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 'cold,'. Tue, 04 May 2010 18:18:20 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3508273&cid=t_330147_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FuQdtGoRQJT0%2F           Feeling depressed or forgetful?  How about being tired all of the time or notice your hair falling out?  Are you gaining weight for no reason?  I was just two years ago.  Luckily I went to my doctor with these symptoms and he ran some blood tests.  Guess what?  I had hypothyroidism.  Believe it or not – approximately 59 million Americans have this mysterious and often undiagnosed disease.  In fact, more people are affected by hypothyroid symptoms than diabetes, yet it is far less recognized or understood.  Hypothyroidism is more common than you would believe, and millions of people are currently hypothyroid and don’t know it.  What is it?  Very simply, the disease is an underactive thyroid.  Unfortunately, the common warning signs are often dismissed... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3508273 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:13:07 +0100 3508273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479641&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fdavid-duchovny-and-demi-moore-sickened-by-a-smooch%2F David Duchovny and Demi Moore (photo: WENN.com/FayesVision) Word at Starpulse is that David Duchovny initially refused to kiss Demi Moore while filming their new movie The Joneses, because the actress had what he calls a “raging cold.” Duchovny eventually relented and locked lips with Moore to keep the filming schedule on track. The former X-Files leading man claims that he did get sick from the smooch, and he doesn’t seem happy about it. With a cold season this year that never seems to end, we’re wondering, how far do you go to avoid germs? If it were your job to tongue someone with the sniffles, would you do it? Do you steer clear of your loved ones when they’re sick? Drop us a note in the comments section, below, and let us know. Post from: BlissTree D... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479641 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:14:36 +0100 3479641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385336&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fshould-obama-resign-his-cancer-sticks%2F Barry’s pounding the pavement to gain support for his Health Bill, but a much more popular topic is his own bad health habit: Smoking. We love to love our Prez, but lighting up doesn’t look good on anyone – even the Commander-in-Chief. Recently, The Christian Science Monitor reported that Obama still struggles with the vice. We know he’s not superhuman, but there’s something hypocritical about a smoker preaching better public health policy. Does it bother you, or is it just a sign that our fearless leader has faults like the rest of us? #MicroPollDiv_241637 { width: 250px; margin: 0px auto; } Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385336 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:21:24 +0100 3385336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3311701&cid=t_330147_101_f&fid=38969&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheemtspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2F25%2Fresponding-to-hypothermia%2F Part 2 of a 2 part series. (Part one is here.) In our last post we looked at some of the causes of hypothermia, both typical and atypical. Then we talked a bit about the recognition of the hypothermia progression and what patients might look, feel and act like as they progress through their hypothermic condition. Now let’s look at some of the guidelines for treating our hypothermia victims. On the surface, treating hypothermia might seem deceptively simple. The treatment of mild hypothermia often is simple. Bring them in, stop the cooling and rewarm them. But as we progress into moderate and severe hypothermia, things get more complicated. Here are 12 guidelines to consider when the patient is more than just a little chilled. Stay warm. As much as it pains me to make a statement t... The EMT Spot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3311701 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:53:46 +0100 3311701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3244078&cid=t_330147_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F02%2F05%2Fcan-vitamin-d-keep-you-infection-free%2F On Wednesday morning I had a nice chat over coffee with Oliver Gillie, a writer and researcher with a particular interest in vitamin D. We spent much of our time talking about the role vitamin D may have in a wide range of conditions including role in a range of conditions including cancer, diabetes, [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3244078 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:10:31 +0100 3244078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189288&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Freally-weird-ms-symptoms%2F If multiple sclerosis symptoms are nothing else, especially to the newly diagnosed, they are weird!  Sure, symptoms can be frightening, challenging, difficult and even debilitating… but how many times have I caught myself saying, “Hmmmm, that’s weird!” Often we are told, “That’s doesn’t sound like MS,” or something of the kind, by our medical professionals only to find out (oft, via the pages of this blog) that we are not alone in our experience of something not in the medical text books.  It is one of the aspects of the Life with MS blog of which I am most proud! I have a real doozie to share, with a discussion of MS symptoms from the X-Files. The middle of last week, I developed a cold.  You know that feeling when you wake, somewhere between the back of your nose and t... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189288 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:14:22 +0100 3189288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146110&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhow-to-stay-warm-during-the-cold-winter-months%2F I had something else in mind for today but after receiving so many notes from all of you who are reacting to the extreme cold, I thought we’d talk about some practical matters. It may be a bit repetitious because some of us have been chatting about these things, but for other, it will be new information. I often think by gathering all of our experiences together we often come up with some very helpful information. I’d like to chat about current problems and challenges so we can all help each other by pooling our information. FACING THE COLD. One of the greatest challenges those of us with rheumatoid disease face is the effect of weather changes on our bodies. There is little doubt that barometric changes affect us and the effect that both heat and cold can have on us. The most common c... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146110 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:15:38 +0100 3146110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3108450&cid=t_330147_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fgeneral-health%2Fhome-remedies-for-the-flu Medication, vaccination, be careful, stay away, stay home, wear a mask, wash your hands. It seems like this season, you can’t even go one day without being bombarded with swine flu information. This is the time of the year when every kid comes home from school covered in germs. You intend to wash your hands enough and maybe even do, but then notice your co-worker, or person near you on the train, filthy, wiping their nose with their hands, touching the rail.  Just the thoughts can make you sick. Well, I have some advice that you may already know…your mom’s. In this case (as in so many) mom knows best. Chicken soup can really make you feel better. It is a warm liquid. It works to suppress the inflammation, it works as a detoxifying agent the vitamins help the immune system and it ju... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3108450 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:44:25 +0100 3108450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3108452&cid=t_330147_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fgeneral-health%2Fwatch-for-the-kiss-of-death Your health is one of the most precious things you have, therefore you should protect it all the time.  You should watch out so much because even an innocent looking thing you may be doing every day can kill you.  And here is how. Not so long ago a 23-year-old man without prior medical history came in the emergency room with nonspecific flu like symptoms and then developed liver failure. In the beginning doctors could not figure out why, and a short time later, he died in the hospital. After questioning of the friends that brought him in and after getting back all lab results, doctors realized what truly killed him: superinfection ( source: NEJM June 11 2009). Not only had his friends seen him at the bar talking to a woman, but they also noticed she had a vesicular lesion on her lip. Tu... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3108452 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:39:01 +0100 3108452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3097033&cid=t_330147_136_f&fid=39027&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrdlc.dreamhosters.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fhack-hack-cough-cough%2F About 3 weeks ago, I got a medium cold. A bugger, but nothing overwhelming. 2 weeks into the cold, I began to feel a bit better, and was sure that I had gotten through the worst of it. Well, next morning, I wake up shaking with chills, sweating, ready to puke. So… I turn on the (cannabis) vaporizer thinking I’ll at least soothe my nausea. A vaporizer is very, very smooth to inhale. But when I DID inhale, I started hacking and coughing. That cold I had must have shifted into my lungs. The cough began maybe 4-5 days ago. So that means no cannabis to ease nausea. The result? Vomit. And lots of it. Went to the doctor 2 days ago, was diagnosed with pneumonia, and got an injection of high-grade antibiotics and also some take-home pills. Now, I’m still coughing, but it’s b... Cancer, life, and me blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3097033 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:24:45 +0100 3097033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092826&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhow-dry-i-am-winter-with-sjogrens-syndrome%2F Those good old western movies I watched as a child, or maybe it was the war movies, have left their influence. That old song, usually sung by a drunken sot, “How dry I am, How dry I am, nobody knows, how dry I am.”  Come to think of it, that’s pretty nonsensical because they aren’t dry at all. Now as for me, I know about dry. Even in the midst of winter, the dryness of eyes, mouth and nose extends to many other areas of the body. We inhale cold freezing air and it does its aeration all the way to the lungs. There are so many times that I, like you, just want to say “Bollocks!” to all the precautions. I want to live my life. Isn’t it bad enough I have to do it with pain in my sitter, pain in my knees, pain in my ankles, etc as well as extreme changes in my skin. I slather on ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092826 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:08:33 +0100 3092826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089245&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D8139 Dr. Chin sent this in: I wonder if you can put this on MMR website. I know I might not be popular with private GPs, but I have children’s safety at heart. I have cared for a few children been ventilated in the past 2 years in Malaysia due to toxicity of cough medicine, although no death as in USA. KKM has issued a letter this year, similar to FDA warning, not to use cough and cold medicine for under age of 2 years. As I did my very first locum a few days ago, I got hold of all cough medicine drug data in the clinic, in fact, no dosing recommendation for under 2 years on all of them. Here’s the Youtube video link: Parents and caregivers be warned. Cough and cold medicines should not be given to kids under the age of 2. These can even be bought OTC (over the counter) and includ... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089245 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3089245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3071353&cid=t_330147_123_f&fid=39041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrnabong.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fis-it-common-cold-or-allergies.html The most common infection in children in the common cold but the significance of this is attributed to the possible complications that it can cause. Children usually have 5-8 infections a year and this is more common in children younger than 2 years of age. 1/3 of the common colds is caused by the rhinovirus but there are 200 different strains of viruses that can also cause this infection. Colds is usually more severe in younger children because it can result is some fever. They can have ear infections with this and if the discharge is more purulent they can have a sinus infection with this. This is very contagious so it is really hard to quarantine children with this illness. Period of infectivity starts a few hours prior to the appearance of symptoms to 1-2 days after the illness appeare... Dr Nabong's Pediatric Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3071353 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:35:00 +0100 3071353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3044306&cid=t_330147_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FpLSx_-o5roA%2F So far in my experiments to understand inhibition of rhinovirus replication by ZnCl2 I’ve found that at a concentration of 0.1 mM, viral plaque formation is inhibited but not sufficiently to be able to select resistant mutants. Attempts to use higher concentrations of the metal have consistently failed. When I initially I tried higher concentrations of ZnCl2 in the plaque assay (0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mM) the cell monolayers looked poor. I thought one reason for this apparent toxicity was that the HeLa cell monolayers were too sparse. Last week I repeated the experiment using plates of HeLa cells seeded with 2 or 2.25 million cells each the night before. I infected the cells with two different amounts of rhinovirus type 1a, added a semisolid overlay with or without ZnCl2, and incubated for fo... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044306 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:36:36 +0100 3044306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2989389&cid=t_330147_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fto-us-fda-anti-psychotics-need.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2989389 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:37:00 +0100 2989389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3016927&cid=t_330147_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2F5meqJhkqthM%2F The title of this post should not come as a surprise to readers of virology blog – it was shown in 1974 that zinc could interfere with replication of rhinoviruses (see “Zinc and the common cold“). I am referring to the result of my first experiment to study the mechanism of zinc inhibition – something I promised I would document on these pages. I am interested in understanding how zinc inhibits rhinovirus replication. Answering this question could lead to new ways to prevent common colds caused by these viruses. The first step was to reproduce the effect of zinc in my laboratory with my stocks of rhinovirus. I selected rhinovirus type 1a for my initial experiments because we’ve worked with this serotype in the past: we know the genome sequence and how the viru... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3016927 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:35:42 +0100 3016927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2958606&cid=t_330147_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2F2009%2F11%2F04%2Fzinc-inhibits-rhinovirus-replication%2F The title of this post should not come as a surprise to readers of virology blog – it was shown in 1974 that zinc could interfere with replication of rhinoviruses (see “Zinc and the common cold“). I am referring to the result of my first experiment to study the mechanism of zinc inhibition – something I promised I would document on these pages. I am interested in understanding how zinc inhibits rhinovirus replication. Answering this question could lead to new ways to prevent common colds caused by these viruses. The first step was to reproduce the effect of zinc in my laboratory with my stocks of rhinovirus. I selected rhinovirus type 1a for my initial experiments because we’ve worked with this serotype in the past: we know the genome sequence and how the viru... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2958606 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:35:42 +0100 2958606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920180&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=38261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vibrantglow.com%2F2009%2F10%2Ffight-flu-with-black-elderberry.html When my husband recently returned from a business trip overseas he called me before coming home from the airport to warn me that he had became very ill while flying. It sounded like he was bringing a dreadful form of the flu home to me and our two little ones. Well prepared for such a situation, I immediately reached for vitamin C and D, my favorite herbal immune tonic, and for a bottle of Sambucus--a syrup containing black elderberryextract.For those who choose not to be vaccinated against the flu of any strain, the black elderberryis really the best natural weapon to fight influenza. A double blind study conducted during a flu outbreak in Panama found that the standardized elderberryextract stopped the replication of at least 10 different human influenza A/B viruses. More than 90% of the... Vibrant Glow blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920180 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100 2920180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902814&cid=t_330147_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F18%2F7-myths-of-depression%2F Depression is often viewed as the “common cold” of mental disorders, because it is so prevalent in our lives. The lifetime prevalence of depression suggests that more than 1 in 9 people could be diagnosed with the disorder at one point in their lives. And unlike some other mental disorders, depression affects virtually every aspect of what you do and how you interact with others. Every year, it wreaks havoc in millions of Americans’ lives, especially amongst those who believe it is something you should just “get over” on your own. Here are seven common myths about depression, and the facts that answer them. 1. Depression means I’m really “crazy” or just weak. While depression is indeed a serious mental disorder, it is no more serious than mos... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902814 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:05:35 +0100 2902814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879594&cid=t_330147_123_f&fid=39037&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.drgreene.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F10%2F08%2Ffeeling-congested-tired-feverish-it-is-a-just-a-cold-or-is-it-the-flu%2F How can you tell the difference between cold and flu? I recorded this video with A.D.A.M. to give you information that will help you determine the difference between the two. How do you know if you have swine flu (H1N1)? There’s a great new online tool that can help you find out — and it’s free! [...] (Source: Conversations with Dr Greene) Conversations with Dr Greene blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879594 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:21:44 +0100 2879594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3016940&cid=t_330147_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FD5Mqho7bBCs%2F Shortly after I developed sore throat, cough, and congestion last week, a package of ‘Cold – Eeze’ materialized on my kitchen counter. The writing on the package of zinc-laden lozenges promised to ’shorten your cold’, and noted that they were ‘clinically proven to reduce the duration of the common cold’. Do zinc lozenges have any effect on the common cold? The common cold is the primary cause of doctor visits in the United States, leading to 189 million lost school days each year. But it’s important to point out that the common cold can be caused by a number of different viruses, including rhinovirus, coronavirus, influenza virus, adenovirus, and paramyxovirus. Rhinoviruses are responsible for over half of all common colds. The idea that zinc... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3016940 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:58:46 +0100 3016940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2875543&cid=t_330147_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2F2009%2F10%2F08%2Fzinc-and-the-common-cold%2F Shortly after I developed sore throat, cough, and congestion last week, a package of ‘Cold – Eeze’ materialized on my kitchen counter. The writing on the package of zinc-laden lozenges promised to ’shorten your cold’, and noted that they were ‘clinically proven to reduce the duration of the common cold’. Do zinc lozenges have any effect on the common cold? The common cold is the primary cause of doctor visits in the United States, leading to 189 million lost school days each year. But it’s important to point out that the common cold can be caused by a number of different viruses, including rhinovirus, coronavirus, influenza virus, adenovirus, and paramyxovirus. Rhinoviruses are responsible for over half of all common colds. The idea that zinc... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2875543 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:58:46 +0100 2875543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2871608&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FHa0wmbppsG4%2F Well – sadly it’s been one year since I have posted a blog with Disruptive Women in Healthcare so I really need to update you all on the fascinating science occurring in the genomics community. Shortly after I wrote my last blog in October 2008, I attended a meeting at one of our country’s finest scientific institutions– Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories – where some of the world’s foremost scientific discoveries have occurred. At this inaugural meeting entitled “Personal Genomes”, scientists discussed the tremendous potential for understanding the genome and translating this knowledge into our quest for the personalization of healthcare – yet at this meeting one year ago, we were acknowledging that we had sequenced less than a handful of genomes, the task at hand enorm... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2871608 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:05:33 +0100 2871608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2858589&cid=t_330147_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fsleep-for-your-health-this-cold-and-flu.html The cold and flu season is quickly approaching. This year it is more important than ever to protect yourself not only from the seasonal flu, but also from the contagious H1N1 virus or “swine flu”.So what are the easiest ways to avoid contracting the flu?It may be as easy as practicing good hygiene. Wash your hands, keep your hands away from your face and avoid contact with people who are sick. The CDC also advises getting plenty of sleep to help your body maintain a strong immune system.A New York Times blog post found that if you are sleeping poorly you are more likely to catch a cold. Scientists think that this relationship highlights the importance of sleep to your health.A study published earlier this year in the journal Sleep shows that your immune system can be affected by sleep ... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2858589 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100 2858589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842511&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FiyOFfpp3X50%2F A grandmother in Indiana has been arrested for purchasing cold medicine. We can all sleep more safely now that this hardened criminal has been taught a lesson. The Terre Haute News reports: When Sally Harpold bought cold medicine for her family back in March, she never dreamed that four months later she would end up in handcuffs. Now, Harpold is trying to clear her name of criminal charges, and she is speaking out in hopes that a law will change so others won’t endure the same embarrassment she still is facing. …Harpold is a grandmother of triplets who bought one box of Zyrtec-D cold medicine for her husband at a Rockville pharmacy. Less than seven days later, she bought a box of Mucinex-D cold medicine for her adult daughter at a Clinton pharmacy, thereby purchasing 3.6 grams tot... