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 'driving'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:47:49 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182241&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=39212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbahtocancer.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fa-road-story%2F I don’t know whether everyone has a favourite road, but I do. It’s the A1068 from Amble, the place where I grew up, to Alnwick, local market town and home of a driving test centre. The driving test centre is important to this story, because when I was learning to drive in the late 1980s (without success, but I got there in the end), I would drive along this bit of the A1068 at least a couple of times a week, en route and return from the smorgasbord of blind corners, tricky junctions, steep hills and kamikaze pedestrians that makes every second of a driving lesson in Alnwick a challenge. (The nuns are the worst. Maybe they think that they can step out without looking and the good Lord will protect them. Which he does, I suppose, in the form of a driving instructor with lightning... Bah! to cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182241 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:10:22 +0100 5182241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140333&cid=t_92543_158_f&fid=38949&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAgingWithGraceCareconnection%2F%7E3%2Fbo7vxgxnfg8%2Fdetroit-jumping-on-board-senior-citizen.html Independence and the ability to age at home are the top two concerns for many in the rapidly expanding senior citizen demographic, and mobility is an important aspect of seniors maintaining their freedom. In response to the aging population, Ford Motor Company has developed a number of innovations for its vehicles to make them more “senior friendly.” “As you get older, the possible loss of that driving capability is equated with the removal of freedom, so what we can do to try to help older people continue to drive is important to them, because it really equates to a loss of freedom if they can’t do that,” says Gary Strumulo, Manager of Vehicle Design and Infotronics at Ford. The innovations Ford has incorporated into some of its vehicles include specially contoured seats that ... Aging with Grace CareConnection blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140333 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:40:00 +0100 5140333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096657&cid=t_92543_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fhold-breath-road-hazard%2F There are tons of dangers on the road. From hazardous drivers to slick roads, to road work or road rage to drunk drivers to deer crossing to car jacking. We have to be alert on the road no matter what! Car accidents are the 5th largest cause of death, alongside biggies like strokes and lung disease (1), but there’s another danger we are not often told about. The silent killer is the gasoline compounds you put in your gas tank.  Studies have found that the level of benzene and toluene from the gas in your car are higher than in the air around the car (2,3).  What it means is: when you enter the car you are exposed to higher then expected levels of these organic compounds.  But are they dangerous or they are benign? According to the American Petroleum Institute there is no safe benzene... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096657 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:09:13 +0100 5096657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062454&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=39212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbahtocancer.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fdriving-at-night%2F Since passing my driving test, I’ve had a lot of conversations about driving. (Mostly instigated by me, in the hope that one day I will find someone who is as impressed by the fact i have passed my test as I am.) Something I’ve noticed is that many people really don’t like driving at night. Driving at night doesn’t bother me. Maybe it’s because, on the day I passed my test, I drove to Knit Night and back and so my first big solo drive was in the dark. Maybe it’s because the kind of night driving I do is mostly along quiet roads so I’m not really doing any complicated high-speed driverly things like joining a motorway from a sliproad while not being entirely sure which lane the oncoming headlights are in. My favourite night drive is the one back fro... Bah! to cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062454 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 11:19:16 +0100 5062454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789523&cid=t_92543_134_f&fid=35179&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscottsdiabetes.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fcops-blood-sugar%2F Last week I was at one of the local type 1 meet-ups.  We were at a Caribou Coffee, and I noticed a couple of cops there having coffee.  I say “cops” in a general way.  Technically, I think they were Ramsey County Sheriffs.  But you know, uniform, badge, gun, bullet-proof vest bulging underneath the shirt. The term “cop” works for me.  No, they were not having donuts. I approached them, apologized for interrupting, and asked if they had ever dealt with traffic stops involving diabetes and low blood sugars.  They had.  