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 'cough'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:48:13 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997519&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-do-physicians-conduct-complete-physical-exams-when-you-have-a-localized-complaint%2F2011.07.04 One June 20, 2011, NPR aired a great story about how a person may not “see” a person getting beat up on the side of a jogging path when they are focused on a task (pursuing another jogger)… even if they pass RIGHT BY THE FIGHT!!! In fact, only a third of the subjects reported seeing this mock fight when the experiment was conducted at night. Even more surprisingly, broad daylight didn’t improve the statistics (only 40% noticed the fight). Though the situation and circumstances do not exactly correspond, there is a lesson to be learned here that applies to a medical visit. As an ENT, I often see patients for a very specific complaint… “My right ear hurts.” “I have a bad cough.” No matter what the complaint, unless it is for a specific ta... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997519 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4997519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934160&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fvitamin-d-for-copd-why-that-wont-be-enough%2F2011.06.16 I am frequently extolling the health benefits of Vitamin D because almost weekly there is a new study that correlates high vitamin D levels with reducing some disease.  The latest is from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and research shows that high doses of vitamin D supplementation improved respiratory muscle strength in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).  The patients that did not receive supplemental vitamin D had blood levels of 22.8 compared to 53.8 in the supplemented group.  The patients who were supplemented had improved respiratory function, strength and less shortness of breath.  It certainly didn’t cure or reverse COPD but the improvement was an encouraging trend in this terrible chronic disease. In reading about ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934160 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4934160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696707&cid=t_93965_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2Ff7IaZdMz4yc%2F    Tuberculosis Bacteria           Is tuberculosis a contagious killer?  Well, it depends on which type of tuberculosis (commonly called TB) we are talking about, active or inactive.  Active tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease.  Just like the common cold, it spreads through the air, but only people who are sick with TB in their lungs are infectious.  This type of TB means the bacteria are active in the body and the immune system is unable to stop them from causing illness.  People with active tuberculosis in their lungs can pass the bacteria on to anyone they come into close contact with.  When a person with active tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, talks, spits or even sings, people nearby can breathe in the tuberculosis bacteria and become infected.  If the disease re... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696707 Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:49:58 +0100 4696707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4670057&cid=t_93965_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fasthma%2F Pathophysiology 1) chronic recurrent bronchospasm of airway with resulting airflow obstruction caused by heightened bronchial responsiveness to stimuli 2) inciting factors are allergens (most common), exercise, cold, drugs, infectious agents, industrial agents, and emotional stress Signs and Symptoms 1) wheezing 2) cough 3) dyspnea 4) tachypnea 5) chest tightness 6) prolonged expiration Characteristic Test Findings Laboratory – 1) increased eosinophils 2) increased histamine 3) increased thromboxane A2, bradykinin, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins 4) hypoxia 5) hypercapnia (increased CO2 in blood) (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4670057 Sun, 03 Apr 2011 16:45:30 +0100 4670057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626836&cid=t_93965_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2Fs7QfG5Ekrek%2F Studies show that 73.2% of people start to develop FFFF withdrawal symptoms 168 hours after receiving the previous dose. Thus it would be inhumane to delay any longer... Bring on the funtabulous frivolity! (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626836 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:01 +0100 4626836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622253&cid=t_93965_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FtAxlbgxpFe4%2F Studies show that 73.2% of people start to develop FFFF withdrawal symptoms 168 hours after receiving the previous dose. Thus it would be inhumane to delay any longer... Bring on the funtabulous frivolity! (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622253 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:01 +0100 4622253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4605833&cid=t_93965_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FOBBO3euA5t4%2F Studies show that 73.2% of people start to develop FFFF withdrawal symptoms 168 hours after receiving the previous dose. Thus it would be inhumane to delay any longer... Bring on the funtabulous frivolity! (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4605833 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:01 +0100 4605833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522104&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcough-and-cold-meds-the-good-and-the-bad%2F2011.02.25 Want to try to avoid a visit to the doctor for that cough or cold? Why not go to the pharmacy to get an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine? In this video from local TV news, I talk about the good and bad of OTC cough and cold meds. Will that medicine from the pharmacy actually help you get better faster?   *This blog post was originally published at Doctor Anonymous* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522104 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:00:00 +0100 4522104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4478152&cid=t_93965_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FizyiXLV-uAE%2F Three years after the FDA issued a public health advisory that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to children younger than 2 years old, a new poll finds that many parents and even their doctors have ignored the warnings. The FDA issued the advisory due to serious and potentially life-threatening side effects (read here). The poll queried 349 parents with children between six months and two years of age, and found that 61 percent gave their kids an OTC cough or cold med within the past 12 months. And among these parents, 57 percent reported that health care providers indicated that the medicines are safe, while 49 percent also indicated the meds are effective in children in this age group. The findings suggest that, not surprisingly, awareness reflected publicity ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4478152 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:49:23 +0100 4478152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464607&cid=t_93965_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fis-life-with-chronic-pain-a-reality-or-a-cartoon%2F As most of you already know I have been having a terrible time with some funky new virus this year. I feel like a turtle that got tipped and can’t get upright again. That could explain why the room keeps spinning. Some spirit with a sense of humor keeps rocking my shell and occasionally gives it a spin. On Saturday, I went into urgent care. It was cold and slow. The people were very kind but I had to wear my gloves and jacket to keep from shaking my teeth out of my mouth while shivering. I had a chest X-ray, was given an antibiotic and left there being told I would eventually be okay. The diagnosis was viral with bronchitis. Since, like many of you, I already had a satchel full of problems, all things were complicated. We got out into the parking lot and I could hardly wait to get home a... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464607 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:46:51 +0100 4464607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460063&cid=t_93965_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fis-life-with-chronic-pain-a-reality-or-a-cartoon%2F As most of you already know I have been having a terrible time with some funky new virus this year. I feel like a turtle that got tipped and can’t get upright again. That could explain why the room keeps spinning. Some spirit with a sense of humor keeps rocking my shell and occasionally gives it a spin. On Saturday, I went into urgent care. It was cold and slow. The people were very kind but I had to wear my gloves and jacket to keep from shaking my teeth out of my mouth while shivering. I had a chest X-ray, was given an antibiotic and left there being told I would eventually be okay. The diagnosis was viral with bronchitis. Since, like many of you, I already had a satchel full of problems, all things were complicated. We got out into the parking lot and I could hardly wait to get home a... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460063 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:13:54 +0100 4460063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294708&cid=t_93965_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F28%2Fwhen-you-see-hoofprints%2F One of the best instructors I had in grad school was the first person to say the phrase “when you see hoofprints look for horses, when you don’t find horses, look for zebras.” The importance of this did not strike me until I was deeper into practicing as a psychologist. I have a lot of people come into my office at various stages of explaining what is happening with them. Some people will say “I don’t know” straight away, whereas others have created a complex narrative. But we can have a tendency in our search for explanations to latch onto things that we read online or heard about on a TV show that have very little probability of being accurate. That is looking for zebras before horses. Sometimes the zebra explanations can be comforting because we can put a name to so... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294708 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:09:06 +0100 4294708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172327&cid=t_93965_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Frgr3acT_c3k%2F It’s no secret that the Great Recession is prompting a growing number of people to abandon prescriptions at pharmacies. Yet another analysis finds that nearly 3.3 percent of all scrips were abandoned between July and September 2008, just as the economic malaise began spiraling downward, according to a study in The Annals of Internal Medicine (see the abstract and a summary). Not surprisingly, the abandonment rate has since climbed. In the first six months of this year, it nearly hit 10 percent of all new scrips for brand-name meds, according to Wolters Kluwer (look here). Nonetheless, by sifting through prescriptions bottled for insured customers of CVS Caremark, which runs a pharmacy benefits manager and a national pharmacy and funded the study, the researchers detected the types of... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172327 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:56:44 +0100 4172327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159521&cid=t_93965_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FYtlXbcEwhX4%2F Treating myself In the spring of 1993 I took codeine cough medicine for a cold.  A few weeks later I was still taking the codeine each evening.  It worked so well; finally I could relax and get some quality sleep!  I started feeling more irritable in the morning as the codeine wore off, so I began taking cough medicine in the morning too. By this time I was prescribing myself larger and larger amounts of the medicine. My wife found empty cough medicine bottles in my car and we argued over the secret I had been keeping. I promised that I would stop, honestly meaning every word.  I knew I had a problem and wanted to fix that problem. I tried my best to stay busy and keep my mind occupied, but as time went by and my use continued I became more and more frustrated.  I had ALWAYS accomplis... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159521 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:33:55 +0100 4159521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3934479&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcanadians-warned-to-protect-themselves-against-unvaccinated-californians%2F2010.09.04 The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued a “travel health notice” to its citizens who plan to travel to California. Childhood vaccination against whooping cough (pertussis) has dropped low enough to result in a 7-fold increase in the number of infections over the past year alone. An increasing number of parents are opting out of vaccines, a trend that could threaten to reverse the preventive health gains we’ve made against certain infectious diseases this past century. How scary is that? Incidentally, whooping cough can be lethal — killing a small percentage of kids who suffocate from the damage it does to the respiratory tract. For more information about whooping cough, I recommend the Mayo Clinic’s consumer health website. To all the moms and dads ou... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3934479 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:17:35 +0100 3934479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3921077&cid=t_93965_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FIdVyE8QL1Fg%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. A chipper morning here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where our sponsor - me - would like to remind you about an upcoming webinar with former US Attorney Michael Loucks, who will chat about avoiding litigation over promoting medicines (please click here). Meanwhile, the time has come again to reach for that cup of stimulation and draw back the curtains to let the sunshine in. Hope your day goes well… AstraZeneca Fails To Win FDA OK For Respiratory Drug (Associated Press) Robo-Tripping May Lead To New Controls On Cough Meds (Bloomberg News) Glaxo And Valent Face Delay For Their Epilepsy Drug (Bloomberg News) Meet The Gardasil Girls (The Irish Examiner) Drugmakers Seek Alternatives To Steroids (The New York Times) European Regulators OK Shire... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3921077 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:05:01 +0100 3921077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737229&cid=t_93965_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F07%2F08%2Fthe-anti-vaccine-movement-blinding-us-with-pseudoscience%2F My new post on Politics Daily / Woman Up. The Anti-Vaccine Movement: Blinding Us With Pseudoscience. Despite the American infatuation with gambling, in other areas of life we shy away from random chance. We like cause and effect. We like the story of one thing leading to another in a nice, straight line. And if such a story does not declare itself, we’ll invent one. Our need for a clear, predictable pattern leads us down the wayward path of conspiracy theories. In the absence of a cause that makes sense to us, we’ll spend hours, days, years looking for one. Why? Peter Jennings alluded to a possible reason in his thorough 2003 documentary “Peter Jennings Reporting: The Kennedy Assassination – Beyond Conspiracy.” In his conclusion Jennings said, “When you ... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737229 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:04:59 +0100 3737229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463662&cid=t_93965_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FXMjj2Veq2nE%2F           Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs.  It occurs when either bacteria or viruses get stuck in the lungs – the germs multiply and form an infected area.  In order to understand it, things you should know include something about the lungs and what they do. When you breathe in, you pull oxygen into your lungs.  That oxygen travels through breathing tubes and eventually gets into your blood through the alveoli.  Alveoli are tiny air sacs covered in tiny blood vessels called capillaries.  When oxygen-rich air reaches the alveoli, it can be absorbed into the blood and then your red blood cells carry oxygen all over your body.  When an individual has pneumonia, his or her lungs can’t do their job as well as they usually do.  The reason is because th... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463662 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:15:31 +0100 3463662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3272867&cid=t_93965_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F02%2Flung-cancer%2F Pathophysiology Squamous cell – 1) arises in central part of lung 2) derives from repeatedly injured bronchial lining 3) ulcerates into lung parenchyma 4) most common subtype that forms Pancoast tumor in apex of lung 5) metastases go to hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, adrenals, and other sites Adenocarcinoma – 6) can arise anywhere but typically distal 7) most common tumor in nonsmokers Large cell – poorly differentiated and can occur anywhere in lung Small cell – 9) fast-growing with early metastases 10) presents usually as perihilar mass 11) most common subtype causing paraneoplastic syndromes Signs and Symptoms 1) dyspnea 2) cough 3) chest pain 4) hemoptysis 5) obstructive pneumonia 6) lobar collapse 7) pleural effusions weight loss Characteristic Test Find... Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3272867 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:57:57 +0100 3272867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3145943&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D8199 Here are some Home made cough mixture recipes using natural ingredients. We did mention that honey is indeed soothing for the throat and works for cough due to URTI in children, and it’s interesting that most of the “recipes” contain honey. from the Malaysian Medical Resources Home made cough mixtures (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3145943 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3145943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089245&cid=t_93965_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=2511650&cid=t_93965_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=2505900&cid=t_93965_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F06%2Fbrief-notes-bordetella.html Species of the Bordetella genus are the causative agents of pertussis or whooping cough. World-wide, pertussis still kills between 200,000 and 400,000 children each year, and the disease still ranks highly among the causes of death due to infection. World-wide, pertussis still kills between 200,000 and 400,000 children each year, and the disease still ranks highly among the causes of death due to infection. Some members of the genus cause diseases in other mammals and in birds.Bordetella bacteria are small (0.2 - 0.7 μm), Gram-negative coccobacilli. They are obligate aerobes and are highly fastidious and difficult to culture.Microbial ToxinsMicrobiology booksFull range of books on microbiology at Microbiology Books (Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists.) Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2505900 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:14:00 +0100 2505900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442201&cid=t_93965_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fguideposts-in-a-life-of-daily-pain%2F One of my favorite magazines, which I’ve been reading for 30 years, is Guideposts magazine, founded by the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale and his wife, Ruth Stafford Peale. I’ve enjoyed that particular publication in good times and bad. One of the aspects of it I think I’m most fond of is that it embraces all religious faiths, without showing prejudice or preference so none are segregated or left out. This matter of finding our way in life, following our own guideposts, seems to be independent of any particular religious faith. Faith is faith. I apologize if that offends any of you; but it is my belief as I have lived a considerable number of years and witnessed the hardships of the Jews over the years, the bigotry toward the Catholics in some parts of the country and the judg... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442201 Wed, 27 May 2009 21:41:50 +0100 2442201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424088&cid=t_93965_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=2387023&cid=t_93965_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Finformation-technology-and-h1n1-virus At BIDMC, our Infection Control staff have sent out daily updates about the H1N1 Virus, our process changes to protect patients/staff, and our planning for future activities if the infection escalates. There are many things that IT can do to support the hospital and the country during this outbreak. Here are five projects we've implemented. 1. Support CDC's Biosense (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2387023 Mon, 04 May 2009 15:19:58 +0100 2387023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380882&cid=t_93965_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F30%2Fwhy-does-pain-get-worse-when-a-storm-is-coming%2F The next time you watch the weather forecast, notice the barometric pressure, measured in inches. Numbers such as 30.04 will be followed by “rising,” “falling,” or “steady.” Typically, when a low pressure front is coming (and they do, all the time) it signals not only a change in the weather, but a drop in the barometric pressure, which is pressure against the Earth’s atmosphere. Remember when Grandma would say, “Rain’s coming, and I can feel it in my joints?” She actually knew this because of what happens to our bodies when the barometric pressure changes. That means that the pressure against your body drops as well, and your joints and areas that are injured can begin to swell. This swelling causes increased inflammation, and we require hormones to deal with this incr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380882 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:58:58 +0100 2380882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287308&cid=t_93965_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fz2mtz5WYRFc%2F If you thought Tuberculosis (TB) is something you no longer can get, think again. The disease is still deadly and according to one article, “killing millions