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842511 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:40:14 +0100 2842511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2820392&cid=t_330147_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FjHKqq4Vu7E0%2F Although being tired and run down doesn’t cause colds, research has backed up the long-time belief that being tired can help reduce your defenses, increasing your risk of developing a cold if exposed to a virus. This belief is that sleep is supposed to be restorative. It gives your body a chance to settle down, lower its blood pressure and replenish – so to speak – its reserves for another day of living. If you don’t sleep, you can be vulnerable to many illnesses. Researchers in the United States studied a group of 153 healthy men and women who had no signs or symptoms of a cold. The participants kept track of how long and well they slept over a two-week period. After the two weeks, the group was quarantined and exposed to a cold virus through a nasal spray. The fin... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2820392 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:34:14 +0100 2820392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859104&cid=t_330147_136_f&fid=39027&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrdlc.dreamhosters.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwhen-cancer-killed-grandma%2F I’d like to expand on what I wrote in this post, particularly about my grandma. I didn’t write enough about how her death affected me. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer  when she was 85 and I was 15. It’s been said that type of cancer is one of the most excruciating and lethal. (R.I.P., Mr. Swayze) Let me backtrack… my granny was Manuela. She insisted we call her Manuelita, though. She didn’t want to hear any of that “abuelita” or “grandma” business. She was short, stocky, feisty, and incredibly rugged for her age. She lived with my family since before I was born. In a sense, she was a second mom. They both ran the show while Dad was off working. Dad, Mom, and Manuelita: they were the bosses of us 5 kids. Manuelita & me Manu... Cancer, life, and me blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859104 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:26:07 +0100 2859104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2674435&cid=t_330147_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FDxOYM1EYm0Y%2F Amelia Earhart may have lived more than 110 years ago, but she still holds as much (if not more) appeal when she died as when she was alive. For starters, she was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and would have made the longest round-the-world flight had she not crashed somewhere in the Pacific. Her remains and that of her airplane were never found, although the skeletons of a tall, Caucasian female, some ound in Gardner Island (now Nikumaroro) in 1940. Unfortunately the skeletons were misplaced years later, and Amelia Earhart’s disappearance stayed unsolved through much of the 20th century. Some believe that Earhart survived the crash and lived on the island. With nothing but that theory, Ric Gillespie and the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2674435 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:03:00 +0100 2674435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660978&cid=t_330147_180_f&fid=38613&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stevepavlina.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F08%2Fhow-to-network-with-busy-people-part-4%2F This is a continuation of the “How to Network With Busy People” series. The first post in the series can be found here. Continuing on with our tips… Avoid cold-calling. Avoid cold-calling if possible. Busy people get cold calls (and a lot more cold emails) every day. This is yet another pattern that gets filtered. Cold calling is essentially the same thing as spam. As with spam, cold-calling will sometimes result in a hit. But it requires that you pester and annoy a lot of other people for each hit you generate. It’s a very low-class form of networking and very inefficient. When I refer to cold-calling, I’m talking about blasting the same message to large numbers of people in an untargeted or semi-targeted fashion. I’m not talking about sending a very targeted email to a specif... Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660978 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:15:00 +0100 2660978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262865&cid=t_330147_136_f&fid=39027&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrdlc.dreamhosters.com%2Fsongs%2FColdDesert.mp3 Am I Benjamin Button? Feels like it. Severe osteoporosis. Severe kyphosis. Old, decrepit grannies have that. I’m 28. And a guy. F. me. This song has been on repeat lately. Feel free to mope with me: Cold Desert by Kings of Leon I’m on the corner, waiting for a light to come on That’s when I know that you’re alone It’s cold in the desert, water never sees the ground Special unspoken without sound You told me you loved me, that I’d never die alone Hand over your heart, let’s go home Everyone noticed, everyone has seen the signs I’ve always been known to cross lines I’ve never ever cried when I was feeling down I’ve always been scared of the sound Jesus don’t love me, no one ever carried my load I’m too young to feel this... Cancer, life, and me blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262865 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:22:00 +0100 3262865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859113&cid=t_330147_136_f&fid=39027&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrdlc.dreamhosters.com%2Fpodpress_trac%2Ffeed%2F159%2F0%2FColdDesert.mp3 Am I Benjamin Button? Feels like it. Severe osteoporosis. Severe kyphosis. Old, decrepit grannies have that. I’m 28. And a guy. F. me. This song has been on repeat lately. Feel free to mope with me: Buy The Album. Cold Desert by Kings of Leon I’m on the corner, waiting for a light to come on That’s when I know that you’re alone It’s cold in the desert, water never sees the ground Special unspoken without sound You told me you loved me, that I’d never die alone Hand over your heart, let’s go home Everyone noticed, everyone has seen the signs I’ve always been known to cross lines I’ve never ever cried when I was feeling down I’ve always been scared of the sound Jesus don’t love me, no one ever carried my load I’m too yo... Cancer, life, and me blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859113 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:22:00 +0100 2859113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2594476&cid=t_330147_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F12%2Fswearing-reduces-pain%2F Back in March, I reported on a study by Timothy Jay describing how and why humans swear. As a researcher studying swearing for 35 years, Jay had some interesting insights. Now add one more reason to the list — we swear not merely as a reaction to pain, but because it can actually reduce our sense of pain. The new finding comes from research that tested the hypothesis with a bunch (67) of college students and some ice cold water. Students were given a choice when they plunged their warm hands into the freezing water — chant a neutral word, or repeat a swear word instead. Those students who chose to swear reported less subjective pain than the neutral word chanters, and could endure the icy cold water with their hands for about 40 seconds longer on average. Some researcher spec... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2594476 Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:51:54 +0100 2594476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859117&cid=t_330147_136_f&fid=39027&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrdlc.dreamhosters.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fdeath-of-a-dream%2F Surgery #1 was 1987. Once I recovered from the drug-induced haze and made my way out of the physical therapy labs (around 7-8 years old), I had seen far too many medical staff. Yet, since they were all around me and concerned about me, naturally it made me curious about them. It was simply fascinating. Overwhelming, but fascinating for a kid brain. Example thought process as a kid in a hospital: Who’s that lady? Why’s she got a mask on her head? Stetho-what? Heh, look at the dumb clown print on that guy’s shirt! How come so many of them have silly shirts? What are those cards hanging from everyone’s neck? What is that giant piece of metal? Is this a dungeon? Whoa I’m on a moving bed. Why don’t they use any orange or yellow lights around here? Everything ... Cancer, life, and me blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859117 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:25:08 +0100 2859117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859123&cid=t_330147_136_f&fid=39027&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrdlc.dreamhosters.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fchemo%2F Imagine your worst stomach flu ever. Now imagine you have to walk 20 miles. Then it starts to snow. Minutes later you are in a desert. Then ants crawl over you and sting every inch of your skin they can find. Snowing again. Then you vomit. Desert-like heat. More vomit. Ice cold storm. Lungs burning. Bones aching. Vomit. You burn up. Vomit. Cold. Stomach churning. Insides twisting. You dry heave now, since there’s nothing left inside you. More ants crawling and stinging, but this time, they are under your skin. Dry heaves. Cold as hell. Piercing headache, like needles through your eyes and temples. Hot as hell. Every noise is like a loud crash. More dry heaves, only spit and snot come out now.You are as exhausted and uncomfortable as you have ever felt in your life. Then imagine you&#... Cancer, life, and me blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859123 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:03:16 +0100 2859123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511650&cid=t_330147_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Ffda-warns-consumers-to-discard-zicam-products%2F In an unusual move earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted consumers that Zicam Cold Remedy products have been associated with long lasting or even permanent loss of smell. FDA recommends that consumers stop using these products and that they throw away any that might still be in their homes. The affected products include Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (the last one is a previously discontinued product). The products had been sold by Matrixx Initiatives to reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms; however, they have never been shown to be effective. These products were formulated and sold for intranasal use and may have contained zinc, which is potentially toxic to the nasal membranes. Th... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511650 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:12:13 +0100 2511650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2464206&cid=t_330147_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FQMO3bbx8CGY%2F If you’re feeling a bit lousy these days (like yours truly) and your eyes are watering, your nose is running, and you’re slightly fatigued, you may have a cold. Or… an allergy. But how can you tell the difference? Colds and allergies often have similar symptoms. As you can see by the following chart, coughs are usually something that comes with a cold, but not as often with allergies. Often allergies are accompanied by asthma and the cough can come from that. Itchy eyes usually mean it’s allergies, whereas some general aches and pains mean it’s probably a cold. Still, even with the help of this chart, the symptoms for both are usually very close. Allergies last for several weeks, but the “common cold is easily spread from person to person and usually l... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2464206 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:42:26 +0100 2464206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424088&cid=t_330147_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F05%2Fcough-or-kill%2F I am a belligerent skeptic of over-the-counter cough and cold medications. I’ve been this way since well before I ever entertained the idea of being a doctor. The late Michael Shannon (also known as the ‘dancing doctor‘) nicely summed up the problems with this group of medications: ‘The problem with cough and cold medications are two-fold. One, they [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424088 Wed, 20 May 2009 15:14:02 +0100 2424088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414766&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6979 Got this video link off a twitter buddy. This is extremely important health education information for all women. A man-cold != woman-cold. On a more serious note, it’s not that men are wimps, it’s just that women “fight disease off better” from the Malaysian Medical Resources VIDEO: It’s a man-cold! (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414766 Fri, 15 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2414766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405197&cid=t_330147_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fchildrens-hospital-cold-medications.html Michael Shannon, MD, MPH, a pediatric emergency medicine physician and pharmacologist/toxicologist at Children's Hospital Boston, recently testified in front of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) on the dangers of giving cough and cold medicines to children under age 6. In this interview Dr. Shannon discusses these dangers and offers advice to parents on how to safely treat their child with a cold.Thanks for reading :) ... http://prep4md.blogspot.com/ (Source: My M.D. Journey!) My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405197 Wed, 13 May 2009 20:14:00 +0100 2405197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405517&cid=t_330147_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F5CNF50H_Nh0%2F With the common cold and the seasonal flu making their rounds regularly, it’s still surprising how many people don’t know the difference between the two. Here in northern hemisphere, seasonal flu season is ending. It runs from late fall to spring, with the peak usually being in January and February. But, with the advent of the H1N1 virus, people are talking more about the flu than usual. There seems to be two distinct camps of people when it comes to influenza and it’s hard for anyone to fit in the middle. Either you’re one of those people who feel that you’ve been sick enough in the past and you survived, so what is everyone whining about or you’ve had the flu and you don’t ever, ever, ever want to experience that again. First, let’s get one... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405517 Wed, 13 May 2009 11:18:04 +0100 2405517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398816&cid=t_330147_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F09%2Fpostcard-to-mom-wish-you-were-here%2F Six Ways To Deal With Mother’s Day When Mom Is Gone Mother’s Day can be rough on those of us who can’t take our mothers to brunch or pick up the phone to wish them a good day. Remembering who they were before they went beyond our reach; imagining what they would say to us now if they were within hugging distance, is bittersweet. My Mom died eight years ago. It still doesn’t seem possible. The death of a mother is like nothing else. The bond we have to her is like nothing else. We can be three or eighty when we lose our Moms it doesn’t matter. The devastation is deep and the hollow sense of loss never completely goes away. My Mom was no saint. If she wears a halo now it’s propped up by little devil’s horns. She was frustrating, moody, beautiful and ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398816 Sat, 09 May 2009 09:00:42 +0100 2398816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389642&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=36710&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.organizedwisdom.com%2Fhealth%2F2009%2F05%2Fh1n1-and-take-home-lessons.html In the U.S. each year, millions of people are infected with the influenza virus and over 100,000 are hospitalized. According to the CDC, approximately 36,000 deaths were attributed to seasonal influenza last year. The new strain of influenza A (H1N1), known in the media as swine flu, reminds us that influenza can have significant consequences.It's apparent that the new strain of influenza causes the same type of initial symptoms as seasonal flu: high fevers, headaches, body aches, cough, and nausea. Fortunately, most cases are relatively mild and resolve within several days. However, just like seasonal flu, H1N1 also has the potential to cause severe disease, especially in elderly people, children under the age of 2, pregnant women, and those who have underlying lung or heart pro... The Health Wisdom Blog™ (by OrganizedWisdom) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389642 Tue, 05 May 2009 06:37:55 +0100 2389642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376402&cid=t_330147_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fswine-flu-separating-hysteria-from-fact%2F As of today, Monday April 27, I agree completely with President Obama when he says that while swine flu is an issue of concern, it is “not a cause for alarm.” There are several reasons why you should not panic in spite of the incessant media drum beat and the minute by minute updates. First, so far this is an extremely uncommon illness affecting a very small number of people in the United States, all of whom had mild illness and recovered without incident. Yes, it might spread further, but even so, let’s take a step back and remember that we’re talking about influenza, not Ebola or smallpox. And while full-blown influenza is no walk in the park, for most people it’s not even remotely life-threatening. It’s an unpleasant upper respiratory illness with systemic symptoms of fever,... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376402 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:53:24 +0100 2376402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353885&cid=t_330147_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F21%2Ffrog-in-the-pot-how-stress-creeps-up-on-us%2F Did you know that if you boil a pot of water and throw in a live frog that that frog will hop right out, saving his life to croak again another day (ha, ha)? If, on the other hand, you place a frog in a pot of cold water and turn the heat up slowly, that frog will stay in the pot. He will not jump out but slowly acclimate to the increasingly hot water until it boils to death. Truth or urban legend? To prove it I’d have to cook a live frog and that’s not going to happen. It sounds true and so should be because of what it teaches us. A women comes to see me for help. She tells me her story, sighs, and then says, “Really, it’s not that bad.” Oh, yes, it is! She’s sitting in a pot of very hot water. If she had been dropped into her intolerable situation all ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353885 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:00:48 +0100 2353885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2318539&cid=t_330147_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fits-time-to-cut-back-your-red-meat-consumption%2F Eating red meat increases your chances of dying prematurely. That’s the stark finding of a very large and very well done clinical study just published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.  The study found that eating red and processed meat was associated with increases in total mortality, cancer mortality, and cardiovascular disease mortality. They found that eating just 4 ounces of red meat a day raises your overall risk of dying prematurely, raises your risk of dying from cancer and raises your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. I’d say that means it’s time to decrease your consumption of red meat, which includes beef, pork and processed meats like sausage, bacon and cold cuts. There are a number of reasons why eating red meat might be bad for your health. Red... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2318539 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:05:39 +0100 2318539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287228&cid=t_330147_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F24%2Fwant-to-cut-your-risk-of-death%2F We often talk about happiness and well-being on the blog, or how to reduce your depression or cope with anxiety here. But none of that’s going to do you a whole lot of good if your life is cut short by making daily unhealthy food choices. So while I don’t usually write about general health topics here, occasionally a piece of research rises to the level of demanding our attention. And the research published yesterday linking red meat to a higher risk of death over the study’s 10 year period of time is just such research. The study of more than 500,000 middle-aged and elderly (aged 50 to 71) Americans found that those who consumed about four ounces of red meat a day (the equivalent of about a small hamburger) were more than 30 percent more likely to die during the 10 year... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287228 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:56:31 +0100 2287228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249134&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6314 strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources VIDEO: Vitamin D Deficiency May Increase Cold Risk, Moderate Wine Intake May Reduce Esophageal Cancer Risk, Lead Levels Significantly Lower Among Children (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249134 Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2249134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211812&cid=t_330147_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fthick-skinned-geordies.html A week or two ago the British media was full of the story of scientists hoping to discover why the indigenous people of Tyneside are wont to few clothes even in the briskest of breezes and the worst of winter cold snaps. If you’ve been out on the town in Newcastle any time of year, you will likely have spotted lads and lasses strolling between pubs and clubs with barely a stitch of clothing among them, save for the shortest of skirts, the flimsiest of shirts and rarely a hat, barely a scarf and never a pair of gloves. When it’s really, really, cold a Geordie lad might fasten the top button of his shirt. Some of you are probably wondering why, as a Geordie, I didn’t cover this incredible news when it broke. Well, at the time I was carrying out my own scientific experiment ... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211812 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:00:05 +0100 2211812 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2210670&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=35060&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthnewsblog.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fhnblog.pl%3Fhnblog%3D212091 Scientists have mapped the entire genome of the common cold virus. It won't lead to an immediate cure but it could be the next step in finding a cure. "We have the pieces all in place. They can't go in any other way. Now we have to understand what the pictures are telling us," said Dr. Stephen B. Liggett, professor of medicine and physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of its Cardiopulmonary Genomics Program. The research was published in the online edition of the journal Science on Thursday afternoon. Technically known as the human rhinovirus infection, the common cold is responsible for half of all asthma attacks and is a factor in bronchitis, sinusitis, middle-ear infections and pneumonia. The coughs, sneezes and sniffles of colds impose a major he... HealthNewsBlog.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2210670 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2210670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2172878&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2009%2F02%2F09%2Fhealthbolt-will-return-tomorrow%2F Surrounded by bugs… Hopefully will be able to resume regular posting again tomorrow!!! (image via newscom) Tags: cold, feeling unwell, flu, sickness, unwellShare This (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2172878 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:37:33 +0100 2172878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2169383&cid=t_330147_81_f&fid=38248&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FCostellokidsNews%2F%7E3%2F534776737%2F Another late night, and the outside temperature is down past -5 Centigrade. Manchester is in the grip of the coldest winter for the past 20 years. What is great about our support group is the wide range of places our families live, we are spread across the world like a small band of nomads. This picture is a view Looking from Scouthead across Dobcross, Uppermill and Diggle towards Standedge.(Oldham Manchester) around 10 miles form our house, the hills as far as the eye can see are a carpet of snow. So at almost 2 am I sit look through the window at the carpet of white, the heating set to high, and wish for a good summer. It could be worse, as is shown in this photograph, kindly sent by one of our Australian families, I could be watching my plants die in the baking  heat. I think for now ... CostelloKids News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2169383 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:03:20 +0100 2169383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144562&cid=t_330147_135_f&fid=35274&url=http%3A%2F%2Facidrefluxweb.com%2F%3Fp%3D2297 “I’m home sick feeling like a hag, the sick part will pass, the hag part will most likely remain for a long time.” Me, January 29, 2009 (Source: acidrefluxweb.com) acidrefluxweb.