MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'chronic'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:55:21 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182094&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhow-dry-i-am-day-to-day-life-with-sjogrens-syndrome%2F Many of us who live with autoimmune diseases wonder how many different ones we can have. Sometimes they seem to be piling up on us in a world in which one usually has one disease, we can have several. There are times they “bleed” into each other like sand art when the tide rises and life can become very confusing. There is something about we mere mortals that drives us on to find a name for our suffering. Usually, we know something is wrong long before we get a label from a doctor. It often involves seeing many physicians and hearing their guesses as to what we have wrong with us. Each of them cannot know everything but the good ones do know what to do about it when they don’t know; they send you to a specialist. We keep the appointments because, secretly, we need to know our sym... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182094 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:42:14 +0100 5182094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181736&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fberwick-to-keynote-health-affairs-briefing%2F Don Berwick, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will keynote Health Affairs’ September 8 briefing on controlling health care costs. At the briefing, Health Affairs will release its September 2011 issue, “The New Urgency To Lower Costs.” Topics to be discussed include chronic disease costs and opportunities for savings through prevention; who bears [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181736 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:09:50 +0100 5181736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181738&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F08%2F30%2Fwhere-to-for-hospice%2F A column by New York Times columnist David Brooks titled “Death and Budgets,” read in combination with a recent report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“Medicare Hospices that Focus on Nursing Facility Residents”), makes painfully clear how urgently America must rethink the way [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181738 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:02:55 +0100 5181738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182066&cid=t_114318_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FcHHww-Xin4g%2F (Editor’s note: Pathways responsible for higher-order thinking in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), or executive center of the brain, remain vulnerable throughout life—during critical early-life developmental windows, when the PFC fully matures in the early 20s, and finally from declines associated with old age. At all ages, physical activity and PFC-navigated social connections are essential components to maintaining brain health. The Experience Corps, a community-based social-engagement program, partners seniors with local schools to promote purpose-driven involvement. Participating seniors have exhibited immediate short-term gains in brain regions vulnerable to aging, such as the PFC, indicating that people with the most to lose have the most to gain from environmental enrichment.) Over ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182066 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:18:19 +0100 5182066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169561&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fthe-challenge-of-obesity.html For those interested in epidemiology, chronic disease, and obesity. This week's edition of the Lancet has a series of four articles and several commentaries that review the economics, epidemiology, social, and policymaking issues affecting obesity that are well worth reading in full. The take away message is that this is an extremely complicated area. There is an emphasis by the authors and commentators that correction of obesity will take government action. Government action in this area tends to resolve around police actions, and taxation. Taxation policies have worked to a significant extent in reducing tobacco consumption in Europe. However, smoking is not a survival necessity whereas eating is. We have to be very careful about the use of police power for public health policy with the ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169561 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:05:04 +0100 5169561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159490&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fwelcome-to-the-human-condition%2F Sometimes life comes at us with such force, surprise and ruthlessness, it stuns us. I don’t have any more answers than you do but I do have it whacking me in the face or elsewhere, every day of my life. I know if you’re reading this, you do, also. This week has been a good example of that as so much is going on in our little world as well as the impending danger for millions of Americans facing a hurricane in the east. Let me use yesterday as an example. Jim, my dear man, who had just returned from a trip to California on family business had missed his flight because the hotel did not give him the wake-up call he had requested. While he was in CA he went to visit an old friend many miles from where he was staying to discover that old friend’s wife had been found dead tha... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159490 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:04:24 +0100 5159490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159078&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fpreserving-the-bodys-bugs.html An interview today in TheScientist magazine, with Martin Blaser of New York University school of medicine, discusses the hypothesis that the overuse of antibiotics is affecting the normal flora of the gut, which in turn may be may be affecting the likelihood of development chronic diseases. While the theory is not new, the research discussed is and should be watched with interest by everyone in the public health field. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159078 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:39:59 +0100 5159078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159079&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fpainless-intervention-for-tooth-cavities.html I am sure there are others who, like me were traumatized as children from painful dental care, although this occurs far less today. From ScienceDaily today is news from the University of Leeds in the UK. Their pioneering treatment promises to transform the approach to filling teeth forever. It is a totally natural non-surgical repair process. The 'magic' fluid was designed by researchers in the University of Leeds' School of Chemistry, and it contains a peptide known as P 11-4 that -- under certain conditions -- will assemble together into fibers. When applied to the tooth, the fluid seeps into the micro-pores caused by acid attack and then spontaneously forms a gel. This gel then provides a 'scaffold' or framework that attracts calcium and regenerates the tooth's mineral from within, prov... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159079 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:25:46 +0100 5159079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158852&cid=t_114318_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fmanaging-copd-as-a-long-term-condition-emerging-learning-from-the-national-improvement-projects%2F Scan or click to download 'Managing COPD as a Long Term Condition: Emerging Learning from the National Improvement Projects' Title: Managing COPD as a Long Term Condition: Emerging Learning from the National Improvement Projects The Skinny: Report from NHS Improvement offering top tips for COPD management projects and service improvement. Just giving patients a plan and telling them what they should do probably won’t change behaviour: Effort, time and skills are needed to build rapport and focus on the person’s own goals and motivation so that they want to do the right thing Different approaches work for different people The more time you invest up front with people, the less frequently you will probably see them – this and how to optimise resources are being tested To Impr... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158852 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:09:42 +0100 5158852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159895&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fself-management-a-very-vexing-definition%2F Self management is one of those terms that is used to describe the aim of cognitive behavioural programmes for chronic pain. It’s even in my description of this blog! At the same time, it’s difficult to arrive at a definition of self management that “everyone” agrees upon. Self management can mean helping people to be “actively involved in their health care and to provide a variety of creative and individualized strategies to deal with their health problem in their daily life and ultimately to live as normally as possible despite their symptoms” (Zuffery & Schulz, 2009) – but the Devil is in the details! What exactly does being “actively involved” mean?  Can it mean accessing treatments like massage, injections, acupuncture &#8220... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159895 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:21:38 +0100 5159895 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159082&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fhealthy-behaviors-will-help-you-live-longer.html Researchers looked at long-term data from Americans aged 17 and older and found that those who embraced four healthy behaviors -- not smoking, eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity and avoiding excessive alcohol use -- were 63 percent less likely to die early from any cause than those with none of those healthy habits. Comment: one more piece of confirmatory data that are health relies more behaviors. The problem is that despite many repeated similar studies of population behaviors do not change. Instead of wasting money repeat the same old research. Why not develop methods to change population? If this is much not possible, which I suspect, perhaps we should stop funding ineffectual research. [http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p0818_living_longer.htm ] (Source: Dr.... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159082 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:26:38 +0100 5159082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159084&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fdogs-can-detect-lung-cancer.html The study, carried out by researchers from Schillerhoehe Hospital in Germany, is the first to find that sniffer dogs can reliably detect lung cancer. This method relies on identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are linked to the presence of cancer. The dogs successfully identified 71 samples with lung cancer out of a possible 100. They also correctly detected 372 samples that did not have lung cancer out of a possible 400. [European Respiratory Journal, 2011; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00051711] Comment: Dogs really man’s best friend. Compared to other screening methods the sensitivity and specificity are better.           (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159084 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:22:51 +0100 5159084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140055&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-public-you-versus-the-private-you-in-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F Early on in a life of chronic pain we learn to guard ourselves against being hurt by callous comments from others. We say, “I’m fine, thanks.” What we’re really thinking is, “If only you knew, even as I stand here my knees are buckling, my rear is throbbing and I’m trying to concentrate on what you’re saying. I don’t think you could handle the truth and I don’t want to see that cold dead look come into your eyes if I dump the truth on you.” We ask the checker at the supermarket to keep our cloth bags light; which we bring with us because we’re “green” citizens and because the plastic bags will leave our fingers numb for the rest of the day. We continue to watch as the checker puts a five-pound bag of sugar and a five-pound bag of flour topped off by a half gallon ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140055 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:15:36 +0100 5140055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139734&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchronic-health-needs-must-be-addressed-after-a-natural-disaster%2F2011.08.18 Sichuan earthquake rescue workers carrying an injured person. In light of the widespread media coverage of natural disasters, such as the earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami in Japan, the public and medical professionals are aware of the anticipated immediate medical needs in these kinds of emergencies. However, it is less well known that after the initial management of life- and limb-threatening injuries, there may be an enormous need to provide care to persons with chronic illnesses. This is because they are displaced from their homes, become exposed to adverse environmental and socioeconomic hardships, lose access to healthcare, are deprived of their sources of medications, and so forth. Some of my colleagues were allowed to enter Japan after the tsunami, and their observations agree wi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139734 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5139734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140334&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F18%2Feducation-or-a-cognitive-behavioural-approach%2F In this study by Day, Thorn & Kapoor, the two approaches were used with a group of people from a rural area, with relatively low socio-economic status, and a reading grade level of about 8.  Both groups received a group-based programme of 10 sessions of 90 minutes.  They both received a workbook and additional reading material.  The CBT group had home-learning and also participated in behavioural activities such as relaxation in-session, while the education group did not. Interestingly, this study presents qualitative information on how participants experienced the sessions, rather than outcomes measures, so it’s difficult to establish whether pain, disability, mood or acceptance were influenced.  Instead it presents thematic analysis from in-depth interviews of the participa... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140334 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:35:42 +0100 5140334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139737&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrlindagalloway.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F803342_pills_1.jpg A nurse recently asked a very important question that bears repeating: What effect does long-term use of pain pills have on pregnant women? She was concerned because of the increase in number of pregnant women who are taking pain pills on a long term basis based on previous surgeries, accidents or a history of chronic pain. The most common “pain pills” prescribed are opiates which effectively eliminate or reduce pain but have a great tendency to be abused. Opioids are natural and synthetic type drugs that have the characteristics of morphine. It can only be obtained with a prescription and unfortunately physicians contribute to the problem of dependency and abuse through their lack of scrutiny regarding patient requests. My present home state of Florida has the unsavory distinction of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139737 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:00:46 +0100 5139737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139747&cid=t_114318_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2Fa1y67ymUsQ4%2F A review of the literature on the assessment and management of the patient suffering from cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139747 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:35 +0100 5139747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139725&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FAyWAH4hu6eo%2F The following is a guest post by Janice Lynch Schuster who  works at the Altarum Institute, a new voice in the field of aging and end of life issues. This post orginally ran on July 14th on Health AGEnda. By Janice Lynch Schuster. When I was a little girl, country singer Glen Campbell had a variety show on television called “The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour.” As I remember it, it was a good time; in my young imagination, I often confused him with my father, who I thought was just as handsome and talented and fun as Glen. I loved his songs and wanted to learn to play guitar so I could be more like him. Sadly, Mr. Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’ disease. As most people know, Alzheimer’s is the primary cause of dementia, a gradual loss of brain function that becomes more ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139725 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:17:07 +0100 5139725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139880&cid=t_114318_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F16%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-august-16-2011%2F Our society has an unshakeable desire to be “normal.” Whatever normal means. In fact, I have forsaken my own truth at times, because the idea of being normal, problem-free, low-maintenance, unencumbered by illness or age seemed too attractive not to embrace. But the fact is whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, physical or mental illness, financial issues or weight gain, being free of life and all of its abnormalities is near impossible. Why are we trying to hide ourselves in an effort to be perfect and illness free? I realized this after seeing friends I hadn’t seen in a decade. While at first burdened that my life had veered too far from normal (in both my personal and professional choices), I finally had to laugh at myself. I realized that all this pressure t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139880 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:37:01 +0100 5139880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118924&cid=t_114318_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2Fgene-transfer-therapy-destroys-tumors-in-chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-patients-holds-promise-for-ovarian-cancer%2F Penn researchers have shown sustained remissions of up to a year among a small group of advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients treated with genetically engineered versions of their own T-cells. This genetically-modified “serial killer” T-cell approach could provide a tumor-attack roadmap for the treatment of lung and ovarian cancer, myeloma and melanoma as well. [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118924 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:11:37 +0100 5118924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118830&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-view-from-both-sides-of-the-sheets%2F As an RN of 35 years, I have always been fascinated by the way people embrace or reject their physical frailties. There is so much diversity in the way each of us responds to pain, disease, life and death. I’ve seen large men fall to the ground in a faint while getting an injection and held down screaming children while they received treatment or a simple exam. I wonder when we learn to be submissive and decide “it’s for your own good?” The truth is sometimes it is good care, sometimes it isn’t. A good, principled nurse or doctor knows the difference. Just ask one of us who we would let treat us or a member of our family. At the same time we are either participants in our care or we shift into neutral and expect someone else to make our decisions for us. Those of us who have stru... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118830 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:38:21 +0100 5118830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5119027&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F12%2Fnot-just-neural-plasticity-health-system-plasticity%2F In chronic pain management there seems to be a pretty consistent pathway for people to finally get to interdisciplinary treatment.  First a referral from the primary care physician or GP to one or more specialist medical people – maybe an orthopaedic surgeon, or a rheumatologist, or a psychiatrist, or a neurologist.  This person will carry out investigations, get the results, make a determination that the problem is “not theirs” – and suggest some kind of management, or a referral to another kind of orthopaedic surgeon, or a rheumatologist, or a psychiatrist, or a neurologist… who will repeat the same. Finally, after many investigations and referrals and consultations, around 3 years later, the person makes it to a chronic pain management centre.  (btw I am... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5119027 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:17:04 +0100 5119027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118642&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpediatric-physician-joins-collaborative-network-and-sees-improvement-in-his-work%2F2011.08.11 I never thought I’d change the way I practice medicine.  But I recently enrolled as a provider in the Improved Care Now (ICN) collaborative network and I’m already working differently. ICN is an alliance of gastroenterologists and patients working in a new model of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease care based on the analysis of thousands of doctor–patient visits as well as the latest studies and treatments.  Doctors and patients apply this information, experiences are tracked in an open registry, the results are then shared and refined to improve care.  I can see what I’m doing well and where I’m falling short relative to other clinics and pediatric gastroenterologists. ICN is under the direction of Dr. Richard Colletti of the University of Vermont.  ICN is supported by t... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118642 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:00:26 +0100 5118642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118591&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F08%2F10%2Fhealth-affairs-briefing-confronting-costs%2F On September 8, Health Affairs will release its September 2011 issue, “Confronting Costs.” The issue explores the third element of the famed Three-Part Aim for health care: namely, the objective of lowering costs. Topics to be discussed include chronic disease costs and opportunities for savings through prevention; who bears the burden of health costs; the [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118591 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:36:17 +0100 5118591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118649&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fantibiotic-resistant-glue-ear-and-a-potential-new-treatment%2F2011.08.10 Glue ear is the layman’s term for thick mucoid effusion of the middle ear, usually due to chronic ear infections. The fluid itself is like maple syrup and usually treated with ear tube placement followed by suctioning as much of the fluid out as possible. However, given there is always some residual present, antibiotic ear drops with steroids is often prescribed. Unfortunately, these patients are at higher risk of requiring repeated sets of tubes after the body spits them out. Why? (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Fauquier ENT Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118649 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100 5118649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5119028&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F10%2Flow-mood-and-catastrophising-one-is-bad-two-is-worse%2F This study shows that irrespective of the measures used to identify catastrophising and low mood in people with chronic pain, there is an increased risk of disability in people who have both problems, and more importantly, this is now shown in three different countries.  While the total number of participants isn’t enormous (in the 100′s rather than 1000′s), it is still a significant finding.  It also shows that having catastrophising is potentially a more problematic issue than simply having low mood. What should we learn from this? I think it’s critical that treatment providers working with those who have subacute musculoskeletal problems routinely assess (or at least screen for) the presence of catastrophising.  While low mood is troublesome, it seems to have ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5119028 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:16:48 +0100 5119028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118747&cid=t_114318_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2F-wzekic95sE%2F Patient Doctor Relationship It seems like this topic keeps coming up in my online and social media reading. Basically, the discussion usually centers around the role the patient plays in healthcare. Many people like to discuss what has been called the ePatient. I instead want to talk about the motivations of patients and their ability to influence the healthcare system. Patients in healthcare are unlike “customers” in many other industries. I can’t think of a single patient that wants to go and see a doctor. Ok, maybe they like the doctor and they want to get whatever’s ailing them fixed, but to a person I’m sure we’d say that going to the doctor is the last place we want to be. It’s not like going shopping for a new pair of shoes. There’s no... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118747 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:12:45 +0100 5118747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107508&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FrhiqkVxpRhI%2F Women for a Healthy Future Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), commonly known as chronic diseases, cause two out of three deaths worldwide, and are the leading cause of death for women around the world. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tackle NCDs, considered to be one of the 21st century’s greatest health and development challenges. In September, world leaders will gather at the United Nations (UN) for a historic summit on NCDs. The decisions they make will impact the lives of millions. NCDs threaten women’s lives and our children’s future. Yet, we know that 80% of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and 40% of cancers can be prevented by avoiding tobacco, increasing physical activity and eating healthy foods. It’s going to take strong commitments from th... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107508 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:28:40 +0100 5107508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096786&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fgardening-in-the-dark%2F Oh yes, it’s true. I do garden in the dark. It does sound a bit dangerous, I’ll grant you that, but it’s not exactly brain surgery or nuclear fission. The only victims might be a live yellow daisy, “dead headed” in error. I do take pity on these victims and bring them indoors and stick them in a small vase, poor things. I do have the guidance of a porch light and a couple of solar powered “rock” lights. Twilight is actually the best time because I can still enjoy the view, there is usually a cool breeze whipping up from the Columbia River and there are no dangerous UVA/UVB rays to worry about. This strange behavior became necessary, for me, many years ago when I first began to have pain in my sitter, fatigue and skin rashes on any area where the sun struck me. I was completel... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096786 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:03:03 +0100 5096786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096252&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fwasted-research-funds.html According to a story on research in ScienceDaily today, “With Regular Exercise, People with Inactive Lifestyles More at Risk for Chronic Diseases”. I first read about research on this topic when the Alameda study on behavior among men was published in the 1960s. Similar research has been repeated hundreds of times in the intervening years yet the behaviors with which we are all familiar continue. It is high time that those who fund research stop funding issues that have been confirmed and either direct their funds for transitional research that shows that change in behavioral outcome is possible and effective. There have been many behavioral research studies that have shown the ability to change behavior for a few weeks, none that show long-term changes. It is high time to star... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096252 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:16:56 +0100 5096252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097140&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F02%2Fmore-managing-migraines-without-medication%2F Anyone familiar with migraine will know the first signs of an impending attack. What might be a little less familiar is the precursor to the “first signs”, and what may also be unfamiliar is the thoughts that accompany those first symptoms. Today I want to talk about ways to manage this phase of a migraine – without medication. As an aside, some people have suggested that there are ways to completely get rid of migraine, often suggesting that one of the problems could be around the numerous nerves that innervate the face, neck and scalp. One of the common suggestions is to have chiropractic or osteopathic treatment to “do something” to the nerves in this area. I put the “do something” in quotation marks because I really don’t know what the so... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097140 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:30:04 +0100 5097140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077719&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fhow-should-we-define-health.html The British Medical Journal today contains an interesting analysis of the term "Health". Some 14 commentators are concerned that the WHO definition is restrictive and absolute. The authors are also concerned that the current definition leads to medicalization of society and particularly in the US to an inappropriate increase in treatments that produce little benefit a t great cost. This interesting discussion suggests that “health” be a social contract that accepts the current aging society and increases in chronic diseases in functional rather than biologically. This discussion is well worth reading. (BMJ 2011; 343:d4163). (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077719 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:04:12 +0100 5077719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077886&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fmy-eyes-tell-me-yes-yes-but%2F There’s “No, No” in my heart and because I’m a slow learner, my body is always telling me I did too much. I don’t believe a day passes without life pitching something in my face which I know my body cannot handle. There is always dirt, dust, laundry, empty shelves and hunger. I’ve learned after many years some parts of my life are gone forever. Others, I have reclaimed in some form or shape but it is all different, changed. I am different because of the many changes in my physical shell which I drag around, also known as my body. I have to always remind myself it’s not the real me. I am my spirit, my love received and given, my laughter and my joy, often in truly bizarre circumstances. Some of us are blessed to be born “smart asses.” Awe, come on, and admit it. Some days ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077886 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:31:56 +0100 5077886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077678&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F5hHFowu-r40%2F On June 9, 2011, sanofi-aventis U.S. announced the “sanofi-aventis U.S. Innovation Challenge: Data, Design, Diabetes” at the National Institute of Health’s Health Data Initiative Forum. The challenge, which launched on July 1, integrates open data with a human-centered view into diabetes, and will award $220,000 in total prize money. The challenge is designed for fast learning, so that innovators can create the needed service solutions for people living with diabetes. It brings together the richness of open data sets made available on healthdata.gov, the values of human-centered design, and the leading edge methodology of the top innovation accelerators. Until July 31st, innovators can submit their concepts on www.datadesigndiabetes.com.  In early August, an independent panel of exp... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077678 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:30:17 +0100 5077678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069421&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F07%2F27%2Fthe-beacon-communities-at-one-year-the-mississippi-delta-experience%2F The federal government’s Beacon Program provides funding to 17 communities that have already made inroads in the development of secure, private, and accurate systems of electronic health record (EHR) adoption and health information exchange. This is the fifth in a series of Health Affairs Blog posts in which leaders of several Beacon communities discuss their [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069421 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:59:24 +0100 5069421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069475&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-is-the-most-costly-healthcare-expenditure%2F2011.07.27 The National Institute for Healthcare Management Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization focused on healthcare. The foundation just published an excellent report on the distribution of  healthcare costs in the population. The results indicate that reducing healthcare cost is all about reducing and managing chronic diseases. U.S. healthcare spending has sharply increased between 2005 and 2009 by 23 percent from $2 trillion to $2.5 trillion per year. This is a result of a combination of factors. Chief among them is the increasing incidence of obesity. Who spends the money? (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Repairing the Healthcare System* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069475 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00:54 +0100 5069475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069843&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F26%2Fmanaging-migraines-without-medication%2F Ahhh, migraine – psychedelia without the high… nausea without the alcohol… The diagnostic criteria: A) At least 5 attacks fulfilling B-D; B) lasting untreated 4-74 hours; C) two of the following: unilateral, pulsating, moderate or severe pain intensity, worsening with physical activity; D) one of the following: nausea and/or vomiting, photophobia or phonophobia; E) not attributed to another disorder. (International Classification of headache disorders, 2004) (go here for one of the most comprehensive sites on migraine) The main treatment for migraine is to use medication – best evidence to date suggests:  “Only two pharmacological treatments have been shown to be effective in placebo-controlled randomized trials: topiramate and local injection of botulinum to... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069843 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:42:59 +0100 5069843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062519&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F25%2Fusing-the-chronic-pain-acceptance-questionnaire%2F Over the past few months I’ve been using the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ-8) as part of a battery of questionnaires used at intake and outcome measures.  Along with the CPAQ-8, we use the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale, the Pain  Catastrophising Scale, Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire, and Pain Disability Index. The CPAQ-8 consists of two subscales: Pain Willingness and Activity Engagement.  Together they measure “acceptance” or psychological flexibility associated with chronic pain. Let me pull this apart a bit.  Pain Willingness refers to how prepared a person might be to experience an increase in pain so they can get something important done.  For example, I love to dance and I&#82... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062519 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:15:16 +0100 5062519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062267&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fscreening-for-breast-cancer.html This week a number of media outlets have been explaining the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's push for increased screening below the age of 50 and at the same time noting in a critical manner the recommendations of the US Task Force on Preventive Services. This reminds me of the push by urologists for more screening for prostate cancer without concern for potential side effects. Earlier screening for breast cancer has more to do with politics and economics than science. The Task Force's recommendations are based on good epidemiology but unfortunately the way in which the data was presented to of the public did more harm than good and caused a lot of misunderstanding. We should be very careful when any special interest group, but the medical or political make recommendations ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062267 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:46:12 +0100 5062267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062247&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fliving-with-severe-chronic-pain%2F2011.07.24 Living Beyond Pain For people with severe chronic pain like Kelly Young and Teresa Shaffer—both of whom have become patient advocates—coping with agony is a fact of life.  Young suffers from rheumatoid arthritis while Shaffer’s pain is linked primarily to another degenerative bone disease. Chronic pain is one of the most difficult—and common—medical conditions.  Estimated to affect 76 million Americans—more than diabetes, cancer and heart disease combined—it accompanies illnesses and injuries ranging from cancer to various forms of arthritis, multiple sclerosis and physical trauma. Pain is defined as chronic when it persists after an injury or illness has otherwise healed, or when it lasts three months or longer. The experience of pain can vary dramatically, depending in pa... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062247 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:00:04 +0100 5062247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050955&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fcome-sit-in-my-seat-with-me%2F As most of you who read this blog regularly know, I am plagued by sacroiliac joint pain. I have other problems but today, since I am lying here on a painful behind and have been intensely trying to get out of this current flare, it is on my mind. I thought you might be interested in knowing what life is like in my shoes, my seat and my life right now. It’s been almost three months since I flew to California with my daughter to begin the process of cleaning out my mother-in-law’s house. I don’t fly well…at least without my wings. Even on an airplane I am bottom challenged and find them grossly uncomfortable. Three days after flying home I picked up our 31 pound rough-coated Jack Russell, Annie because she couldn’t get into the car to go to the vet’s. The combination of all of t... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050955 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:27:49 +0100 5050955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050579&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fincreasing-government-oversight-of-irbs-could-help-prevent-seeding-trials%2F2011.07.21 I thought I read the final chapter in the tale of Pfizer’s shady marketing practices for Neurontin years ago. Sadly, there’s at least one more chapter to go. Recall that in 2008, leaked documents from a US District Court revealed that Pfizer had covered-up the results of a clinical trial which showed the drug didn’t work for chronic nerve pain, even as it promoted off-label use of the anti-seizure drug for that purpose. The next year, it was revealed that Parke-Davis (now a subsidiary of Pfizer) took advantage of lax disclosure policies by certain medical journals to publish 13 articles promoting off-label use of Neurontin that were ghostwritten and funded by the company without disclosing such arrangements. Now, it has come to light that Parke Davis’ marketing department sponsored... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050579 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:00:20 +0100 5050579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051245&cid=t_114318_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdifferent-types-of-stress-in-recovery%2F People in 12 Step Fellowships need to be aware of the different types of stress that can affect their recovery. What are the different types of stress? Acute stress Acute stress is the most common and most recognizable form of stress, the kind of sudden jolt in which you know exactly why you’re stressed: you were just in a car accident; the school nurse just called; a bear just ambled onto your campsite. Or it can be something scary but thrilling, such as a parachute jump. Along with obvious dangers and threats, common causes of acute stressors include noise, isolation, crowding, and hunger. Normally, your body rests when these types of stressful events cease and your life gets back to normal. Because the effects are short-term, acute stress usually doesn’t cause severe or permanent... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051245 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:51:54 +0100 5051245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050502&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F07%2F20%2Fbringing-diabetes-prevention-to-national-scale%2F The burden imposed on our society by type 2 diabetes mellitus has grown dramatically over the last decade.  Greater numbers of people than ever before are being diagnosed with diabetes at younger ages.  These people and their families must face the spectrum of implications brought on by diabetes, including its many associated medical complications. The [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050502 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:43:24 +0100 5050502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036612&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F18%2Fwhat-matters-patient-determined-outcomes-and-clinicianresearcher-outcomes%2F It’s easy to forget, sometimes, that when we choose an outcome measure, we need to seriously consider who will use the measures in the end.  Of course, I am assuming that we’re all using outcome measures – we are, aren’t we?  If anyone isn’t, shame on you – how on earth will you establish whether what you’re doing is having an effect? And don’t come at me with “oh but I just ask them” because I don’t want to have to list all the response bias, demand characteristics, and lack of consistency problems again. kthx. Anyway, where was I? That’s right, the end-user in outcome measures.  Over the past few years, interest has risen in identifying the range of outcome measures that can be/should be used in research of treatm... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036612 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:30:31 +0100 5036612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028749&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Flife-may-be-weird-but-you-dont-have-to-be%2F Those of us who live with chronic pain each day have many choices to make. I know from first hand or should I say my “First Tushy” experience that we all feel helpless and robbed of choices more times than not, but that isn’t totally true. I realize “First Tushy” doesn’t have quite the elevation of First Lady but there you have it; my life. We are not mere victims. We remain the pilots of our planes as well as the captains of our own ships. I know we often have our doubts. We feel more enslavement than freedom; more the conquered than the victors and finally, hopelessly weird. I think that’s enough metaphors to choke a good sized horse but I’m certain you sense my direction. Today, after five years of chatting with all of you who also suffer, I would like to share three of ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028749 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:24:47 +0100 5028749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029211&cid=t_114318_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F2TajULYXlqU%2F Last month, a widely publicized study raised concerns about the safety of the blockbuster Spiriva inhaler that is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal found that, when administered in the mist form known as Respimat, there was a 52 percent increase in mortality risk compared with a placebo (see here). Not surprisingly, Boehringer Ingelheim, which makes the inhaler, disagreed. And in disputing the findings, the drugmaker made a point of saying the results were not based on new clinical evidence and that the meta-analysis relied on already publicly available data. BI also maintained that “robust evidence” has also been published about the safety of the older, powder version known as HandiHaler (read the statement)... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029211 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:25:23 +0100 5029211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029273&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F12%2Fself-efficacy-and-fear-of-movement-mediate-pain-intensity-and-disability-in-acute-pain%2F Most clinicians working in chronic pain management are well aware that the time it takes for people to finally be referred for management of their pain is far too long and some of the readers of this blog who work with people who have acute pain may wonder whether anything I write about applies to them and the people they treat.  To both groups of readers – today’s post should apply! Arguably the most common reason for people seeing a doctor is because of a musculoskeletal pain.  Treatment is usually quite simple: diagnosis, pain relief, anti-inflammatories and gradual return to function.  It’s this last part of treatment that seems to cause the most trouble for people - what if the pain doesn’t settle, what if I’m damaging my body, how long should I &#8220... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029273 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:29:01 +0100 5029273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008234&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fradicals-and-cancer.html A paper reviewed in TheScientist magazine today states that unstable molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) have long been thought to promote cancer by causing DNA damage and activating oncogenes, but new data suggests they may actually suppress tumor growth, according to a paper published this week in Nature. The finding suggests that antioxidants, which clear ROS from a cell and are used as a treatment for cancer, may be doing more harm than good—causing complications instead of preventing disease. Comment:for years we have been inundated by stories about the danger of free radicals and the wonders of anti-oxidant diets. Now we have a paper suggesting that all these wonders of antioxidants may be a figment of the imagination. Clearly more research is needed befor... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008234 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:32:09 +0100 5008234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008235&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fpatient-care-in-rural-hospitals.html In this week’s JAMA there’s an interesting article looking at the quality of care delivered in rural hospitals when Medicare patients are treated for heart attacks, congestive heart failure and pneumonia. It appears the rural hospitals with emergency access provide worse care than those seen in large cities with tertiary care hospitals. This is not particularly surprising considering the cost of a fully staffed the emergency room is often greater than the cost of an entire rural hospital. the issue should not be whether rural hospitals should be closed, but whether transportation should be provided to centers more capable of treating the serious conditions. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008235 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:30:13 +0100 5008235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008508&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FkdB_uXaZ2bI%2F It’s no secret that Americans have an obesity problem, but since we’re awfully skilled at looking away from the scale and towards our next drive thru, it can’t hurt to take a moment to check in with the numbers: According to an annual report from the Trust for America’s Health, adult obesity rates have gone up in 16 states between 2008 and 2010 (and gone down in none). Which puts over two-thirds of U.S. states at obesity rates of over 25 percent, while only one state — Colorado — has a rate lower than 20 percent. You could roll your eyes and tell me you’ve heard it before; you could question all these studies’ definitions of “obese.” But if I told you that 25% of the population had AIDS, you’d be frantic. Everyone would freak out. T... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008508 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:29:07 +0100 5008508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008509&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fu6iLUvhK3-w%2F You know how you can sometimes get a feel for what kind of bugs are going around your city, school or social circle from tweets or Facebook status updates? Sickweather can too. The still-in-beta site —s ure to be a hypochondriac’s new favorite URL — aggregates illness-related data from social networks to produce real-time “weather maps” of flus, fevers and other reported symptoms like some sort of digital epidemiologist. Is this cool or creepy? Sickweather boasts that it can “forecast the movement of everything from stomach bugs to chronic illness and other sickness, including depression.” Someone should inform its copywriter that reflecting is not the same thing as ‘forecasting,’ which implies some sort of prescience with concern to mood disorders, as in, ‘Watch ou... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008509 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:55:16 +0100 5008509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008472&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Flife-can-become-very-weird-living-with-chronic-pain%2F I know. You’re thinking life is weird already but let me say, if you’re newly diagnosed, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” If you are one of us who live with connective tissue or rheumatoid disease you may see a certain set of weirdness. If you suffer from back pain or had a previous injury, you’re not excluded, either. It’s amazing what life can do to twist, shape and torment us. If our diseases or injuries don’t do enough in that department then there are always the medications to take up the slack and pile it on. Get your sense of humor ready and if you don’t have one, well, blessings upon you my friend because you’re going to need one. The other day I was fitted for a sacroiliac belt to aid my sacroiliac joints to stay put. All that was missing at the fitting was Scar... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008472 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:13:33 +0100 5008472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008449&cid=t_114318_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fq6v6sBUFKL4%2F Thinking globally to improve mental health: NIH announces international research initiative (press release): - “The Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health Initiative, led by the National Institutes of Health and the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases, has identified the top 40 barriers to better mental health around the world. Similar to past grand challenges, which focused on infectious diseases and chronic, noncommunicable diseases, this initiative seeks to build a community of funders dedicated to supporting research that will significantly improve the lives of people living with MNS disorders within the next 10 years.“ – “Participating in global mental health research is an enormous opportunity, a means to accelerate advances in mental health care for the diverse U.S. popul... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008449 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:53:39 +0100 5008449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008113&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F07%2F07%2Fmedicaid-spending-variations-driven-more-by-volume-than-price-says-study-in-new-health-affairs%2F The first study of its kind to examine regional and state differences in Medicaid spending shows that there is wide variation in spending per beneficiary, and that some large states are spending more than twice as much per beneficiary as other states of similar size. What’s more, some of the interstate variation in Medicaid spending [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008113 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:13:01 +0100 5008113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008700&cid=t_114318_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beautyramp.com%2F Bhawna Arya Bajaj: Have that flowing skinEnvy others’ flawless skin? Don’t! Follow some simple tips to have youthful and glowing skin. Have you always desired a flawless skin and despite all the effort that you had put in, success seems to be eluding you? Or are you the one who has been testing and trying things to get that soft, supple and young-looking skin but all ending in vain? Here are some simple and easy-to-follow tips that could not only prevent premature ageing of the skin but also give it the required radiance and glow: Keep your skin well hydratedHave at least 10 glasses of water a day. This will help keep your skin hydrated and ease out most of the issues related to premature ageing of skin. You can also make your skin look smooth and supple by using a dermat... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008700 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:13:35 +0100 5008700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008666&cid=t_114318_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fb0Td2mZIFjs%2F European Union antitrust regulators have ended a four-year probe into charges that Boehringer Ingelheim abused the patent system to thwart rivals from launching versions of the best-selling Spiriva med for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. To settle the investigation, the German drugmaker agreed to make changes in its intellectual property protections. As the EU noted, Boehringer is the market leader in COPD meds thanks to its Spiriva inhalers, which generated nearly $4.3 billion in sales last year. The fracas began, though, in 2003, when Boehringer filed patent applications for new treatments involving combinations of three categories of active substances, including a new active substance that was discovered by Almirall, a Spanish drugmaker. Almirall objected to the... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008666 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:15:21 +0100 5008666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008237&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fhealthy-lifestyle-makes-women-less-likely-to-die-suddenly.html Medpage Today tells us that women who adhered to a healthy lifestyle had as much as a 90% reduction in the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) as compared with those with a high-risk profile, data from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) showed. The risk of SCD declined linearly as the number of these attributes increased, ranging from a 46% reduction for a woman who had one to 92% for those who had all four. Comment: these results are not surprising as the Alameda study showed more than 40 years ago where health behaviors were studied for some 11 conditions showing a significant increase in longevity for those who followed more than half of them. We have many studies that show that change in behavior can significantly improve health. The problem is we still don’t know how... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008237 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:28:49 +0100 5008237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008671&cid=t_114318_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fi2yELjH7SyI%2F This is a repost from my blog on PsychCentral: There are changes afoot in the use of opioid agonists for chronic pain treatment. This blog has described the epidemic of opioid dependence that has killed tens of thousands of people across the country over the past few years, and the changes are directed toward reducing the harm caused by this epidemic. A number of interventions have been proposed. Vicodin, the number one-selling medication in the country, contains the opioid hydrocodone combined with acetaminophen, the agent in Tylenol. Hydrocodone and Vicodin are currently ‘Schedule III’ medications, and will likely move to Schedule II, where oxycodone, Oxycontin, and Percocet are currently assigned. The change will have significant impact on the use of Vicodin and hydrocodone, since m... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008671 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:05:01 +0100 5008671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5007402&cid=t_114318_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Ffighting-insomnia-with-your-brain.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5007402 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:36:00 +0100 5007402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997843&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F04%2F%25e2%2580%259coh-wad-some-power-the-giftie-gie-us-to-see-oursels-as-others-see-us-it-wad-frae-monie-a-blunder-free-us-and-foolish-notion%25e2%2580%259d%2F That quote from Robbie Burns. For such a long time it seems that pain research has focused only on the person having pain and less on the social context where the person is experiencing it. Pain is subjective, personal and private, and the only way I can determine whether someone is in pain is if they’re exhibiting pain behaviours. Some of these behaviours, it’s true, are automatic reflex-driven responses (nocifensive, to be pedantic) – but usually only once the brain determines that the input received is a threat.  And what the brain determines to be threatening depends on a whole lot of things, including what else is going on in the environment. We have numerous pen and paper measures of pain behaviour, but far fewer tools to capture what is one of the most important e... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997843 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:41:12 +0100 4997843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992755&cid=t_114318_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F02%2Fhow-the-dsm-developed-what-you-might-not-know%2F The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is widely known as the bible of psychiatry and psychology. But not many people know how this powerful and influential book came to be. Here’s a brief look at the DSM’s evolution and where we are today. The Need for Classification The origins of the DSM date back to 1840 — when the government wanted to collect data on mental illness. The term “idiocy/insanity” appeared in that year’s census. Forty years later, the census expanded to feature these seven categories: “mania, melancholia, monomania, paresis, dementia, dipsomania and epilepsy.” But there was still a need to gather uniform stats across mental hospitals. In 1917, the Bureau of the Census embraced a publication called the Statistical Manual for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992755 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:43:12 +0100 4992755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992831&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsometimes-life-just-sucks-2%2F Aw come on, you know it’s true. We all have our rotten days and have our own way of getting through the bad times. Life has many hammers, hatchets and boiling oil and can use it all on us; a bad marriage, auto accidents out of the blue and children who screw up their lives and break our hearts. Unfortunately, life is imperfect and yet, we’re always surprised when it whams us in the face. That should tell us hope lives deep within our hearts, whether we’re aware of it or not. Today the particular rotten I would like to talk about is the very personal double whammy of daily pain and disease. We take pills, some of us drink too much alcohol, others become very wretched to be with and sometimes, we just cry. I don’t do all of those but am guilty of most of them. I don’t drink because... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992831 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:07:53 +0100 4992831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992723&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fdrug-side-effect-linked-with-increased-health-risks-for-over-65s-1.html More than 13,000 men and women aged 65 and over from across the UK were included in the two-year study from the University of East Anglia. Around half were found to use a medication with potential anticholinergic properties.In the study, each drug taken by the participants was given a ranking based on the strength of its anticholinergic activity, or AntiCholinergic Burden (ACB) - 0 for no effect, 1 for mild effect, 2 for moderate effect and 3 for severe effect.The key findings were:• Twenty per cent of participants taking drugs with a total ACB of four or more had died by the end of the two-year study, compared with only seven per cent of those taking no anticholinergic drugs - the first time a link between anticholinergics and mortality has been shown.• For every additional ACB point ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992723 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:56:41 +0100 4992723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992724&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Ftext-messaging-in-smoking-cessation-the-txt2stop-trial.html From today's Lancet: As with many such trials, the continuous abstinence rate at 6 months in the intervention group, although statistically significant as compared with the control group, was low (10•7%). Data were also missing due to withdrawals and non-completion of self-reported smoking status. However, robust sensitivity analyses were done to account for these losses to follow-up with multiple imputation techniques based on important predictors of missingness, and also by assuming that individuals with missing self-reported smoking status were smokers. Finally, as the investigators acknowledge, to ascertain the mechanism by which the txt2stop intervention actually increased continuous abstinence is difficult. Nonetheless, the abstinence rates in the txt2stop intervention group are br... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992724 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:55:18 +0100 4992724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992729&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F07%2Fdrug-side-effect-linked-with-increased-health-risks-for-over-65s.html More than 13,000 men and women aged 65 and over from across the UK were included in the two-year study from the University of East Anglia. Around half were found to use a medication with potential anticholinergic properties.In the study, each drug taken by the participants was given a ranking based on the strength of its anticholinergic activity, or AntiCholinergic Burden (ACB) - 0 for no effect, 1 for mild effect, 2 for moderate effect and 3 for severe effect.The key findings were:• Twenty per cent of participants taking drugs with a total ACB of four or more had died by the end of the two-year study, compared with only seven per cent of those taking no anticholinergic drugs - the first time a link between anticholinergics and mortality has been shown.• For every additional ACB point ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992729 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:13:07 +0100 4992729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4993017&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F01%2Fwhat-is-this-thing-called-pain%2F As I’m busy writing up research papers for publications to “count” towards my research productivity, I’m reminded of one reason I keep on blogging – and it’s this: blogs are open to anyone.  People can comment on what I write.  When someone comments, whether they agree, disagree, or simply pose a question, it’s an opportunity for dialogue and reflection. That’s not nearly as easy to do in a peer-reviewed journal! As a result of comments from my post yesterday, I’m musing on ways to explain the distinction between acute and chronic pain that will make sense to someone who experiences fluctuations in pain intensity. I think I’m clear in my own mind between the two, but perhaps things are not as distinct as I’ve made them &#8... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4993017 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:04:56 +0100 4993017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992114&cid=t_114318_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FLKECkCOaQIs%2F Analysis of poliovirus recovered from the stool of a patient with fatal poliomyelitis revealed that she had been infected with the virus 12 years earlier, probably when one of her children received the oral poliovirus vaccine. This case has the longest known incubation period for vaccine-derived poliomyelitis, and highlights our still rudimentary understanding of how poliovirus causes disease. The patient in this case, a 44 year old woman from Minnesota, had been diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) in 1991.  Patients with this disease lack B lymphocytes and therefore cannot produce antibodies that help control microbial infections. For example, individuals with CVI often develop chronic enterovirus infections. Furthermore, after receiving oral poliovirus vaccine, CVI pat... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992114 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:44:49 +0100 4992114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984610&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F3uQnB31DzeI%2F Whether you were a pothead in college, enjoy an occasional toke, or are straight-laced and never touch the stuff, you’ve probably taken part in at least one debate about medical marijuana. Recently, during a girls’ night out, my fellow ladies and I somehow got onto this subject. What struck me as funny listening to everyone opine about the issue was not so much which side they were on, it was the fact that we were debating it over cocktails. So here we were saying whether or not someone with a serious illnesses should be allowed to get high when we were in fact getting high ourselves. Kind of ironic, I thought. There is a general acceptance in this country that people can consume as much alcohol as they want (providing they are over 21 and don’t drink and drive, of course... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984610 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:13:15 +0100 4984610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976111&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fn5t1eQczI5w%2F You probably know him best as “Mr. Big,” but Chris Noth is putting his star power behind something other than Carrie Bradshaw these days in a new Diabetes Awareness campaign. The actor, who’s starred in Law & Order and The Good Wife, in addition to Sex and The City, told Huffington Post that “[diabetes] is a disease that’s way too much under the radar. We’re trying to get ahead of the game with people; … encouraging [them] to call [their] doctors and get a blood test.” According to recent CDC statistics, 25.8 million Americans, or just over eight percent of the population, is living with diabetes, which can be a life-threatening disease. If caught early, however, complications can be prevented or delayed, and all it takes to screen for diabetes is a simp... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976111 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:57:30 +0100 4976111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976238&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F29%2Fblack-and-white-thinking-must-be-abolished%2F Black and white thinking, for those readers unfamiliar with cognitive distortions, refers to the tendency to reduce complex ideas and situations into simple, dichotomous, and mutually exclusive categories. Think of good or bad, yes or no, all correct or all wrong, acute pain or chronic pain, neuromatrix or peripheral mechanisms, cure the pain or manage the pain. It’s a way of simplifying arguments or decisions that can work well when the situation requires very fast decision-making, or where the options are very limited. It doesn’t work at all in the messy and complicated worlds of clinical reasoning, theory development, or in discussions to broaden understanding. I’m pondering this because of the way various aspects of pain management and the science of pain are misrepre... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976238 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:15:22 +0100 4976238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976058&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fkelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community%2Fmanaging-job-stress-and-crohns%2F Well…I think that, once again, I am facing a change in my career. Actually, I am not certain where my career is going, but I do know that I cannot continue working in my current position. During October of last year, I was transitioned onto a ‘Proposal Tiger Team’ within my corporation and have been struggling with my work-life balance ever since. The job is intense, stressful, and one of those occupations where, to succeed, you have to give up your personal life and give everything you have to the company. I cannot do that — nor do I want to. Having a chronic disease further limits how much I can afford to give. I actually told my management that I have Crohn’s disease (a career first for me!) and that I cannot afford to work 10- to 11-hour days every day of the week (for w... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976058 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:09:21 +0100 4976058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976112&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FqyMhgUbUfzA%2F We were hoping that even though we spend the majority of our working hours tethered to our computer, the fact that we exercise each morning would negate the consequences of sitting all day. But, according to the release of a 13-year study, even us athletes-by-morning, desk-jobbers-by-day have a higher risk of death than slackers who don’t exercise yet don’t sit all day either. Pardon??? You mean, running, swimming and biking all those miles each morning aren’t buying us extra time? According to the study published in the latest American Journal of Epidemiology, no. Researchers from the American Cancer Society reported that those of us who sit for more than six hours a day have an increased risk of death over those who don’t sit as much — even if we exercise. A... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976112 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:03:20 +0100 4976112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968761&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FT0Ftzoyx8Z8%2F As soda and potato chips spread through the world, so does diabetes. An international study published today in The Lancet found that as of 2008, 347 million adults have diabetes; far more than previously thought (other studies have placed estimates around 285 million), and more than double the number of adults with diabetes in 1980. The study, which was funded by the World Health Organization and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, also found that average blood pressure and cholesterol levels actually dropped during the same time period, things that researchers say would actually be much easier to manage than diabetes. In 1980, data indicates that 153 million adults had diabetes; today’s numbers indicate a global epidemic. While they attribute 70% of the rise in diabetes rates to ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968761 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:33:31 +0100 4968761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968811&cid=t_114318_136_f&fid=35316&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnotjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Ftreatment-week.html If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading stolen content. (Source: Not just about cancer) Not just about cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968811 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:10:00 +0100 4968811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968442&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F06%2F24%2Festablishing-sensible-cost-sharing-for-medicare-cancer-patients%2F A new study by Avalere Health, presented at the recent meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, analyzed the pharmacy claims of 10,508 commercially-insured and Medicare patients who required oral therapy for cancer. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of cost-sharing on the abandonment of these medications. The analysis showed [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968442 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:19:10 +0100 4968442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968705&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fwhere-do-you-find-true-grit%2F It’s often inspiring how life leads us along, licking our wounds which it also inflicted upon us; we love it, we hate it. These last few weeks I have been immersed in the past. I live in a home that is 120 years old and often wonder about those who lived here before we did. Did they love? Did they find joy and survival, together or individually? Did they have physical pain? Surely, they must have because they were without NSAIDs, biologics, acid inhibitors, a local drug store, or a supermarket. I often run across some little remnant of the past presence of one who lived here, like finding an oyster shell working its way out of the foundation outdoors or the aqua blue marine paint that dripped from the brush of an “ancient” mariner who used to live here, many years ago, still trailing... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968705 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:08:46 +0100 4968705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968443&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F06%2F23%2Fobesity-epidemic-may-make-mortality-gains-short-lived%2F For those who assume that the next generation of Americans will live longer than their parents, a new “three-dimensional” method of forecasting vital health statistics shows how this may not prove to be the case. Most Americans enjoy better health today than in the past, with significant declines in death rates from the top three [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968443 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:49:38 +0100 4968443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953279&cid=t_114318_136_f&fid=35316&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnotjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fshort-term-planning.html I kind of left you in suspense yesterday.I was sitting an exam room, waiting to see my oncologist to discuss whether I could continue my break from chemo. Here's what happened next:We waited.We played a little Lexulous.I knit. My hands shook a little. And then the door swung open and Dr. B. entered the room. Dr. B. is not my oncologist. The cancer centre has a title called GPO (which I assume means general practitioner - oncology) for doctors who work with the oncologists. I hadn't seen Dr. B. in more than a year and without hesitating, we hugged each other - something I've never done with any doctor. She's wonderful and she's the only doctor I trust as much as my oncologist.After a physical exam (liver is where it should be and the size it should be. Chest sounds fine) and looki... Not just about cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953279 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4953279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934729&cid=t_114318_136_f&fid=35316&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnotjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fnot-so-jaded-after-all.html Yesterday, I had an appointment with my oncologist, the first since our decision that I should take a break from chemo and do Herceptin only for three months.I usually do my appointments over the phone but I decided to go into the cancer centre so that I could have a physical exam and meet with him face to face. Also, I wanted Tim to come with me, so that he would get the same info as I did first hand and have a chance to ask questions. One of the great things about doing appointments on the phone is that I can carry on with my life around the house as I wait for my call. I was reminded of this after waiting first in the waiting area and then in the exam room for nearly an hour.But it was worth it.The first person I met was the nurse who works with my oncologist. It was the first time we m... Not just about cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934729 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:38:00 +0100 4934729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945248&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F17%2Fwhat-to-do-about-catastrophising-even-when-youre-not-a-psychologist%2F In this study, 25.9% of those reporting acute pain, and 51.3% of those reporting chronic pain endorsed catastrophising beliefs.  And this group of people were not seeking treatment (as an aside, this is one of few studies to look at non-treatment-seeking people)!  The study also found that in those with high levels of catastrophising, mental health problems were more prevalent, and that catastrophising explained a good proportion of work disability.  In other words, even in this very healthy group of people, catastrophising was associated with greater vulnerability to having difficult managing pain and keeping mentally healthy.  If this finding is identified in other non-treatment-seeking people, I think we can confidently draw the conclusion that catastrophising may be one of the more... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945248 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:24:01 +0100 4945248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934586&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsues-patient-rights-responsibilities-and-opportunities%2F You have the right to life as long as you realize it might not be quite as you planned. You have the opportunity to change what you can and accept that which you cannot change. Just remember the word impossible is a relative term. You have the responsibility to seek options, be they health care, marital status or parenthood. All three require early action rather than late. You have the responsibility to judge each situation you face with candor, good judgment, and valor. If you choose not to do the above, you have the right to screw things up. It is your life, after all. You have the responsibility to maintain your body even though it appears to not give a fig about you. Disloyal lot these physical shells. You have the responsibility to remember your brain and your heart are in charg... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934586 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:46:43 +0100 4934586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934328&cid=t_114318_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F16%2Fthe-incredible-shrinking-american-vacation%2F Vacations are theoretical concepts that exist today only on paper. That’s according to Joe Robinson, work-life balance speaker, trainer, and author of “Don’t Miss Your Life.” His statistics are dire: Some 25 percent of Americans and 31 percent of low-wage earners get no vacation at all anymore, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research. This is because, unlike in 138 other countries around the world, you’re not entitled to a vacation longer than the current news cycle. You happen to live in a country that, along with the esteemed likes of Myanmar, the Guyanas and North Korea, has no minimum paid leave law to make vacations statutorily legit. Now maybe it’s because I have been self-employed for most of my working life — and the few jobs I have held, I di... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934328 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:12:02 +0100 4934328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934160&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fvitamin-d-for-copd-why-that-wont-be-enough%2F2011.06.16 I am frequently extolling the health benefits of Vitamin D because almost weekly there is a new study that correlates high vitamin D levels with reducing some disease.  The latest is from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and research shows that high doses of vitamin D supplementation improved respiratory muscle strength in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).  The patients that did not receive supplemental vitamin D had blood levels of 22.8 compared to 53.8 in the supplemented group.  The patients who were supplemented had improved respiratory function, strength and less shortness of breath.  It certainly didn’t cure or reverse COPD but the improvement was an encouraging trend in this terrible chronic disease. In reading about ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934160 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4934160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945249&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F15%2Fquick-update-from-earthquake-city%2F The aftershocks seem to have slowed a little, and they are not as powerful so hopefully things will settle down a bit. We still don’t have water, so we’re having to use our emergency stash (60 litres!) and boil it to wash, do dishes etc. Even when the water comes back on, we’ve been advised to boil the water again because there’s damage to the sewers. I feel OK in myself, in that I’m not fearful of the quakes (a bit fatalistic really, but there is so little time to react when a quake hits, there seems little point in being afraid – you can’t do anything!), but I am very tired and not sleeping all that well. I think the difference for people in Christchurch now, compared with the previous two big earthquakes is that the adrenaline rush that was ther... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945249 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:24:23 +0100 4945249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934646&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FDwssmUnlML8%2F Photo Via Ragesoss When men are diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, the first thing doctors usually do is check for internal bleeding. When women are diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, they’re given an iron supplement and told to eat more broccoli. Why the discrepancy? The main cause of iron deficiency in men is upper-gastrointestinal bleeding, so it makes sense for doctors to rule this out first. However, a 1999 study on anemia in women found that “on women for whom a gynecological source was diagnosed by a specialist” — i.e., women whose anemia was blamed on their periods — 86 percent actually had a gastrointestinal disease. “The majority of the women in that study were bleeding internally, and no one had figured it out until then because they had periods,” writes Pr... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934646 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:35:04 +0100 4934646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934234&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F06%2Flarge-differences-in-mortality-rates-and-life-expectancy-in-homeless-people.html Research published in the Lancet this week shows that homeless men and women have mortality rates some six times higher than the general population. Comment: why do need another study based on data from a small Scandinavian country to validate what researcher has shown for at least 40 years? There is nothing new or startling about the fact that people whose behavior is inimical to health have poorer outcomes in life. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934234 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:36:04 +0100 4934234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934343&cid=t_114318_109_f&fid=34752&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPsychsplash%2F%7E3%2Fna5reMeRs38%2F URL: http://askjan.org/The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability, and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace. For: Anyone, Consumers, Researchers, Anyone, ConsumersTopics: Abnormal, Attachment, Behaviour Management, Foundation Website, Personality disorders, Relationships, Sexual Assault, Aspergers, Autism, Bipolar, Chronic Disease, Foundation Website, Mental Health, Social SupportFeatures: Articles, Collaborative News, Conferences, Information, Links, Research, Res... PsychSplash blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934343 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:00:05 +0100 4934343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921368&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F06%2F10%2Fhealth-affairs-requests-abstracts-for-diabetes-issue%2F Health Affairs plans a thematic issue on the U.S. and global imperative to stem the growing burden of diabetes, which is among the top contributors to the international epidemic of noncommunicable disease. As part of our development process for this issue, which is scheduled to be published in early January 2012, we are issuing a [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921368 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:43:12 +0100 4921368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921623&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fa-life-with-chronic-pain-dont-panic%2F When we are struck with a life of chronic pain, we are terrified, feel forsaken and usually panic. Those who don’t panic are usually in denial and get around to panic later when the fear of the unknown sweeps over them. Today, as usual, I searched my heart and mind to find the helpful ideas which have and do help me everyday of my life. Please, let me list them for you in the hope that you will also find courage, calm and control in your life if you are also facing this monster each day. Gain Control. I know, you feel like your body has betrayed you and after all the great things you did for it, too. Stop asking yourself why this happened to you and look forward. Of course, it might help you to know if it’s genetic, for the sake of your children, but for now, you have to deal with eac... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921623 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:20:44 +0100 4921623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921649&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fixas8kAPlD8%2F Alice Pyne is 15 years old and has been battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma for four years. As the cancer that attacks white blood cells began to spread, her mother encouraged her to write a bucket list of things she’d like to accomplish before the cancer wins the fight. It was only three days ago that she set up Alice’s Bucket List, but her brave face, and inspirational goals (which include increasing bone marrow donorship) have ignited social media sites, and her name has become a trending topic on Twitter. “I thought that I was just doing a little blog for a few friends!” she wrote, after the media caught wind of her blog and her name was mentioned across some of Britain’s most popular discussion and news shows. Her fast-spreading worldwide support has also i... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921649 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:13:25 +0100 4921649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911527&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F06%2Fheadache-experts-call-for-more-migraine-research-funding.html Migraine specialists attending the American Headache Society meeting in Washington last weekend said they believe more government money for migraine research holds the most promise for winning the battle against the disease." Notably, "40 percent of those attending the conference said increased public funding is more important than understanding basic aspects of the disease.  Comment:  There is little evidence that throwing money at a problem solves it. There is too much research being conducted, without accountability. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911527 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:23:48 +0100 4911527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911528&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F06%2Flaw-on-end-of-life-care-rankles-doctors.html Jane e. Brody-NYT-6-8-2011. Doctors object to laws telling them how to practice medicine, as does New York State’s new Palliative Care Information Act. Vehemently opposed by the Medical Society of the State of New York, the law passed last summer by a two-thirds majority of the Legislature and took effect in February. The legislation was written in collaboration with Compassion and Choices of New York, an organization that advocates for informed choices and greater physical and emotional comfort at the end of life. Comment: Laws on applied practice of medicine are inappropriate, but expect more of the same in states like NY & California which are becoming public health police states. Nannyism is rampant. While the concept of laudable is should be part of the standards of practice... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911528 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:22:34 +0100 4911528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911844&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F08%2Fa-brief-review-of-cognitive-behavioural-approaches-for-pain-management%2F Cognitive behavioural approaches for pain management are not exactly the same as cognitive behavioural therapy for mental health problems.  While there are some underlying concepts that are the same, cognitive behavioural approaches for pain management include a wider range of strategies, and are far less readily defined than the very structured approach used in mental health.  