmental impact of its individual models to the health of its employees. Needless to say, there are plenty of revelations stacked into the report, but one of the most surprising is that Toyota employees are now less likely to smoke and be obese than they were four years ago. According to Automotive News, only 36 percent of the company's workers are likely to smoke occasionally compared to 42 percent in 2006. Likewise, the number of overweight employees fell from 28.5 percent to 24.7 percent this year.

In addition, the company revealed that its using recycled snow to cool its Hakkaido facility during the summer, helping to drop the factory's ambient temperature by 14 degrees. Apparently the workers aren't sweating out that weight...

Toyota also revealed that while the Prius produces fewer emissions once it's on the road, the manufacturing process for the hybrid yields greater than average nonmethane hydrocarbons and particulate matter compared to the rest of the company's fleet. Head over to AN for a full recap of the report.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd | Image: David McNew/Getty]

Working for Toyota makes you healthier? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>healthhealthy workhealthy workershealthy workplacePriusToyotatoyota healthtoyota sustainability reportFri, 15 Oct 2010 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19676014/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/10/15/working-for-toyota-makes-you-healthier/19676014/article-detail.xml 19676014 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/gyi0059416391opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/gyi0059416391opt.jpg <![CDATA[UAW reportedly agrees to 17.5% stake in GM]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/27/report-uaw-agrees-to-17-5-stake-in-gm/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/27/report-uaw-agrees-to-17-5-stake-in-gm/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/27/report-uaw-agrees-to-17-5-stake-in-gm/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Facing a looming June 1 deadline to reach agreements with the bondholders and union, General Motors may have failed to come to terms with the former, but it has reportedly arrived at a tentative concessions agreement with latter. The deal puts the United Auto Workers' trust fund in charge of future health care costs in exchange for a 17.5% stake in the reorganized General Motors. The U.S. Treasury is still expected to take the controlling stake in the reorganized company.

In addition, the agreement calls for GM to put $10 billion in assets in the UAW's Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) and to issue the union a $2.5 billion note to be payed in three installations in 2013, 2015, and 2017. With less than one week to go before a likely Chapter 11 bankruptcy, GM remains in survival mode.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

UAW reportedly agrees to 17.5% stake in GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 May 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AgreementbankruptcyGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorshealthhealthcareU.S. TreasuryU.s.TreasuryUAWUnionWed, 27 May 2009 09:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19048477/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/05/27/report-uaw-agrees-to-17-5-stake-in-gm/19048477/article-detail.xml 19048477 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/uaw_logo_250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/uaw_logo_250.jpg <![CDATA[Could gravel roads cause lung cancer? North Dakota scientists think it might...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/could-gravel-roads-cause-lung-cancer-north-dakota-scientists-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/could-gravel-roads-cause-lung-cancer-north-dakota-scientists-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/15/could-gravel-roads-cause-lung-cancer-north-dakota-scientists-th/#commentsFiled under: , ,

According to the Associated Press, certain gravel roads in western North Dakota use erionite, a mineral that is mined in the Killdeer mountains. Erionite forms wool-like fribrous masses among rock formations and has properties similar to asbestos. Scientists suspect that, like asbestos, erionite collects in the lungs in those fibrous masses, a factor that could lead to lung cancer in people who have long-term exposure to it.

North Dakota health officials are looking for 50 volunteers to submit to chest X-rays and CT scans in order to find out if there is a cancer risk, but so far they can't secure enough volunteers. The AP report quotes one resident as saying: "Maybe we'd rather not know we have cancer." A state representative, on the other hand, said she grew up playing in a gravel pit and thinks the risk is being overstated. Volunteers who do sign up will be paid $100 for their time.

[Source: The Associated Press via WSBTV | Photo: Pastor Rick]

Could gravel roads cause lung cancer? North Dakota scientists think it might... originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancerenvironmental protection agencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyepaerionitegovernmentgravelhealthnorth dakotaNorthDakotasafetyWed, 15 Apr 2009 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1516916/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/15/could-gravel-roads-cause-lung-cancer-north-dakota-scientists-th/1516916/article-detail.xml 1516916 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/nd_gravel_cancer_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/nd_gravel_cancer.jpg <![CDATA[UAW to take on automaker healthcare burden?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/31/uaw-to-take-on-automaker-healthcare-burden/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/31/uaw-to-take-on-automaker-healthcare-burden/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/31/uaw-to-take-on-automaker-healthcare-burden/#commentsFiled under:

As many of you know (and have commented prolifically on), the Big 3 carry an enormous burden that import competitors like Honda and Toyota don't: unionized retiree health care costs. GM, for example, had $81 billion in salaried and hourly retiree health care obligations at the end of 2005. Chrysler is on the hook for $19 billion. That's no small amount when you're trying to turn a company around -- or in this case, three companies. In fact, the term used for it is indicative of just how health care is regarded: "liability."

The UAW will be negotiating a new labor contract agreement this summer, and one of the far-reaching ideas being considered is for the UAW to take over responsibility for health care liabilities. The Big Three would pay a huge lump sum (many billions), but afterward their obligation would be capped at some agreed-upon and competitive number. Tony Faria, an industry expert, said "The unions fully realize these companies are in trouble. The auto companies would provide some major amount of funding. From there on, they'd be paying at a known rate, rather than an ever escalating rate."

The setup is called a "voluntary employee beneficiary association," and there are models for it. Goodyear set one up last year in an agreement with the United Steelworkers, and GM already uses VEBAs for some of its retiree costs. It isn't a done deal, but it is something being considered. The UAW understands how serious the situation is, and could be prepared to do the previously unthinkable in order to gain other guarantees and create a better competitive climate for the domestic makers.

[Source: Christian Science Monitor]

UAW to take on automaker healthcare burden? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 May 2007 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carehealthliabilitiespensionretireeuawThu, 31 May 2007 17:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/906707/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/05/31/uaw-to-take-on-automaker-healthcare-burden/906707/article-detail.xml 906707 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/uaw_healthcare_costs_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/05/uaw_healthcare_costs.jpg -1 2