I asked what helps them determine it is a low blood sugar (or other medical event) rather than intoxication? The male officer started to reply, but had a lot of trouble trying to assign words and language to the complicated “decision tree&#... Scott's Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789523 Wed, 04 May 2011 12:47:45 +0100 4789523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4768119&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FB-OzoNkj7bM%2F This article by Greater Good Magazine discusses how med­i­tat­ing can increase the den­sity of gray mat­ter in brain regions asso­ci­ated with mem­ory, stress, and empa­thy.  The Benefits of a One-Time Cognitive Training Program: They last but wane over time as shown in the 3-month follow-up results of the IMPACT study. Can Direct Brain Stimulation Boost Performance? The answer seems to be yes, according to three studies using different types of electrical/magnetic brain stimulation. How the Brain of a Blind Person Rewires Itself: The brain areas devoted to vision in peo­ple with eye sight turn out to be respond­ing to speech in blind people. How are Young Brains Affected by Stress? An interesting article from the Dana Foundation on the consequences of early l... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4768119 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:00:18 +0100 4768119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758704&cid=t_92543_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2011-vol-305-no-10%2F This article recommends a general framework for evaluating driver fitness relies on a functional evaluation of multiple domains (cognitive, motor, perceptual, and psychiatric) that are important for safe driving and can be applied across many disorders, including conditions that have rarely been studied with respect to driving, and in patients with multiple conditions and medications. Neurocognitive tests, driving simulation, and road tests provide complementary sources of evidence to evaluate driver safety. No single test is sufficient to determine who should drive and who should not. An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online, alternatively contact the Library for a copy of the article. Filed under: Current Awareness Tagged: Accidents, Aging, Atrial Fibrillation, Co... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758704 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:32:57 +0100 4758704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742181&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fearly-school-start-times-endanger-teen.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742181 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:04:00 +0100 4742181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742536&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FWMn1-gocfY8%2F SharpBrains served a highly thought-provoking and informative 2011 Virtual Summit on Retooling Brain Health for the 21st Century over 3 days, March 30th — April 1st. Here is a brief distillation of the large number (40+) of presentations. 1.The range and variety of presentations left no room for doubt that the digital brain health market is concerned with much more than improving cognitive performance and preventing/treating disease. There is a need for many tools in each of the following categories: computerized assessment for myriad cognitive, psychological and neurological concerns; data analysis and recommendation systems; interventions for manifold clinical and non-clinical problems; measurement of the effectiveness of interventions; dynamic feedback and intervention adjustment. Sig... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742536 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:40:06 +0100 4742536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4591453&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fwhy-accidents-increase-after-daylight.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4591453 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:55:00 +0100 4591453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560441&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FYiBAxUUfUnY%2F The same way a brain fitness software program can help increase driving safety for older adults, simple cognitive tests may help determine whether a person can drive safely after a stroke. A recent study analyzed 30 previous studies in which the participants’ driving skills after a stroke were tested in an on-road evaluation. 1,728 individuals with an average age of 61 were involved. On average, 9 months had passed between the stroke and the driving evaluation. Note that 54 percent of the participants passed the on-road evaluation. The authors of the analysis looked for tests scores that could predict the actual driving evaluation outcome. They identified 3 simple cognitive tests that did quite well: a Road Sign Recognition test (assessing traffic knowledge and visual comprehension) a C... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560441 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:59:02 +0100 4560441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4554607&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrunk-fans-at-sporting-events%2F2011.03.06 Among fans who attend live sporting events, drinking alcohol is nearly as commonplace as root-root-rooting for the home team. And while virtually no one has a problem with a fan who pushes back a beer or two during the game, flat-out drunk fans can ruin the experience for those sitting nearby. Worse yet, these people frequently get behind the wheel of a car after the game is over. Recently, Darin Erickson and colleagues at the University of Minnesota decided to find out just how many fans go overboard at games, and their findings are worrisome, indeed. Using standard blood alcohol testing on 362 adult volunteers who were leaving 13 professional baseball and three professional football games, the scientists found that 40 percent had measurable levels of alcohol in their blood and a stunni... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4554607 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 16:00:26 +0100 4554607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4552071&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F05%2Fthe-dangers-of-texting-while-driving%2F Does text messaging while driving have a big influence on driving abilities?  I think most people would agree that texting definitely does not help us drive any better. But, by consistently texting while at the wheel, many individuals act as if text messaging has a small negative effect on driving skill. “I can drive fine while text messaging,” says the confident texter. And that’s the problem — all of us feel capable, but none of us really are as capable as we think we are. Especially when it comes to multi-tasking well with two attention-demanding tasks. Let’s look at what the research says… Hosking and colleagues (2009) investigated the effects of using a cell phone on the driving performance of young novice drivers.  Twenty inexperienced drivers used a ce... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4552071 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:17:42 +0100 4552071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549536&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fcdc-more-than-1-in-3-americans-are.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549536 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:34:00 +0100 4549536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4527952&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=39212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbahtocancer.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fgestures-and-signs%2F The more I drive, the more I extend my driving repertoire. I’ve recently added several new skills, including: pulling out onto a roundabout even though there is one car just visible on one horizon; getting out of a tight parking space; remembering to lock the car when I leave it. Fifth gear and I are no longer the strangers we once were. There’s one area of driving, though, that I will be struggling to master for some time to come. And that is the non-verbal communication with other drivers. I’m developing a good repertoire of little ‘thank you’ waves and nods which I deploy when passing other vehicles on country lanes just slightly too narrow for both of us, when we’ve both had to wiggle and swerve our way past. I can do ‘chuh!’ eye movement... Bah! to cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4527952 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 07:49:54 +0100 4527952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4498275&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Faggressive-care-when-is-it-better-for-patients%2F2011.02.19 The recurring narrative among health reformers is that hospitals that provide more care raise health costs, but don’t necessarily improve quality. This has lead to a backlash against so-called “aggressive” hospitals and doctors, with upcoming financial penalties to match. But the situation, as always, appears to be more nuanced than that. In her column in the New York Times, Dr. Pauline Chen looks at one subset of patients who actually may benefit from aggressive care: Those who suffer surgical complications. The study, found no difference in the rate of complications for aggressive and nonaggressive hospitals. But when they looked at all the patients who had complications and examined their outcomes, the researchers found that regardless of the urgency of their operations, those pat... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4498275 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:00:29 +0100 4498275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433295&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=39212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbahtocancer.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fpassing-the-cancer-test%2F It’s almost a month since I passed my driving test. To start with, I was ecstatic. So ecstatic, in fact, that I washed the car for the first time. (Actually, it was my first time washing a car ever, not just the first time washing the car we own. It was probably my last, too, as I got quite bored during the rinsing. Alan is going to take me to the carwash and explain how it works, like he did with petrol pumps.) Ecstasy soon turned to rapture. Suddenly I can go anywhere I want, at any time! (Unless Alan is using the car for his own purposes, something I disapprove of. What if I suddenly have to pop to Calico Barn? Or my LYS?) Of course, it’s a bit scary, too. I managed to de-tune not one, but all, of the stations on the radio, because I was trying to switch it on without taking... Bah! to cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433295 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:05:02 +0100 4433295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813629&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=37856&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePeacefulLiberal%2F%7E3%2FwqeKXLH2BGM%2Fsharing-world-with-others-and-road-rage.html @font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 6pt 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }  Here is another photo by Elena Zhukova and her brilliant eyes at Photography!)  I'm still stoked that  I got to ride my beautiful bike with my younger brother and we had a blast; so much so that he bought himself a cool new cruiser so he could get in shape at home.  He will be back in 2 weeks.  I'm so glad I found him something fun to do at home.  I'm so proud of my brother for finding that one thing that makes him happy and that's grooming dogs.  He passionately loves his job.  