In fact it has only been in the last few years that research into the process of change in pain management have been conducted. What defines a cognitive behavioural approach? The assumption that people can learn to accept their chronic pain That people can broaden their self-concept beyond being “a patient” into being “a person with pain” That people can learn or re-explore skills to deal ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911844 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:39:00 +0100 4911844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911734&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FNyEgYB8ud2E%2F Post from: BlissTree Sinus Headaches Are Just An Old Wives’ Tale (You Probably Have a Migraine) (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911734 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:30:20 +0100 4911734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911412&cid=t_114318_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F07%2Fto-retract-or-not-to-retract-thats-the-question%2F In the previous post I discussed [1] that editors of Science asked for the retraction of a paper linking XMRV retrovirus to ME/CFS. The decision of the editors was based on the failure of at least 10 other studies to confirm these findings and on growing support that the results were caused by contamination. When the authors refused [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911412 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:34:25 +0100 4911412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4901815&cid=t_114318_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2F6ejjjJ3bpj0%2F Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Stephen Goff Retrovirologist Stephen Goff joins Vincent, Rich, and Alan for a discussion of recent papers on the retrovirus XMRV and its association with chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer. Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #136 (61 MB .mp3, 84 minutes). Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, by email, or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode: Recombinant origin of XMRV (Science Express) No evidence of gammaretroviruses in XMRV-positive CFS patients (Science Express) Editorial expression of concern (Science) Absence of XMRV in CFS patients (J Virology) TWiV on Facebook Letters read on TWiV 136 Weekly Science ... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4901815 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:00:09 +0100 4901815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893703&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Feveryday-life-with-chronic-back-pain%2F As many of you who have been reading this blog for some time know, I live with sacroiliac joint pain and have for more than twenty years. Those particular joints are the two upon which you place your derriere, hold your two lower cheeks together and keep your legs from falling off. The pain from them often extends into the pubic area, the hips, and the lumbar spine and down the legs. Pain in these regions can have an affect on your bowel and bladder habits as well. Recently, the inflammation of those large joints has, for me, been worse than ever. I share this with you to explain why I have low back pain on the brain today, as well as on my backside. Since I have a brain that tickles easily, I have been remembering an event of many years ago when I was in nursing school. One of my nursing ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893703 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:12:47 +0100 4893703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893338&cid=t_114318_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F02%2Fscience-asks-to-retract-the-xmrv-cfs-paper-it-should-never-have-accepted-in-the-first-place%2F Wow! Breaking! As reported in WSJ earlier this week [1], editors of the journal Science asked Mikovits and her co-authors to voluntary retract their 2009 Science paper [2]. In this paper Mikovits and colleagues of the Whittemore Peterson Institute (WPI) and the Cleveland Clinic, reported the presence of xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893338 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:34:34 +0100 4893338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893500&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F06%2Fcalif-senate-bans-under-18-use-of-tanning-beds.html California lawmakers voted Wednesday to limit the use of tanning booths by teens, warning that the bronzed glow they create comes from radiation and raises the risk of skin cancer. The state Senate voted 24-9 to ban indoor tanning by anyone under age 18, even if they have permission from an adult. The bill next goes to the Assembly. California already bans the use of tanning booths by those under 14, but older teens could use them with permission from a parent or guardian. Comment: This law needs to be extended nationwide as teens have little self-control when it comes to their skin. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893500 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:32:07 +0100 4893500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893948&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F02%2Fcatastrophising-and-pain-ii%2F What are some of the indications that someone tends to catastrophise about their pain? How do we know? Do we have to use a questionnaire? Is it really my job to know about this if I’m not a psychologist – and what do I do about it? These are the kinds of questions that have been posed to me as I’ve explored the topic of catastrophising, and I propose to answer the last question in my next post (sorry to keep stringing you along like this – I think many may know my take on that already!). I work in a wonderful interdisciplinary team setting, in a centre where everyone who attends the Centre gets to complete a set of psychometrically sound questionnaires that all of the team are encouraged to use and interpret, so any of the team can be confident about identifying and... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893948 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:26:50 +0100 4893948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893949&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F01%2Fpain-behaviours-persist%2F In this study by Martel, Thibault and Sullivan (2010), people with back pain were recorded on two separate occasions (on averge 22 days apart) while carrying out two lifting tasks designed to elicit pain behaviours.  These recordings were reviewed by trained observers who recorded the number of pain behaviours in each segment of film using a standardised coding scheme (developed by Keefe and Block, 1982).  Participants in the lifting tasks also completed a range of questionnaires – the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, and the Pain Catastrophising Scale. Before I describe the findings, in this study two different forms of pain behaviour were identified – communicative behaviours are things like grimacing, speaking, sighing, moaning and so on; while... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893949 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:26:00 +0100 4893949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883910&cid=t_114318_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2Fiz1T5XSIZzU%2F On May 27th, 2011, actor Jeff Conaway died from complications of opioid dependence. His death has been attributed to several causes—sepsis, pneumonia, and aspiration among them— but there is little debate over the ultimate cause of his death at the age of 60 years, that being addiction to opioid pain medications. Mr. Conaway reportedly struggled with chronic pain and addiction to pain medications for a number of years. His situation was particularly tragic—living with severe pain that was relieved by nothing save for a substance with the power to destroy him. Such situations are, unfortunately, not uncommon. It is easy to take the position that Mr. Conaway should have avoided pain pills; that his addiction essentially disqualified him from even considering them. I will take that atti... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883910 Tue, 31 May 2011 15:57:00 +0100 4883910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4882968&cid=t_114318_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FpvidiGD_uZ4%2F The novel human retrovirus XMRV has been associated with prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome. The nucleotide sequence of XMRV isolated from humans indicates that the virus is nearly identical with XMRV produced from a human prostate tumor cell line called 22Rv1. This cell line was derived by passage of human prostate tumor tissue in nude mice. Sequence analyses reveal that the genomes of these mouse strains contain two different proviral DNAs related to XMRV. These viral genomes recombined to produce XMRV that has been isolated from humans. XMRV was originally isolated from a human prostate cancer in 2006, and subsequently associated with ME/CFS. The human cell line 22Rv1, which was established from a human prostate tumor (CWR22), produces infectious XMRV. An important question is... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4882968 Tue, 31 May 2011 14:45:14 +0100 4882968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883925&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F31%2Fcatastrophising-and-pain-i%2F One reason I love blogging is the discussion between me and readers. I wrote about the language of pain recently, and out of that discussion I’ve spent a few days digging around the literature to look at what is known about the relationship between language, pain and catastrophising. I’d argued in my post that metaphoric language can reflect distress both in the communicator and the listener, and that this is supported by fMRI studies in which various parts of the brain are activated when emotion-laden communication about pain is being carried out, while one of my readers thought I might be taking this interpretation too far. Pain behaviour My reason for being interested in how we communicate about pain is that talking about pain (including describing it) is a pain behaviour. P... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883925 Mon, 30 May 2011 19:15:07 +0100 4883925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4876484&cid=t_114318_136_f&fid=35316&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnotjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fin-translation.html The cancer centre has implemented something new. When patients check in for treatment, we're asked to fill out a questionnaire related to our well-being (it has some acronym but I can't remember it). We're given the option of filling it in on a central computer but I'm really squeamish about germy public terminals. I always ask to fill the thing in manually (furthering my feeling that I am more of a Luddite than some of my seniors).Filling out the form involves reading statements such as "I am in pain" and then circling a number between 1 (no pain) and 7 (excruciating pain - or something like that). Most of my numbers were very low except for the ones about my emotional well being and sleep habits. My answers resulted in the following conversation with the well-meaning nurse who checked me... Not just about cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4876484 Sat, 28 May 2011 17:00:00 +0100 4876484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872282&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fdilapidated-me-and-learning-to-rejoice%2F My body is a wreck. My condition, never “mint;” Sometime, when I was gone My body came and went. If I was a horse Irregardless how I cope, I’m certain that by now I’d be a bar of soap. Each time I stand or move I fear parts of me will escape. Since it might be parts I need, Guess I’ll use more tape. I often feel confused How can I look so good? I belong in a dumpster, After all I’ve withstood. If I was a goose, I’d be stark naked A pillow stuffed with down. If I was a waddling white duck My tail would rub the ground. I admit I’m partially in ruins But the part of me that’s left Should shut up, be quiet and Stop feeling so bereft. As long as I draw breath and My heart beats within my breast, I thank God for insurance To restock my medicine chest. It’s easy... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872282 Thu, 26 May 2011 22:13:41 +0100 4872282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862490&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F24%2Fthe-beacon-communities-at-one-year-the-inland-nw-experience%2F Editor’s note: The federal government’s Beacon Program provides funding to 17 communities that have already made inroads in the development of secure, private, and accurate systems of electronic health record (EHR) adoption and health information exchange. This is the fourth in a series of Health Affairs Blog posts in which leaders of several Beacon communities [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862490 Tue, 24 May 2011 18:12:34 +0100 4862490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4853082&cid=t_114318_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FeFt62KIBwHU%2F There’s a book floating around the more “eccentric” health care circles called The Second Brain: A Groundbreaking New Understanding of Nervous Disorders of the Stomach and Intestine. Colon therapists quote it, and raw food fanatics cite it as proof that we should all be noshing on sprouts and probiotics; and lately, even functional medicine gurus draw on the same theory and research: Our brains are controlled by our stomachs, they say; things like depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders hinge on what we eat, and maintaining healthy gut bacteria is a far better treatment for mental health than Wellbutrin or Prozac. Of course, most people have yet to swap their chemical uppers for sprouts, but a recent study linking stomach bugs to Parkinson’s might make some people ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4853082 Mon, 23 May 2011 18:30:49 +0100 4853082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852835&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F23%2Fthe-beacon-communities-at-one-year-the-se-minnesota-experience%2F Editor’s note: The federal government’s Beacon Program provides funding to 17 communities that have already made inroads in the development of secure, private, and accurate systems of electronic health record (EHR) adoption and health information exchange. This is the third in a series of Health Affairs Blog posts in which leaders of several Beacon communities [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852835 Mon, 23 May 2011 18:13:00 +0100 4852835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847980&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fcdc-identifies-10-public-health-achievements-of-first-decade.html The 10 domestic public health achievements are published in today's issue of CDC's MMWR. “Americans are living longer, healthier, and more productive lives than ever before thanks in part to extraordinary achievements in public health over the past decade," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. The United States has saved billions of dollars in healthcare costs as a result of these achievements. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847980 Fri, 20 May 2011 15:52:41 +0100 4847980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847964&cid=t_114318_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FFNQVKM-g3iQ%2F The mystery of chronic pain highlights an inspiring TED talk by paediatric anaesthesiologist and chronic pain specialist Elliot Krane. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847964 Fri, 20 May 2011 02:52:32 +0100 4847964 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841412&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fthe-beacon-communities-at-one-year-the-colorado-experience%2F Editor’s Note: The federal government’s Beacon Program provides funding to 17 communities that have already made inroads in the development of secure, private, and accurate systems of electronic health record (EHR) adoption and health information exchange. This is the second in a series of Health Affairs Blog posts in which leaders of several Beacon communities [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841412 Thu, 19 May 2011 18:56:51 +0100 4841412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841879&cid=t_114318_136_f&fid=35316&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnotjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fnone-of-us-knows-when-we-are-going-to.html On April 25th, Alaina Giordano lost custody of her children. A North Carolina judge ruled that her two kids need to move to Chicago to live with Giordano's ex-husband. She based this decision, in large part, on the fact that Giordano has Stage 4 breast cancer.Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economyI can't be articulate about this story, except to say that I work very hard to make sure that my kids will be all right- no matter what happens. I wish I could protect them and all those who love me from the realities of cancer. But do I think that cancer makes me a less fit parent?Not on your life.Want to read more? I first read about this on BlogHer, where Jenna argued very articulately that anyone who has ever been ill or ever might be should care about this s... Not just about cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841879 Thu, 19 May 2011 18:52:00 +0100 4841879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841413&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2Fhealth-policy-brief-the-class-act%2F The latest Health Policy Brief from Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation examines the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Plan, a voluntary, publicly administered insurance program enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. It is designed to help people should they become disabled and need long-term services and [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841413 Wed, 18 May 2011 15:45:27 +0100 4841413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841880&cid=t_114318_136_f&fid=35316&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnotjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fselfish-dear-loved-one.html I'm sorry that my fear becomes yours.I regret that you get pulled into my panic.I feel ill when my every cough, ache or bump twists your insides the way it does mine.I would prefer to protect you.I want to watch you smile, hear your laugh, feel your heart thump with joy when you pull me to your chest.I don't want to make you scared, or sad or worried.But I can't wish you weren't ever scared or sad or worried.Because I need to share.Because I need not to feel alone.Because I need you.If you are reading this post on a site other than Not Just About Cancer (besides Facebook or a feed reader), you are reading stolen content. (Source: Not just about cancer) Not just about cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841880 Wed, 18 May 2011 02:10:00 +0100 4841880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841523&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fweekly-doses-of-antibiotic-cocktail-may-cure-latent-tb-in-three-months.html Treating "latent tuberculosis normally requires nine months of daily pill-taking," a much shorter "course of medication...works just as well," according to findings presented at the American Thoracic Society meeting. The study compared the typical "daily dose of the drug isoniazid for nine months" with a once-weekly regimen that included taking a higher dose of isoniazid combined with rifapentineor for three months. Over three years, among approximately 8,000 volunteers, there were "seven cases of active TB among those taking the short course and 15 among those taking the traditional one. ... 'This is the biggest breakthrough in the treatment of latent TB since the 1960s,'" said Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention in a... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841523 Tue, 17 May 2011 15:00:47 +0100 4841523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841414&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F17%2Fsaving-the-shared-savings-program-acos-specific-suggestions-for-success-part-one%2F My Health Affairs Blog of April 7 expressed the view that the long-awaited Medicare Shared-Savings Program proposed rule released on March 31 “creates a program that is likely to have few participants”.  This view also appears in virtually every written commentary since.  There seems to be the widespread opinion that interested provider groups either could [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841414 Tue, 17 May 2011 12:13:39 +0100 4841414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828841&cid=t_114318_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F16%2Fthe-beacon-communities-at-one-year-the-central-indiana-experience%2F Editor’s note: The federal government’s Beacon Program provides funding to 17 communities that have already made inroads in the development of secure, private, and accurate systems of electronic health record (EHR) adoption and health information exchange. This is the first in a series of Health Affairs Blog posts in which leaders of several Beacon communities [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828841 Mon, 16 May 2011 16:14:39 +0100 4828841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828934&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fearly-treatment-with-antiretroviral-therapy-prevents-hiv-transmission.html A UNC-led research study showed the study, which spans nine countries, involved more than 1,700 couples, in which one partner was HIV-positive and the other was not. Each couple was randomly assigned to one of two study groups. In the first group, the partner with HIV began receiving antiretroviral drugs as soon as they enrolled in the study; in the second group, the infected partner started antiretroviral treatment once their CD4+ count — a key measure of immune system health — fell to between 200 and 250 cells/mm3.  However, data gathered so far clearly revealed the benefits of early treatment, prompting health officials to release the results now. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828934 Sat, 14 May 2011 14:44:07 +0100 4828934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828935&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fas-time-goes-by-it-gets-tougher-to-remember-new-information.html ScienceDaily:  The older we get, the more difficulty we seem to have remembering things. We reassure ourselves that our brains' "hard drives" are too full to handle the new information that comes in daily. But a neuroscientist now suggests that our aging brains are unable to process this information as "new" because the brain pathways leading to the hippocampus become degraded over time. As a result, our brains cannot accurately "file" new information. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828935 Sat, 14 May 2011 14:18:32 +0100 4828935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4821007&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fchoices-for-good-or-choices-for-evil-its-up-to-you%2F Each day, as mere mortals, we have decisions to make. Choices surround us 24 hours a day. We are assaulted by choices even when we’re asleep. For instance, during the night, are we cold, are we hot, do we get up to urinate or is it worth the effort? Do we feel enough pain to check the clock and see if it’s time for a pain pill or perhaps, a muscle relaxant? Does that mean we have to get up or did we plan ahead and put some water or juice at the bedside, trying to avoid that long, long hobbling walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night? When we try to get back to sleep we wonder about life, decide we need a new mattress, or in my case, think of ways to get my spouse to stop snoring. I hate to bother the poor, tired man so I try not to wake him but I have found he will stop snoring... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4821007 Thu, 12 May 2011 19:23:27 +0100 4821007 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813690&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F11%2Fthe-language-of-pain%2F Have you ever wondered about the ways we communicate our pain? Pain behaviour doesn’t just include nonverbal communication – one of the main ways we communicate our pain is through speech. Words are an incredibly powerful aspect of pain behaviour that strikes me as something we haven’t really studied much. When I was searching for the article to refer to in this post, I looked in PsychInfo under the terms “linguistics” and “pain” – and out of the tens of thousands of articles under each term, and total of 16 included both words. Sixteen! The stimulus for this post comes from someone who said the term “catastrophising” is a misnomer – a way for health professionals to dismiss or minimise the suffering and distress someone who... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813690 Wed, 11 May 2011 00:57:33 +0100 4813690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803558&cid=t_114318_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F10%2Fcatastrophising-and-maybe-what-to-do-about-it-for-subacutechronic-pain%2F This study is also an excellent one for looking at process, or how people change over time using a daily diary method. The finding in this paper suggests that one way for helping people be more resilient and modify their tendency towards catastrophising might be to help them identify and then pursue positive experiences during each day.  Scheduling pleasant or enjoyable events as part of a daily routine is certainly something any clinician can do, and often those pleasant events can be physical, such as going for a walk, playing with the kids, or even doing some stretches. Finally (but not the final word!), a study by McKnight and colleagues looked at the mediating effect of self efficacy on the relationship between catastrophising and disability.  In this study, participants with early ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803558 Tue, 10 May 2011 02:18:40 +0100 4803558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803171&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fevidence-contravenes-nuke-plant-leukemia-link.html Children living within 5 kilometers of a nuclear power plant are not at an increased risk for developing leukemia, according to an analysis released last week by an independent government advisory committee in the United Kingdom. The report covered a period of 35 years and studied the incidence of the cancer in children under the age of 5 living in close proximity to the UK’s 13 nuclear power stations. Comment: With all the current anxiety about radiation exposure, this  very long study is well worth waiting for. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803171 Mon, 09 May 2011 22:15:38 +0100 4803171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803184&cid=t_114318_106_f&fid=34805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAwfulPlasticSurgery%2F%7E3%2F3krMfF0uwp0%2F eClinicMD is revolutionizing... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit MyWebsite.com for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Awful Plastic Surgery) Awful Plastic Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803184 Mon, 09 May 2011 17:42:43 +0100 4803184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794953&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fgreed-grief-and-the-choices-of-a-lifetime%2F As most of you already know, my daughter, Beth and I have just returned from a working trip to the high desert region of California. My sweet mother-in-law passed away last May and due to other family matters it has taken us a year to make it down there to clean out her home. The weather is also a factor because I cannot tolerate heat or sun. When we left home it was drizzling here in beautiful, green yet soggy Oregon. The contrast to the high desert is startling. Yucca trees, a few evergreens and lots of brown greeted us. It was also 90 degrees. I got out the sunscreen but still have many fever blisters. You all know I have trouble sitting, and had to go to the hotel and just lie down after the trip. We had drawn row 12 on our small commuter plane and got stuck right in front of the emerg... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794953 Fri, 06 May 2011 20:36:00 +0100 4794953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794954&cid=t_114318_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fkelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community%2Fmay-2011-how-is-your-crohns-today%2F Hello Everyone! I hope that you are doing well today! It is time for us to have another edition of How Is Your Crohn’s Today?. For those of you who are new to the blog, every now and then I like to check in with everyone for updates and your Crohn’s is holding up. I’ll tell you how I am doing, and you reply in the comments section about your current status. I finally went to see my rheumatologist and did my yearly bone scan. I was reluctant to go because I was so afraid that my bone density would be worse and I have been anxious about taking the Reclast medication again. As I wrote in a previous blog, I have been worried about some of the side effects of the medication. The bone scan actually showed that my bone density improved by 7.2 percent, which is really a lot if you think abo... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794954 Fri, 06 May 2011 17:59:30 +0100 4794954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794872&cid=t_114318_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F05%2Fcheap-drug-is-as-good-at-treating-eye-disorder-as-more-expensive-product-trial-shows.html Numerous news stories this week focused on the results of an eagerly awaited trial which has shown that millions of dollars a year could be saved through the use of an anticancer drug to treat the neovascular or "wet" form of age related macular degeneration (wet AMD). The trial showed that bevacizumab (marketed as Avastin) is as effective in improving sight as ranibizumab (Lucentis), at a fraction of the cost. COMMENT: Neither the FDA nor CMS have made any recommendation to use the newer cheaper drug and limit the spiralling cost of medical care.. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794872 Fri, 06 May 2011 15:57:00 +0100 4794872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794818&cid=t_114318_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F06%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2011-vol-305-no-15%2F The objective of this study was to  develop and validate predictive models for progression of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The article concludes that a model using routinely obtained laboratory tests can accurately predict progression to kidney failure in patients with CKD stages 3 to 5. An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online, alternatively contact the Library to obtain a copy. Filed under: Athens Password, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: Albuminuria, Chronic Kidney Failure, Creatinine, Disease Progression, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Kidney Diseases, Laboratory Techniques and Procedures, Models, Prognosis, Risk Assessment, Statistical (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794818 Fri, 06 May 2011 11:24:24 +0100 4794818