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144562 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:52:15 +0100 2144562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2129419&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fwhat-things-do-you-miss-most-that-ms-has-taken-from-you%2F We can all agree that multiple sclerosis is a thief.  It takes things away from us upon which we rely and from which we derive much.  Of all the things that MS has taken from me; a career, a marriage (MS was only part of that), a lifestyle, a persona, you know what I miss most? A hot tub. Far greater a number are affected by heat than cold (though I know we’ve had those conversations as well) so I suspect I’m not alone here. On cold winter evenings or when a muscle is just out of place, a romantic getaway or just when it would be nice to relax at the gym, I miss a hot tub. The weekend after I was diagnosed in 2001, my former wife made reservation at a local spa hotel for us to recoup.  I had great treatments like hot stone massage, a hot seaweed bath, I spent lots of time in... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2129419 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:25:43 +0100 2129419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2125385&cid=t_330147_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2F519969237%2F I had my quarterly checkup with the oncologist yesterday, and he said that my CT scan showed that everything is clear. No cause for concern, and all of that sort of good thing. I had been coming down with a cold for the past couple of days, but the news cheered me up so much that today, the cold is almost completely gone. Enough navel gazing — what else can I tell you of interest? My part of the Midwest (and Shirl’s part too!) continues to be locked down under oppressively cold temperatures, though today at least the sun is out so it can’t be all bad. Obama has just ordered the shutting down of that moral and legal quagmire, Guantanamo. It’s going to be interesting over the years to see how various interpretations of that place change and grow. I have no idea how to thi... white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2125385 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:35:06 +0100 2125385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2110706&cid=t_330147_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2F514006705%2F I don’t mean frozen in the sense of the blog locking up like a frozen screen during a system crash. I mean frozen in the old fashioned sense of the blog existing (as it sort of does, regardless of where the server is) in the -2°F weather here in Cincinnati. I had thought the weather results a mistake until I found out how cold it is throughout the house. My CT scan went well, and now I am, based on no facts, feeling like it will show nothing wrong, and that next Wednesday I will get yet another clean bill of health from my doctor. Yes, it’s possible that I won’t, but it simply feels better to be optimistic during this week of waiting. As for the rest of this day, I will keep my promise of a post or two back, and find some silly things to share with y’all. Copyright... white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2110706 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:46:32 +0100 2110706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074174&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5698 Breast Cancer Recovery Slowed By Poor Relationships, Children Under 6 Should Not Be Given Cough & Cold Meds, Likelihood of Obesity Set By Age 5 from the Malaysian Medical Resources Breast Cancer Recovery Slowed By Poor Relationships, Children Under 6 Should Not Be Given Cough & Cold Meds, Likelihood of Obesity Set By Age 5 (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074174 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2074174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2067911&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2FYv1BonvA920%2F Whom do I call to notify that I am taking a sick day from this motherhood gig? I know it’s only a cold, and I will get over it eventually, but in the thick of it I find it very difficult! Not only am I sick, but my baby is sick too, and that’s when I am on extra duty, not less! When she wakes, she wants ME — after all, I am her primary caregiver, and her dad just doesn’t have the super ability to comfort her at his breast! If only I could have a day filled with naps (mine, not the baby’s!) alternating with hot baths to steam my sinuses! And then a good night’s sleep! Don’t get me wrong. I am happy to be breastfeeding during these times. I shudder to think that my baby could be even more sick if she weren’t getting antibodies from my milk. My... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2067911 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:08:40 +0100 2067911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056350&cid=t_330147_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F489647100%2F Some of the 103 children who died after being given the cough and cold may have been deliberately given overdoses to sedate or even kill them, Bloomberg News writes, citing a study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine that examined deaths over the past four decades. The children who died after taking the drugs ranged in age from 28 days to 10 years, with 75 percent younger than two years old. In 26 cases, the reviewers determined that a child was given the medication with “nontherapeutic intent.” And 10 died in day-care facilities (here is the study). You may recall an FDA advisory panel recently urged that OTC cough and cold meds should not be given to children younger than 6 years old. Drugmakers voluntarily changed the labels on the medicines to warn against their use in children y... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056350 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:30:18 +0100 2056350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047801&cid=t_330147_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fhand-washing-and-hand-sanitizers-reduce-the-spread-of-germs%2F I’ve been so busy getting ready for the holidays that I missed National Hand Washing Awareness Week, which was December 7-13. No matter. Hand washing, as we say here in the Pacific Northwest, is an evergreen topic that doesn’t go out of season. And with cold and flu season hard upon us, reminders, and even extra reminders, on hand washing are especially appropriate. Hand washing is simple to do and is the best way to prevent infection and its spread because your hands are constantly coming into contact with germ-laden surfaces and transferring those germs to your eyes, nose and mouth. According to the Centers for Disease Control, here’s when to wash your hands: Before preparing or eating food After going to the bathroom After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who h... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047801 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:28:29 +0100 2047801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056116&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=35060&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthnewsblog.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fhnblog.pl%3Fhnblog%3D1213081 CBS News reporter Maggie Rodriguez talked to Dr. Holly Phillips about a commonly asked question by people feeling sick, "Do I have a Cold or a Flu?" Dr. Holly Phillips says most of the time its the common cold. She says adults get between 2 or 4 colds each year and children get as many as 6 to 10 cold each year. The flu tends to come with a high fever and the "run over by a truck" feeling. Doctors do have a rapid flu test available. The one thing this video does not discuss is allergies which can also be confused with a cold or a flu. Permalink | Recent Headlines | News Feeds (Source: HealthNewsBlog.com) HealthNewsBlog.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056116 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:00:00 +0100 2056116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2018350&cid=t_330147_136_f&fid=36162&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomablog.com%2F2008%2F12%2F06%2Fits-cold%2F The temperature is dropping for us here. It was nice enough to be out without a jacket today, but the thermostat has been turned up tonight. 28 degrees is too cold (Source: beth's myeloma blog) beth's myeloma blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2018350 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:04:47 +0100 2018350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2021558&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=35060&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthnewsblog.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fhnblog.pl%3Fhnblog%3D1121081 Above is a frightening photograph of someone with a cold coughing and a thick cloud of cold virus being released and widely dispersed. A technique called Schlieren photography was used by Professor Gary Settles to show how a cough can spread the cold virus through the air. Now you know why the common cold spreads so quickly. (via News.com) Permalink | Recent Headlines | News Feeds (Source: HealthNewsBlog.com) HealthNewsBlog.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2021558 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0100 2021558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975187&cid=t_330147_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FsiXO_hNplww%2F For all of man’s scientific prowess and evolutionary advancement, we are the helpless victims of this sneaky little villain. Cold viruses have very few genes, so they have one purpose and one alone - to make our lives miserable! So we hack, snort, sneeze and feel awful until this prokaryote decides it has enough of us. There is no cure. We can treat the symptoms, sure, but we’re not fighting the virus. We’re simply "letting it run its course" and that really sucks, right? Here is man, the mighty Goliath, and this puny David of a virus swings at us and down we go, crying for our mommies. The latest research found that it’s not the rhinovirus that causes the cold symptoms. Rather our immune response goes into "overdrive" because this viral infect... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975187 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:59:53 +0100 1975187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1961389&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fturn-up-the-heat-i-hurt-more-when-im-cold%2F It’s officially fall, and a chill is in the air. There’s always so much to consider in preparing for winter but when you face the additional challenge of chronic pain, the list gets a bit longer. Most of us would list staying warm as a priority during the cold damp weather. It hurts to be cold. Whether your problem is arthritis, an old war wound (from the Crimean, etc.) or an old football injury…well, the list goes on. The fact is that we need heat to get the blood circulating to those painful parts. It’s not quite so humorous when you’re the one who feels the pain. It’s an even greater problem if you have muscle pain, joint pain or some of the rheumatoid syndromes such as Raynaud’s syndrome. This is a point I am forever trying to get across to my hubby. He is one of those gu... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1961389 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:31:03 +0100 1961389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947120&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F11%2F10%2Fdeal-with-winters-aches-and-ills-the-natural-way%2F                        (Image Credit: Newscom) With winter on it’s way, now’s the time to look at ways of dealing with those aches and illnesses that seem to hang around. the daily green has put together a slideshow highlighting ‘12 natural remedies for winters aches and ills’ that are worth bookmarking for future reference. They suggest the following… …Vitamin C to Prevent Colds …Thyme for a Cough …Garlic for a Runny Nose …Leafy Greens for Nosebleeds …Tea for Sore Throats …Carrots for Headaches …Nuts for Energy …Lavender for Anxiety …Pineapples for Better Digestion …Tomatoes for Burns …Celery for Better Sleep …Walnuts for Dry Skin …Honey Yogurt Lotion for Dry Sk... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947120 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:38:43 +0100 1947120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1926440&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5137 Eating Grapes May Have Heart Benefits, Toys in Doctors’ Offices Carry Cold Viruses, Nicotine Addiction Severity On the Rise I can say I am a major grape eater myself! Basically love the stuff and it’s great to know that there’s evidence that it’s good for the heart besides also having a dose of resveratrol! a Eating Grapes May Have Heart Benefits, Toys in Doctors’ Offices Carry Cold Viruses, Nicotine Addiction Severity On the Rise (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1926440 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1926440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1924492&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5134 a Selenium and Vitamin E Do Not Prevent Prostate Cancer, New Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Gene Response to Common Cold Studied (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924492 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1924492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1879933&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F420728283%2Fnew-research-ethics-blog.html A hearty welcome to Nancy Walton who has just started blogging on research ethics -- Nancy is an RN and PhD, and Associate Director of the School of Nursing at Ryerson University in Toronto. Chris MacDonald, author of the Business Ethics Blog, (who has been busily blogging delightfully about monkey business in the last few days) is also co-piloting the research ethics blog. By way of welcome and introduction, we are cross-posting one of their blog entries today:Children's Cold Remedies: the Ethics of Doing ResearchFrom Reuters: Don't use cold drugs in kids under 4, industry saysOral cough and cold medicines sold over the counter should not be used in children younger than 4 years old because of the risk of rare complications linked to inappropriate use, manufacturers said on Tuesday. The ... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1879933 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:35:23 +0100 1879933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1863022&cid=t_330147_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F414020426%2F An industry trade group, which represents such drugmakers as Procter & Gamble, Novartis and Johnson & Johnson, unexpectedly declared that several very popular over-the-counter cough and cold meds for children younger than four years old should not be used because of the risk of rare complications associated with inappropriate use. The voluntary move comes just one week after an FDA meeting was held in which a group of doctors and consumer advocates cited ineffective and even dangerous meds for small children as justification for an all-out ban. The Consumer Healthcare Products Association maintains that dosing errots and accidental ingestions - not the safety of the meds - are to blame for serious adverse events. “We’re doing this out of an abundance of caution,&#8221... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1863022 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:04:50 +0100 1863022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859610&cid=t_330147_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F-BoBPA4ORQs%2F So after a sunny Sunday topped up with exuberant bike riding and one of his all-time favorite meals at his all-time favorite Jersey hamburger stand, Charlie woke up on Monday morning with heavy-duty sniffles, a gurgly cough, and a hot forehead. Jim had gone out to wait for the bus while I got Charlie ready and I found myself running out to tell Jim that Charlie wouldn’t be going to school today. I went back inside, where Charlie was standing up, rather wobbly, and assured him he could stay home and before you know it he was stretched out on some cushions with a sleeping bag over him, sound asleep. Jim came back in and asked the next, very pressing question: What were we going to do about work? It’s a perennial issue for us; it’s the perpetual dilemma of the working mom an... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859610 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:09:04 +0100 1859610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1851209&cid=t_330147_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F409692371%2F A group of doctors and consumer advocates raised the specter of ineffective and even dangerous cough and cold meds for youngsters between the ages of 2 and 6 years old as justification for an all-out ban at an FDA meeting today. Last year, in fact, an FDA advisory committee recommended the same thing for this group of over-the-counter meds. “Cough and cold medications…have not been proven to be effective and they have clear risks. It is time for them to be reevaluated,” Wayne Snodgrass of the University of Texas Medical Branch, told the gathering, according to Reuters. Parents want their children to feel better, but “it is too easy to administer too much or not enough,” added Mimi Johnson, a health policy associate at the National Consumers League. Among the m... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851209 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:27:16 +0100 1851209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826919&cid=t_330147_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fchicken-soup-upper-respiratory-system.html A while back, I was browsing WebMD and they did have quite a good article about how Chicken Soup is a great remedy for a cold or other upper respiratory system complaints. With cold season upon us, I thought it would be fun to read, as this is written with a touch of humor & sarcasm.Included is a wonderful recipe for that well-known home remedy that seems to cure almost everything, Chicken Soup. It contains some herbs that are good for the upper respiratory system as well, even though he doesn't mention that as he lists the ingredients.Following is the recipe, you can find the full article by clicking "It's Back to Chicken Soup" With the cold winter months coming to our part of the country, this sounds like a delicious remedy for children and grown-ups alike!Moser's WebMD Decongestant ... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826919 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:11:00 +0100 1826919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1750497&cid=t_330147_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F01%2Fthe-situation-of-metaphor%2F Over on We’re Only Human, Wray Herbert has another one of his superb posts, this one about the situtational sources of temperature-based metaphors — and the association of cold and lonely. Here’s a sample. * * * Psychologists are curious about this metaphor, and others. Some believe that metaphors are much more than literary conventions, indeed that they are constellations of ancient and recent experience that we use to help us comprehend the complexity of our emotional lives. According to this view, metaphors are readily available because they are deep-wired into our neurons. But how did they get there? Two psychologists at the University of Toronto decided to explore this question in the laboratory. Chen-Bo Zhong and Geoffrey Leonardelli wanted to see if our use of meta... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750497 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:01:16 +0100 1750497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1730753&cid=t_330147_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Ffda-safety-and-efficacy-of-childrens.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1730753 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:02:00 +0100 1730753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1546873&cid=t_330147_113_f&fid=35744&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fe-CareManagement%2F%7E3%2F320108332%2F By Vince Kuraitis and David C. Kibbe, MD, MBA Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks. Like most Americans, Goldilocks had concerns about achieving just the right amount of data liquidity for her personal health information (PHI). Until today Goldilocks felt between a rock and a hard place: "I want my PHI to be appropriately liquid — just the right viscosity. My PHI should be viscous enough to flow to my trusted health care providers to use to improve my health and health care. “Today my PHI is frozen and inaccessible — it’s too cold. “But I’m worried about the other extreme — the risks of using a personal health record (PHR). The privacy/security advocates tell me that I should be concerned about my PHI being too hot — like ... e-CareManagement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1546873 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:28:20 +0100 1546873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526390&cid=t_330147_140_f&fid=35448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseemedlikeagoodideathetime.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F16%2Fan-m-r-i-dont-know-know-if-this-is-a-good-idea%2F Tomorrow I’m having an MRI… with AND without contrast. I have to admit, the “with contrast” makes me a little nervous… It’s on my brain. I’ve been having, what could only be called “seizures”…. Simple partial seizures. Just a little deja vu to start off with… I always know they’re coming… I don’t [...] (Source: bipolar chicks blogging) bipolar chicks blogging blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526390 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:58:29 +0100 1526390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1472423&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fstatin-police.html What is the evidence?You are just finishing lunch when the phone rings. “Hello, may I speak to Mr (pause, a rustle of paper) Jones?”“Speaking”“Hello, Mr Jones, may I take a minute of your time to discuss health issues?”“What are you selling?”“I am not selling anything, Mr Jones. Mr Jones we just happen to be in your area, and we notice that you are now 48 years old, Mr Jones, and that your father died aged 69 of a heart attack.”“How do you know this?”“Have you considered, Mr Jones, that if you were to take just one tablet a day of ‘Plugastatin’ you, Mr Jones, could reduce your risk of heart disease?”“I don’t want to buy anything. I am going to hang up now”.“But Mr Jones, your last blood pressure reading was 148/88 and you were 10 lbs above your ideal... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1472423 Wed, 28 May 2008 08:18:00 +0100 1472423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1392552&cid=t_330147_140_f&fid=35448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseemedlikeagoodideathetime.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F22%2Flearn-from-my-mistake%2F   or, in other words, “DO AS I SAY NOT WHAT I DO!” I’ve been feeling really lousy physically for about 10 days now. Steadily worse and worse. Since, I was pulling my well known stunt of deciding to quit some meds, I attributed a lot of the illness to withdrawal. Well, my head and throat started filling [...] (Source: bipolar chicks blogging) bipolar chicks blogging blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1392552 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:06:50 +0100 1392552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1373561&cid=t_330147_140_f&fid=35448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseemedlikeagoodideathetime.com%2F2008%2F04%2F15%2Fmy-own-little-rehab%2F by UM/aka trailerparkbarbie   Awwww….what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. Ain’t it the damn truth! I’m in hell. I’m in agony.  And, I’m alone in it. A little history……around 25 years ago, I was diagnosed (again) as bipolar. This was after an unwilling and unwanted admission to a psych ward. And, yep, I was [...] (Source: bipolar chicks blogging) bipolar chicks blogging blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1373561 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:39:31 +0100 1373561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1300623&cid=t_330147_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F250949207%2F A California mother filed what appears to be the first proposed class action lawsuit since the drugmaker recalled its Triaminic cough and cold medicines over fears that children may suffer overdoses. The lawsuit, which was filed earlier this week in federal court in Los Angeles, says several studies have shown deaths and serious injuries linked to over-the-counter remedies, Reuters reports. As a result, Novartis “either knew…or reasonably should have known that their cough and cold products were ineffective and dangerous when used by children under the age of six,” the lawsuit states, according to Reuters. A Novartis spokeswoman had no comment, but did say this is the first to bring claims involving the children’s meds. The lawsuit was brought by Kelly Carter, who l... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1300623 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:33:26 +0100 1300623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1300773&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fcreams-lotions-and-topical-treatments-for-your-skin%2F From time to time, some of you ask me about rashes and other irritations of the skin. For me, one of the first symptoms I experienced was a rash, apparently reactive to sun exposure. Since I had a most beloved powder blue Mustang convertible and we also owned a ski boat, that presented a major problem. I have always tanned without incident, rarely even burned from the sun and all of a sudden, my arms, the tops of my thighs if I was wearing a skirt and the top of my head, were all breaking out in a very itchy rash. One of the reasons one of my early diagnosis was lupus was because of the changes in my skin. I tried prescription creams, cortisone creams and Benadryl creams with some success but not complete relief. It took me awhile to figure out I had to wear sunscreen everywhere that would... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1300773 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:38:57 +0100 1300773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1296104&cid=t_330147_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F249991875%2F So there I was explaining to my students how Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, came to the aid of Tarentum in southern Italy in 279 BC, against the Romans: While Pyrrhus defeated the Romans, he suffered heavy casualties, was defeated by the Romans at Beneventum and retreated across the Adriatic Sea; Tarentum fell to the Romans in 272 BC, “and,” I said, looking at my class, “how do you connect this to the phrase Pyrrhic victory?” A number flashed on my cell phone (ringer set to silent): The school nurse. In the not to distant past, when we lived in a different north Jersey town considerably closer to New York, I used to get calls from the school nurse almost every day. I might be at a meeting for new faculty, or teaching the passive voice of verbs, or driving up the long curv... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1296104 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:01:55 +0100 1296104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1226876&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fdoes-cold-weather-cause-the-flu%2F That is one question for which there are many responses. All of us grew up hearing, “Take your galoshes (boots, overshoes, rubbers). Grab your umbrella; where are your mittens?” God love us mothers of the world. We do our best to keep our charges safe, as did our mothers, but it isn’t always easy. Now, my mother-in-law, who is a sensible and delightful human being, doesn’t believe getting a chill has anything to do with one’s health. Personally, I think she learned to have that opinion from watching her son grow big and strong. Every fall, she bought him a new jacket. He took it to school and put it in his locker where it stayed until summer rolled around when he took the dusty yet new jacket out and carried it home. Fast forward many years and here I sit, or more accurately, rec... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1226876 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:33:22 +0100 1226876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1223825&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Flife-with-ms%2Fthe-cold-and-flu-season-with-multiple-sclerosis%2F In the cold, wet, gray (and bloody short!) days of February, we notice people sniffling, snuffling and sneezing and wheezing all around us. The last thing we want is to succumb to another person’s bug but, alas, there isn’t much we can do. We are in the heart of cold and flu season in my neck of the woods, and everyone seems to be either coming down with, just getting over or in the midst of suffering some viral thing or another. It’s like walking into a germ fog anytime you go out in public. I used to have a failsafe for this time of year. I used a tincture of echinacea and goldenseal, which a friend would brew up every year from her organic gardens. A few drops of this stuff at the first sign of a cold and I was good to go. Now, of course, I’m not really into the idea of boosting... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1223825 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:40:59 +0100 1223825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1179644&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fhoarse-race.html The antibiotic fight continues in health centres throughout the country. Despite wide media coverage of the dangers of overprescribing antibiotics, particularly broad spectrum antibiotics, public demand remains unabated. The pressure on doctors is enormous. Laryngitis is always a problem. The public think that laryngitis elevates the common cold into automatic antibiotic territory. It does not. But try to tell that to a school teacher. “My cold has turned in to laryngitis” is challenging enough. “My cold has turned into laryngitis and I am a school teacher" is pure heart sink. It is always so much more difficult to say “no”. Help is now at hand. From America, Kevin MD points me at an article in the Wall Street Journal:The Hoarse Race: When Candidates Lose Their VoicesHot water, l... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1179644 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:45:00 +0100 1179644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1122607&cid=t_330147_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F208797533%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1122607 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:16:08 +0100 1122607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1093269&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsome-things-to-remember-in-the-aftermath-of-a-natural-disaster%2F I realize nature can be cruel but I think it should be called a non-natural disaster, don’t you? The other phrase that confuses me is calling it an “act of God.” Guess we have to blame somebody when life goes awry. We certainly have a great deal to thank Him for these days here in Oregon. The sounds of chain saws can be heard throughout the Northwest. It’s a sound of tragic after-blow but it still beats the sound of the actual blow. Funny thing about calamity is that it makes everyday, regular life seem so sweet. For some of us with chronic illness and daily pain we have to search a little hard at times for that joy and sweetness. When you are dealing with life on a somewhat uneven tilt already, a non-natural disaster can almost drive you over the edge. I realize the purpose of wri... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1093269 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:40:36 +0100 1093269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1091279&cid=t_330147_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F12%2F13%2Fcks-is-not-just-for-christmas-but-you-never-thought-it-was%2F The following Prodigy guidance have been reviewed and converted to the Clincal Khowledge Summaries (CKS) format Asthma Conjunctivitis — infective Gingivitis and periodontitis Herpes simplex — oral MI—secondary prevention If you’re not familiar with Clinical Knowledge Summaries, they are concise summaries on the management of 500 commonly encountered scenarios in primary and first-contact care, based on the latest evidence on common acute and chronic diseases and disease prevention. CKS can be accessed from the National Library for Health via your Athens password (register here if you work in the NHS in the North West). If you need any training in using this or any other electronic resources and you work for Liverpool PCT, contact us using the form below. [contact-form] (Sourc... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1091279 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:47:13 +0100 1091279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1067903&cid=t_330147_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F194589915%2F There is limited evidence that new formulations of over-the-counter cold medications actually relieve nasal congestion, according to FDA medical reviewers. Studies of phenylephrine, an ingredient recently added to many widely used nasal decongestants, are small, poorly designed and decades-old, agency staffers wrote in advance of a Dec. 14 meeting. (This is the briefing document). Manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble and Wyeth, switched to phenylephrine after Congress enacted a law in 2006 that pseudoephedrine products be kept locked behind the counter and sold on request at pharmacies, the Associated Press reminds us, adding that the law is aimed at prohibiting the illegal processing of drug-store cold meds into the highly addictive stimulant methamphetam... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1067903 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:44:46 +0100 1067903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1050028&cid=t_330147_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F190553910%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1050028 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:05:33 +0100 1050028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1040340&cid=t_330147_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsues-tounge-in-cheek-approach-to-influenza%2F Achoo. Hack. Cough. Don’t you hate having the flu? It seems we’re surrounded by it this year. Absolutely everyone I’ve seen in the last 24 hours has had some version of it. It certainly does test the limits of family love, don’t you think? Since I am a nurse and somewhat qualified I thought it might be helpful for me to provide you with Sue’s list for coping with cold and/or influenza. The variety doesn’t matter: Iraqi, swine, Asian, rhinovirus…I just hope they don’t start naming flu strains after women the way they used to name hurricanes. I can see it now…Sweaty Sarah, Snotty Susie, Loosy Gooie Lucy, Barfy Bethie, Hotsy Trotsy Bertha. The possibilities are endless, meanwhile, back to my list. You may find the following helpful hints may come in handy the next time your ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1040340 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 01:09:31 +0100 1040340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1034319&cid=t_330147_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F186336080%2F It fascinates me somewhat that so many inventions that are considered signs of how advanced our society has become—technological innovations like wireless technology and, yes, vaccines—are often pointed to as “causes of autism.” Is there some assumption that, because our society is so “developed”—–so that we live longer than people in the past, don’t have to worry about harvesting our next meal from the grain in the field, have access to education and school—–that sickness and disease and illness should be minimized, if not eradicated? Put another way, if we can’t cure the common cold, why are claims made that we can cure, or that we hope to cure, autism? And if wi-fi can be implicated as a cause of autism (according... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1034319 Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:39:12 +0100 1034319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=991867&cid=t_330147_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F177259353%2Fadams_respitory_therapeutics_gets_approval_letter_for_mucinex_with_codeine.html The U.S Food and Drug Administration has issued a letter of approval regarding the New Drug Application for Adams Respitory Therapeutics Inc's (NASDAQ:ARXT) Mucinex with Codeine.Mucinex with Codeine is to be used in the prescription treatment of cough associated with the common cold, inhaled irritants and stable chronic bronchitis.The FDA stated that it had it had completed its review of the medication and that it was approvable however prekiminary labeling comments are required in addition to more data on the use of the product with food."An approvable letter for Mucinex with Codeine is a positive step in the FDA review process," said COO Robert D. Casale. "As a next step, we intend to seek a meeting with the agency in order to agree on an approach. We wi... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=991867 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:15:31 +0100 991867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=980667&cid=t_330147_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F175342102%2F The recent campaign to reign in use of cold and cough remedies for children, which resulted in an FDA panel recommending last week that the meds shouldn’t be given to kids younger than 6, is casting a harsh spotlight on professional societies. You know, those organizations that exist to educate docs and protect their collective professional causes. And when it comes to these kiddie meds, some say the groups were missing in action, even though evidence was lacking these products actually worked. “I think there was a vacuum in leadership on this issue by the professional societies,” Peter Lurie of Public Citizen tells The Washington Post. “You can justify the argument that doctors can make up their own minds, but that’s a much harder argument to make for parents... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=980667 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:44:33 +0100 980667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=980642&cid=t_330147_85_f&fid=36195&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealth.tesstermulo.com%2F%3Fp%3D378 A big part of the clinician’s role isn’t only about diagnosing and treating illness but also to advise patients how to have better health. In my clinical practice, most questions come from parents regarding treating cough and cold in children. A lot are still confused as to what medications that could be safely given, how to care for a sick child and when to bring a child to the doctor for consult. First of all, a good rule would be to ask a doctor before giving any medication to kids. FDA already warns us about the dangers of using cough and cold medicines in kids, especially the young ones (<2 years old). Although one can acquire over-the-counter (OTC) medicines without a doctor’s prescription, it doesn’t mean that they are harmless. OTC medicines can be very d... Prudence, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=980642 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:27:24 +0100 980642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=979225&cid=t_330147_107_f&fid=35026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphylogenomics.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F10%2Ften-things-i-love-about-cold-spring.html I know. They have gotten a bit of negative publicity recently. But CSHL is a great place. Here are some reasons.Dolan DNA Learning Center. A pioneer in many aspects of biotechnology and genomics education.Banbury Center. Just on the other side of the harbor from the main lab. The Banbury Campus is a truly spectacular place to hang out. I would know. I must have gone there a dozen times while working on my textbook. It has great places to walk to, like down a big hill to a secluded beach. And it is always peaceful and pleasant.View Larger MapThe main campus. Also a very pleasant place to hang out. Not quite as nice maybe as Banbury, but still very peaceful and conducive to science.Meetings and Courses. They have quite a collection of well known meetings and courses. Personally, I have a pla... The Tree of Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=979225 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:52:00 +0100 979225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=972870&cid=t_330147_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fcough-and-cold-medicine-in-children-and-infants%2F We can all agree that having a cold is a miserable experience. And when our babies and young children are suffering with them it’s even worse. Surely there must be something we can do to help them, we think, and if we can’t surely their doctor can. The unfortunate reality, however, is that there is precious little we can do other than wait it out. There are a few things you can try and I’ll describe them below, but the truth is that most of the products clogging the pharmacy shelves have never been shown to work and, what’s worse, when used incorrectly they can be dangerous. You’ve probably read recently that a number of cough/cold products intended for use by infants are being taken off the market voluntarily by their manufacturers. Oral Infant cough and cold medicines voluntari... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=972870 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:49:03 +0100 972870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966949&cid=t_330147_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F172917483%2F An FDA panel voted today to ban over-the-counter cold products for children under six years old. The October 20th New York Times reports that “no proof” about the medicines easing cold symptoms in children was found; in some rare cases, the medicines (such as Dimetapp) have caused “serious harm.” Passing reference is made in the NY Times story about parents using the medications to get a child to sleep, and to fears that parents might now give products intended for adults to children and increase the risk of overdoses. In a post last month, I noted how Charlie’s reactions to over-the-counter cough medications have been both unpredictable and inconsistent: ” I have never been able to figure out whether these make him hyper or drowsy, or rather, extra-dro... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966949 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:30:46 +0100 966949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1001035&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=35060&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthnewsblog.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fhnblog.pl%3Fhnblog%3D1019071 A FDA panel has warned that over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medicines do not work in children and that they should not be used in children less than six years old. The medicines the FDA Panel is warning about includes decongestants, antihistamines and antitussives but not expectorants. Over a dozen cold products for infants were recently pulled off store shelves. UPI reports that the panel has voted 13 to 9 to also ban cold medicines targeted at kids 2 to 5 years old. However, products for kids aged 2 to 5 years old have not been banned by the FDA. A CNN article says that one member of the panel - the patient representative - was concerned that if there were no child drugs available then parents would use adult medications instead. While the panel overwhelmingly said the products h... HealthNewsBlog.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1001035 Sat, 20 Oct 2007 02:00:00 +0100 1001035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=913617&cid=t_330147_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F162859443%2F “Did you give him any cough medicine?” was the question the school nurse left on my voice mail. I was teaching when she called and hastily responded after packing up books and papers. Charlie’s teacher had noted that he had gotten off the bus congested and really, really tired, and rubbing his face over and over. No fever, no swelling, the nurse noted. In answer to her question, I quickly said that I try to avoid giving Charlie any over-the-counter cough medicine and sending him to school: I have never been able to figure out whether these make him hyper or drowsy, or rather, extra-drowsy. Once, a few summers ago, I gave Charlie Benadryl and, while he did not bounce off the walls, he ran up and down the hallways and the house, completely wide awake far past midnight&#8212... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=913617 Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:20:54 +0100 913617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=848450&cid=t_330147_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F153395979%2F There is so much offered here on our lil’ ol’ science and health channel. I picked a few posts that were useful for diabetics… and a few that are just darn good! Enjoy. Scott over at Health and Men offers up … Diabetes is a wide spread and ever so growing disease. In fact more that 21 million Americans (lets not forget the rest of the world too) suffer from diabetes. I know what your saying, “Diabetes doesn’t effect me…but what can I do to help or make a difference?”. Or thats what I’m hoping your saying. Here is what you can do. Go online to diabetes.org/stepout or call 1-866-605-STEP. Ruth at Eating Fabulous shares… Looking for a place to dine out where you can have healthy meals? Try searching for a restaurant participating in the Healthy Dining P... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=848450 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:01:40 +0100 848450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=777619&cid=t_330147_140_f&fid=34838&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarmale.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Five-been-rotten-with-cold-for-most-of.html (Source: Bipolar Mo) Bipolar Mo blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=777619 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:11:00 +0100 777619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=725114&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F10%2Fselenium-elevates-type-2-diabetes-risk%2F Filed under: Type 2, Diet, Drugs, Research, Daily NewsA new study has shown that taking selenium supplements elevates the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Around twelve hundred participants were involved in the study. Some took 200 micrograms of selenium daily, while others got a placebo. After nearly eight years had gone by, the researchers found that those taking the selenium were at an increased risk of nearly fifty percent for Type 2 diabetes.The finding raises the question: does supplementation of the diet with bottled vitamin pills or fortified food products do as much, or possibly even more, harm than good? The Washington Post contains quotes from both Larry Deeb of the American Diabetes Association and Eliseo Guallar of Johns Hopkins University expressing concern at Americans' propensity f... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=725114 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 725114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=694187&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fechinacea-and-selenium-lack-efficacy.html Echinacea promoted as cold preventer and treatment. Stories about the new Lancet review of echinacea are abundant in the general media; e.g., the Daily Mail trumpets that Scientists confirm echinacea halves the risk of catching winter sniffles. It is a little dispiriting that the Daily Mail coverage is more informative than the BBC's; the former is explicit that this isn't a new study but a review of previous studies.A review shows that taking supplements of the plant, also known as purple coneflower, can cut the chances of catching a cold by more than half. When used as a treatment it reduces the length of a cold by one and a-half days on average... The review, which combines the results of 14 previous studies, should finally give the seal of approval to the remedy.I have to say that I th... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=694187 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 08:22:00 +0100 694187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=638903&cid=t_330147_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F27%2Fbeer-good-for-your-heart%2F Filed under: Nutrition, Daily news, Women Heart Health, Men Heart Health, Aging Heart HealthI'll admit, I'm a fan of beer but I don't drink it that often because of the side effects (hangover), and also because I suspect it's damaging to your health -- or at least I assume anything that can cause that much of a headache the day after must be. But that's not so according to this. Beer is actually good for your heart and even your overall health. In a Dutch study, it was found to raise levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, reduce the occurrence of strokes in women, improve sleeping patterns, increase blood vessel dilation, slow down the development of cataracts, help prevent cancer and more! That's a pretty amazing array of benefits, don't you think? Now I'm not saying you should throw a kegger ... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=638903 Sun, 27 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 638903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=488334&cid=t_330147_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fdog-eat-dog-monday-night.html The term 'non-verbal' often accompanies a diagnoses of autism. Just as autism is a spectrum disorder, the term 'non-verbal' covers a vast range of impairment. Some children do not speak at all, others are suspected of being an 'elective mute.' It is not a simple question of counting the number of single words a child 'can' speak. It is not particularly helpful to note that on 'average' a child may speak 6 words per day, especially if all those words arrive on the same day, to leave the rest of the week [or month] in silence. It is difficult to tie cognitive abilities or measure an IQ by the complexity or simplicity of their vocabulary. For example if a child cannot say the word 'green' but can perfectly pronounce 'Corythosaurus,' what does that tell you? What if someone can verbally descri... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=488334 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 00:07:00 +0100 488334