I'm so glad h... ShoppingKharma: What comes around goes around blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813629 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:07:00 +0100 4813629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372044&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-good-is-your-doctor-at-diagnosing-you%2F2011.01.19 We’ve all been there. It often starts with some kind of recurring pain or dull ache. We don’t know what’s causing the pain or ache. During the light of day we tell ourselves that it’s nothing. But at 3:00am when the pain wakes you, worry sets in: “Maybe I have cancer or heart disease or some other life-ending ailment.” The next day you make an appointment to see your doctor. So now you’re sitting in the exam room explaining this scenario to your doctor. Based on your previous experience, what’s the first thing your doctor would do? A. Order a battery of tests and schedule a follow-up appointment. B. Put you in a patient gown and conduct a thorough physical examination, including asking you detailed questions about your complaint before ordering any test... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372044 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:00:07 +0100 4372044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309826&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=39212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbahtocancer.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fnot-today%2F There is no Bah! Tuesday book review today. Partly because our interwebs are having a lie down so I am having to do a superquick post from my brother’s bike shop. And partly because this morning I passed my driving test* and so will be squandering the day doing pointless bits of driving about on my own, because I can. (Bl0gging properly will be back tomorrow.) All hail to my instructor, John Langman of Morpeth, and all of the family members who have sat patiently with me as I lurched my way to being a driver. *Despite going wrong on the independent driving section, stalling on a reverse, stopping half-on a roundabout, doing nearly 40mph in a 30mph zone, and forgetting to unlock the passenger door so that the examiner had to tap on the window to be let in. Life, eh? You couldn’t... Bah! to cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309826 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:26:05 +0100 4309826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265734&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fconcierge-medicine-the-cost-of-healthcare-room-service-and-other-hospital-amenities%2F2010.12.18 A per­spec­tive in [a recent] NEJM con­sid­ers the Emerg­ing Impor­tance of Patient Ameni­ties in Patient Care. The trend is that more hos­pi­tals lure patients with hotel-like ameni­ties: Room ser­vice, mag­nif­i­cent views, mas­sage ther­apy, fam­ily rooms and more. These ser­vices sound great, and by some mea­sures can serve an institution’s bot­tom line more effec­tively than spend­ing funds on top-notch spe­cial­ists or state-of-the-art equipment. Think­ing back on the last time I vis­ited some­one at Sloan Kettering’s inpa­tient unit, and I mean­dered into the bright lounge on the 15th floor, stocked with books, games, videos and other signs of life, I thought how good it is for patients and their fam­i­lies to have a non-clinical area like this... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265734 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:00:25 +0100 4265734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214001&cid=t_92543_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F11%2F1-5-drivers-killed-car-crashes-test-positive-drugs%2F A new report just out shows that 18% of drivers who were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2009 tested positive for drugs (both legal and illegal) that could impair their ability to drive. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214001 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 23:49:43 +0100 4214001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183298&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Feverybody-hurts-powerful-gripping-emotionally-charged-piece-about-drinking-and-driving%2F2010.11.19 A gripping piece by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in Victoria about  drinking and driving and the use of illicit drugs. Words cannot depict this powerful and graphic piece. Take a look: TAC Campaign: 20-Year Anniversary Retrospective Montage “Everybody Hurts” “On December 10, 1989 the first TAC commercial went to air. That year the road toll was 776. Twenty years on it has fallen to 303. There is still a long way to go.” You’ll find more TAC Victoria videos HERE. Your turn We would love to hear from you. Did this video move you in any way? Did it increase your awareness? We would love for you to share your insightful thoughts. As always, thank you for your time. *This blog post was originally published at Health in 30* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183298 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:00:18 +0100 4183298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152012&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F5PVEXty3FV4%2F A study just published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society has been much publicized recently (see for instance, this L.A. Times article). The study showed that a computer-based brain training program succeeded in reducing at-fault car crashes for older drivers. The effects of the training lasted over 6 years. This result made the news as one of the rare transfers of brain training benefits to everyday life.  