worldwide.” In the state of Indiana alone, there were 118 active cases last year. Tuesday, March 24th, is World TB Day. The day was chosen in honor of German physician Robert Koch, who first discovered the “bacteria causing TB” in 1882. Approximately two billion people worldwide have the bacteria that causes TB, which is typically spread through coughs or sneezes from someone with the disease. While it is highly contagious, it is also very treatable with antibiotics. Image: sxc.hu. (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287308 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:39:37 +0100 2287308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2174063&cid=t_93965_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2FCJRvAd_Fu8U%2F Sounds are very important in medicine. We don’t wear those stethoscopes just for show. OK some of us do. But, can a machine detect disease just by analyzing coughing sounds? Well, people from a Belgian company called BioRICS think it can. They just recently obtained a patent for their recognition and localization of pathological animal and human sounds technology. This is a short description of their patent: A system and method are described for combining the respiratory status (e.g. amount and type of cough) with the localization of organisms having the respiratory status in real time. The organisms are able to suffer from a respiratory complaint, i.e. they have lungs such as mammals especially farm animals and humans. In particular the present invention is advantageous for animals... Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2174063 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:48:38 +0100 2174063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074174&cid=t_93965_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=1863022&cid=t_93965_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=1851209&cid=t_93965_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=1331346&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fcough-medicine-scam-and-yet-more.html The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has ordered six products be permanently removed from sale for children aged under two. So now we are going to have to struggle through without Asda Children's Chesty Cough Syrup, Calcough Chesty and Boots Chesty Cough Syrup - one year plus, Children's Chesty Cough and Boots sore throat and cough linctus one year plus and Buttercup infant cough syrup."But doctor, it’s got buttercups in it, so it must be safe""Ah but madam maybe the moo-cow pooed on the butterup."Why do we not go the whole hog and remove all children’s cough medicine from the shelves? And then all the adult cough medicine as well. Are they all dangerous? Not at all. They are crap. Overpriced crap. They do not do anything. Don’t waste your money.Also, hilariously, t... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1331346 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:15:00 +0100 1331346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1303311&cid=t_93965_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F251581585%2Ffda_alert_on_tussionex.html The U.S Food and Drug Administration issued an alert on the safe use of Tussionex Pennkinetic Extended Release Suspension. The alert is in reposnse to numerous reports of adverse events including death due to improper use of the product.The prescription cough medicine contains hydrocodone, which is a narcotic, and the antihistamine chlorpheniramine... (Source: PharmaGazette) PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1303311 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:00:10 +0100 1303311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1300623&cid=t_93965_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=1119388&cid=t_93965_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fa-less-than-perfect-christmas%2F I was going to title this, “When Christmas Sucks,” but thought that sounded a bit too caustic and Scrooge-like. I love Christmas. It really goes against the grain for me to speak of it in negative tones but here goes. I plan for it, shop for it and look forward to that particular holiday all year long. This year the gods seemed to be against me. It’s one thing to be against me but “Geesh!;” I personally think they overdid it a bit. It all started with the epic windstorm we had in the early part of the month. With my lousy immune system due to my chronic illnesses, I developed a bad gut in the form of diverticulitis at that time and it never got better. I finally gave in and went to the doctor and she put me on two antibiotics, gave me a little lecture about coming in sooner and s... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1119388 Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:01:21 +0100 1119388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1040340&cid=t_93965_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=1032877&cid=t_93965_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F13%2Fbmj-learning-new-module-on-whoping-cough%2F Just in time modules on BMJ Learning give you fast, evidence based updates? They go through the essentials on everyday conditions. Just added to BMJ Leanring is the Whooping cough: a guide to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention module. Alternatively why not undertake one of the modules on pain: Palliative care in the community Common migraine: how to treat an attack The role of opioids in cancer pain: an up to date guide Shingles: diagnosis and management of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia To use BMJ Learning you’ll need your Athens password from the NHS. (If you work in the North West and don’t have an NHS Athens Password this link will let you apply for one) If you need