The Internet and Health

1. 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

2. The Internet and Health Health On The Internet Henry Hoang

3. The Internet and Health Henry Hoang

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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 EatingHealthy Living • 8 Health NewsHealth Magazine

7. Top Viewed Articles • 1 DiabetesDiabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels • 2 Quitting Smoking • 3 MRSA for methicillin-resistant 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, and/or inattention

8. The Internet and Health Self-Diagnosis Through The Internet Robert Magzanyan

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Self-Diagnosis typical steps • Log on to a health/medical website (in this case www.webmd.com)

12. Click on symptoms…

20. Drugs! • Online Pharmacies • and • Related Internet Activities having to do with drugs

21. How they compare • Online Pharmacy • Community 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. -- 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.

25. 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.

26. Suppose that when you arrive at work one day, there’s a stranger there who says … Pee in the cup, Please.

27. You can be ready!

28. 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 #

29. 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

30. The Internet and Health Enhancement: Is it for Real? Tom Gruber

31. The Internet and Health:Enhancement: Is it for Real?

32. The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? • The ‘Business’ Plan • The Methods • 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?

33. The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? • The ‘Business’ Plan • Their Problem • Violation of CAN-SPAM • 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

34. The Internet and Health: Enhancement: Is it for Real? • The ‘Business’ Plan • Their Solution • They Want Your Email Address • Images • Actually Clicking on Something (Porn Angle) • Buying Something • An Afterthought

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. The Internet and Health:References • Cornell Sexual Medicine Program - Erectile Dysfunction - Vacuum Deviceshttp://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