training in the use of electronic resources and you work for Liverpool PCT use the contact form ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1032877 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:18:42 +0100 1032877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=980667&cid=t_93965_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_93965_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=972870&cid=t_93965_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_93965_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=913617&cid=t_93965_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=911904&cid=t_93965_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F162491739%2Funapproved_hydrocodone_products_marketing_stopped_by_fda.html The FDA announced that it will take enforcement action against companies who manfucture unapproved prescription drug products that contain hydrocodone.Hydrocodone, one of the strongest pain relief and cough suppressants, can result in breathing problems or cardiac arrest when used improperly. Manufacturing and distribution of unapproved hydrocodone products to children under the age of 6 must end by October 31, 2007. Marketing of other unapproved hydrocodone products must cease being produced by December 31, 2007 and must cease to be shipped by March 31, 2008. The FDA warns that legal action could be taken against those who do not comply by failing to meet the deadlines. (Source: PharmaGazette) PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=911904 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:10:33 +0100 911904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=856774&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F09%2F10%2Ftoday-i-am-grateful%2F Filed under: Cancer Survivors, Today, I Am GratefulThe following post is one of a series of posts appearing Monday through Friday on The Cancer Blog. This feature -- Today, I am grateful -- allows me to share with readers my appreciation for all the treasures in my life, both big and small. In my post-cancer world, I find It healing for my soul to be mindful of the good in my life. It is my pleasure to share my gratitude with you. I've been sick for 10 days. Only during the past few days have I started noticing my body is beginning to mend. I judge this by the fact that lately, I am able to sleep.For days and days, I coughed all night. I might sleep for an hour here and there but mostly, I spent my twilight hours hacking uncontrollably. My cough was so severe at times, it caused me to vomi... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=856774 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 856774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=838801&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F09%2F04%2Fis-a-cough-ever-just-a-cough%2F Filed under: Cancer SurvivorsHere's what might be a typical train of thought for someone surviving cancer. That someone, in this case, is me.I have been getting sicker and sicker for the past three days. Sore throat, sore ears, and a heavy head made me think at first it was some sort of sinus issue. Add a cough, a rumbling and painful chest, sore gums, chills and sweats, and a fever roaring past 102.8 and the worries start rolling in. I feel like I did twice before, just before I was admitted to the hospital with dipping white blood counts.The worst of it hit Friday night and since I just couldn't make myself sit in the ER for hours on end, I overstepped my boundaries, tracked down my hospital's on-call oncologist, and listed off my symptoms. Since my treatment for breast cancer concluded ... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=838801 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 838801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=740460&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Ffitzpatrick-and-halvorsen-speak-about.html Dr Michael Fitzpatrick has posted his own version of the recent abysmal UK reporting: The dark art of the MMR-autism panic. What can I say, the man writes with economy and clarity.Dr Wakefield’s scientific achievements lag far behind his successes in media manipulation: after 10 years (and the expenditure of £15 million in legal aid funding), he has yet to produce credible evidence that MMR has caused autism in a single child (2). The Observer story contains three features common to the episodic upsurges in media interest in the MMR-autism link provoked by anti-vaccine campaigners over the past decade. These are the leak of an unpublished scientific paper ostensibly supporting the link; the endorsement of the link by some maverick scientist or doctor; the prominent report by a journalis... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=740460 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:44:00 +0100 740460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=726317&cid=t_93965_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F132382308%2F When you’re the parent of an autistic child, the smallest things—the littlest bit of progress—can mean the most. It is certainly exciting to be able to tell about a child who is mainstreamed, or who has learned how to read, or who can speak in clear and full sentences, but achievements that might seem trivial and trifling can always make my day. About two years ago, Charlie did not like it when Jim and I sneezed or coughed, or when anyone did, for that matter. It was something about the harshness and grating-ness of the sound, and its occurring unexpectedly. Charlie expressed the potential assault-by-parental-sneeze/cough on his senses by hitting his head more than a few times and crying out, and Jim and I took to suppressing said sounds, or hurrying into the next room. ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=726317 Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:10:55 +0100 726317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=721318&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fasthma-allergies-paediatrics-links-and.html Use children as medicine guinea pigs No, this is not yet another bizarre version of recent MMR-vaccine-autism reporting but a rather sensationalist take on a perfectly sensible call by Prof. John Warner for the inclusion of children in medical trials. Children are not small adults. This is one of the reasons that Clark Bartram initiated Paediatric Grand Rounds. This stark fact is a headache for pharmaceutical companies who are frequently criticised for their lack of drugs that are specifically formulated for children and tested on them. Understandably, however, it is difficult to obtain ethical approval for drug trials (or any therapeutic trials) that involve children. There has been a lot of adverse publicity about the effect of anti-depressants on children. There is increasing controvers... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=721318 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:19:00 +0100 721318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=566345&cid=t_93965_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fpaediatric-grand-rounds-year-in-review.html A year ago, the noted sceptic and neonatologist Dr. Clark Bartram posted the first Paediatric Grand Rounds (PGR). Since then, PGR has grown steadily and is promising to be a lively and thriving creature. As befits the founder of PGR, Dr. Bartram took on the responsibility of reviewing all of the previous editions and putting together his personal selection of the best in PGR: A Year in Review.It is an interesting compilation. It is difficult to know where to stop but I would, however, have included Dr. Flea's series of posts on childhood vaccinations as one of the highlights of the paediatric blogosphere last year.A Very Great Fright (smallpox vaccination)On My Left Shoulder (smallpox vaccination)The Can From Hell (polio vaccination)Go Home and Die (Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccinatio... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=566345 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:52:00 +0100 566345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=438183&cid=t_93965_117_f&fid=34444&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.webmd.com%2Fallergies-and-asthma%2F2005%2F12%2Fchronic-cough-workup-part-iii.html Eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) is an airway inflammation affecting all sizes of airways, which causes a chronic cough, but no wheezing. It is distinguished from asthma and cough variant asthma by normal spirometry tests (always) and a negative inhalation challenge test , although sputum tests and eNO demonstrate an eosinophilic airway inflammation. Cough reflex sensitivity is normal in patients with EB.Inhaled corticosteroids effectively suppress the superficial airway inflammation of EB, but unlike typical asthma, bronchodilators such as Albuterol are not helpful (because such patients have no bronchoconstriction). About 20% of patients with EB develop asthma over the years, but this risk may be reduced by inhaled corticosteroid therapy. In others, the EB just resolves by itself.Atopic coug... Allergies and Asthma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=438183 Thu, 15 Dec 2005 05:00:00 +0100 438183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=438182&cid=t_93965_117_f&fid=34444&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.webmd.com%2Fallergies-and-asthma%2F2005%2F12%2Fchronic-cough-part-ii.html What follows is a description of the diseases which cause a chronic cough and a summary of how the test results are used to determine the diagnosis and the treatment.Classic asthma causes intermittent episodes of wheezing with chest tightness, shortness of breath, and cough. When the patient is currently having such an episode, spirometry demonstrates airway obstruction (a low FEV1/FVC) and airflow improves within 15 minutes (FEV1 increases more than 12%) after inhaling a couple of puffs of albuterol (a bronchodilator which is much stronger than caffeine). If the patient has recovered from the symptoms previously experienced, then spirometry may be normal and a methacholine challenge test (MCT) will demonstrate twitchy airways (bronchial hyper-responsiveness, BHR) due to the airway inflamm... Allergies and Asthma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=438182 Sat, 10 Dec 2005 05:00:00 +0100 438182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=438181&cid=t_93965_117_f&fid=34444&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.webmd.com%2Fallergies-and-asthma%2F2005%2F12%2Fchronic-cough-workup-part-i.html Classic asthma, cough-variant asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, sino-bronchial syndrome, rhino-sinusitis, atopic cough, multiple-chemical sensitivity, post-viral URI, and GERD can all cause a chronic cough in a non-smoker. The successful treatments differ, so how can a doctor distinguish between them?An acute cough is defined as lasting less than 3 weeks. A chronic cough has lasted more than 8 weeks (two months). A chronic cough in a cigarette smoker is called chronic bronchitis, and usually disregarded by the smoker. The cure for a smokers' cough is simple, but rarely employed (smoking cessation). The most common causes of a chronic cough in a non-smoker are asthma, rhinitis with sinusitis and post-nasal drainage (PND), and GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). Most people with a chroni... Allergies and Asthma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=438181 Mon, 05 Dec 2005 05:00:00 +0100 438181