Why was this training successful and not others? Probably because brain training needs to be specific and not general. If you practice playing baseball you do not expect to get better at playing basketball, right? The same is true of brain functions: If you train your language skills, do not expect to get better at memorizing numbers. Driving is quite automatic for most o... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152012 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:32:16 +0100 4152012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4150572&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Faaa-study-finds-2-out-of-5-americans.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4150572 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:39:00 +0100 4150572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139349&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FxLZj9ZGW-Rg%2F Discussions >Industry Activity from October 2010 (Posit Science, Dakim, Zeo, NovaVision, Lumosity) >Pearson starts to promote Cogmed working memory training (press release) Research & Policy Discussions >New report on workplace mental/physical health >Non-invasive electrical stimulation of the brain can improve numerical abilities >JAMA trial finds no evidence of DHA Supplementation impacting on cognitive decline in Mild to Moderate Comment of the week Philip Toman on the potential of computer-administered CBT and heart-rate variability (HRV) biofeedback Idea of the week We now have a very fun Ideas feature that allows Council Members to submit and to vote on ideas and suggestions on anything that crosses your mind. Please visit the new Ideas section and challenge you... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139349 Sat, 06 Nov 2010 04:28:40 +0100 4139349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119594&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=39212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbahtocancer.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fundue-hesitation%2F Yesterday I took my driving test. and failed it. I won’t bore you with the details, but a council lorry parked at a four way junction meant that my right turn wasn’t as quick off the mark as it should have been. Hey ho. On the plus side, I didn’t hit the nuns who were wandering about in the road. I’d like to write a cheery ‘que sera’ type post, and remind you (and me) that things like this aren’t the end of the world and I will just take it again and I was a bit unlucky and a bit unconfident and a bit indecisive and hey, it’s not the end of the world. But actually, I’m not going to. Because I don’t feel like that. I feel cross and a bit hopeless and slightly hard done by. Although maybe that in itself is a good thing. Sometimes I ... Bah! to cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119594 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 06:58:26 +0100 4119594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4053468&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=39212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbahtocancer.com%2F2010%2F10%2Ftests%2F I am learning to drive. Well, I learned when I was a teenager, failed my test, moved to London shortly afterwards, and never got round to it again. Until now, when I am living somewhere where being able to drive is more of a necessity than a luxury. My test is in a couple of weeks, and I’m feeling fairly confident – as confident as anyone who drove on the wrong side of the road without noticing on their first mock test could be – but not taking anything for granted. (I passed the second mock test.) As well as having driving lessons I’m out in the car at every possible opportunity, driving Joy to school, driving to the beach, driving round and round Alnwick (driving test location, home of the Alnwick Garden and awesome Barter Books, and the place where the UK grows b... Bah! to cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4053468 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 06:54:57 +0100 4053468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031195&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fdriving-each-other-crazy-most-couples-last-22-minutes-in-a-car-before-fights-begin%2F You might think most of your road rage is directed at other drivers, but if your significant other is in the car: Watch out. A recent study conducted by a SEAT, a Spanish automobile manufacturer, shows that it takes the average couple about 22 minutes in the car to start fighting. Researchers interviewed 3,000 participants about their driving habits, and they found that 71% have fought with their partners while driving. The leading cause of argument was getting lost, but drivers reported fighting over all sorts of topics, from air-conditioning to heating: The most common causes of driving arguments: 44% — directions/getting lost 37% — where to park 34% — driving too quickly 24% — driving too close to other cars 20% — backseat driving 20% — music/radio choices 17% — aggressiv... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031195 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:05:11 +0100 4031195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022914&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftech-nitis-new-overuse-injuries-from-too-much-personal-technology%2F2010.10.01 It’s not surprising to people that I’m a “techy” type of guy. Reading tech stories about the latest gadgets is a nice occasional escape from work. One of the ways that medicine and tech intersect is in some “overuse injuries” that I’ve seen and talked with people about. When the Nintendo Wii first came out, there were many stories of “Wii-itis” and tendonitis-related injuries. Last week American Medical News interviewed me for a story posted on their site [on September 27th] called “New Personal Technology Creating New Ailments.” The article opens like this: When Mike Sevilla, MD, sees young patients at his Salem, Ohio, family practice, he often finds them text messaging or listening to music on portable media players. The... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022914 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100 4022914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4012411&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fntsb-tired-trucker-caused-crash-that.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4012411 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:15:00 +0100 4012411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3983538&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=39215&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcancersuucks.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fas-i-was-saying.html So if you want to use the cancer card to get out of a speeding ticket, you must immediately tell the Nazi state trooper that you have cancer and could die at any moment- before giving him license and registration. Otherwise, He just writes the ticket and it is too late. I even asked him if I had told you I had cancer before you wrote the ticket, would it have changed anything. He kind of stammered and all (must have been right out of Police Academy and not the funny one) but I knew he would not have given me a ticket had he known. So now I must fight it in court, which i will win regardless of cancer because there were no signs saying it was an HOV lane, nor were there any speed limit 35 signs. Driving in Boston sucks. I have just successfully negotiated my way around Manhattan, where they... Cancer does suck but it is a little funny. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3983538 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 04:23:00 +0100 3983538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946663&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=39212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbahtocancer.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fdeclaration%2F Well, the first driving lesson in 20+years went surprisingly well. Hill starts, 3 point turns, roundabouts, junctions, and a little bit of the A1, where I got up to 55mph and 4th gear. (There are, I’m sure, fingernail marks in the steering wheel from where I was gripping. I need to get my head round the fact that a car does not, in fact, have a mind of its own and will simply do as it is told. I’m not learning to ride highly-strung bareback horses at a circus, after all.) All the time I was driving, there was a little part of me saying, “But I don’t drive. I’m a non-driver. I don’t do driving. I’m a passenger. I failed my test and moved to London and never really got around to it again.” These, I realised, are the things I’ve been sa... Bah! to cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946663 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:28:14 +0100 3946663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929232&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftexting-while-driving-its-like-everybodys-drunk-or-worse%2F2010.09.02 A mentor recently mentioned in passing that he stopped riding motorcycle when cellphones came out, as he noticed the average driver distraction level had gone way up. He said, “It’s like everybody’s drunk.” There’s lots of ways to be an impaired driver: Physical or mental fatigue, chemicals (legal and not), emotional extremes, etc. (This is not an exhaustive list). What I want to focus on here is a very controllable risk factor: Divided attention. A quick Internet search turned up some original research from Car and Driver on the subject of texting while driving compared with actual alcohol-impaired driving, and the results are shockingly worse than I would have thought. From their (admittedly limited but well done) study, texting is way worse than being at the leg... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929232 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:28 +0100 3929232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3914952&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fstupid-male-drivers-who-refuse-to-ask-directions-waste-fuel-and-money%2F photo: Thinkstock Pat yourselves on the back, women — we’re the greener (and smarter) sex. Well, when it comes to driving, anyway. Men, notorious for being too macho to ask for driving directions, waste about $3,000 on gas over the course of their lives, according to a new study. Turns out, 26% of men wait an hour to ask for help after they realize they’re lost, while 74% of women will ask for directions as soon as they don’t know where they are. So, the next time your husband or partner insists that he knows where he’s going when clearly he doesn’t, remind him of all that gas (and money) he’s wasting. Or just tell him that you’re driving from now on. (He’ll love that.) via Treehugger Post from: BlissTree Stupid Male Drivers Who Refuse to A... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3914952 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:32:27 +0100 3914952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3914954&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fworkplace-issues-longer-commute-worse-health%2F photo: Thinkstock How far away is your job from your home? If it takes more than 90 minutes for you to get to work, you have a greater chance of being in bad health. About 30% of employees who have a 90-minute commute are obese, and more than 30% of those with a 90-minute commute have recurring neck or back pain. Not to mention that 90 minutes each way takes a pretty significant chunk out of your day. That’s three hours you could be using to do something more productive. Like sleep. So how long is your round-trip commute? via Examiner Post from: BlissTree Workplace Issues: Longer Commute, Worse Health (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3914954 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:29:44 +0100 3914954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911676&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F17-million-people-drove-drunk-last-year-um-thats-a-lot%2F photo: Thinkstock In a new report of the U.S. Department of Transportation, it’s estimated that there have been 17 million drunk drivers over the past year. That’s about 20% of the population ages 16 and over. And two-thirds of everyone who had driven drunk in the last year had done it in the past month. Holy crap, that’s a lot of drunk drivers! We hope that none of our dear readers are among the guilty, but how do you get a friend who’s had too much to drink surrender the car keys? via NPR Post from: BlissTree 17 Million People Drove Drunk Last Year: Um, That's a Lot. (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911676 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:00:22 +0100 3911676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858124&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fdriving-makes-you-fat-like-most-sedentary-activities%2F Driving, like most sedentary activities, doesn’t do your waistline any favors. This infographic from GOOD shows a map of the U.S., with the obesity rates and most popular modes of transportation for each state. Not surprisingly, those states where populations drive the most tend to be the fattest, while states with large urban centers where people walk and bike more have slimmer populations. Can’t take public transportation or hoof it to work? Make sure you’re matching your drive time with gym time. via GOOD Blog Post from: BlissTree Driving Makes You Fat, Like Most Sedentary Activities (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858124 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:55:32 +0100 3858124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3845055&cid=t_92543_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Ftexas-medical-authorities-criticized-lax-prosecution-impaired-physician-dr-felix-nabor-sabates-jr%2F Dr. Felix Nabor Sabates, Jr. was allowed to keep practicing medicine despite much evidence that he was seriously impaired, including a recent driving while intoxicated charge where he was observed driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3845055 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:45:13 +0100 3845055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3833419&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fgeorge-carlin-on-crazy-drivers%2F Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? – George Carlin Post from: BlissTree George Carlin on Crazy Drivers (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3833419 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:00:34 +0100 3833419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3868825&cid=t_92543_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F08%2Ftraffic-school-run-red-yellow-lights%2F I live in an area where there are some fun areas to walk to. To get to my favorite rehydrating spot, I have to first cross one sticky intersection. (Source: Dr. Gwenn Is In) Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3868825 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:54:36 +0100 3868825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3794772&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fminnesotans-get-more-lower-back-mris-why%2F2010.07.27 Kudos to Christopher Snowbeck and the St. Paul Pioneer Press for digging into new Medicare data to report that the state the newspaper serves is out of whack with the rest of the country in how many expensive MRI scans are done on Minnesotans’ bad backs. Snowbeck artfully captures the predictable rationalization and defensive responses coming from locals who don’t like what the data suggest. Because what they suggest is overuse leading to overtreatment. So here’s one attempt a provider makes to deflect the data: “The Medicare billing/claims data, which this report is generated from, would not capture conversations between a patient and provider that may have addressed alternative therapies for lower back pain,” said Robert Prevost, a spokesman for North Memor... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3794772 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:00:39 +0100 3794772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3784229&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fand-you-thought-you-were-good-at-parallel-parking-videos-that-crack-us-up%2F We’re pretty impressed with this young lady’s ability to parallel-park her training-wheeled bike so perfectly and quickly. We doubt we could do it, and we’re at least two decades older than she is. It took us shamefully long to learn how to parallel park our Plymouth Horizon at age 16, but this little speed racer has a giant head start on her driver’s test. via The Frisky Post from: BlissTree And You Thought You Were Good at Parallel Parking: Videos That Crack Us Up (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3784229 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:39:37 +0100 3784229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3784260&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhigh-tech-scans-of-fruits-and-vegetables%2F2010.07.23 Medical Pastiche blogger Peter Zavislak, whom I can always count on to point out the unusual and interesting sides of medicine, sent me to a website that has nothing but pictures and videos of food in an MRI scanner. Here’s a series of images from their site of a cantaloupe as viewed from an MRI:    I just find myself thinking that these MRI machines aren’t cheap to run and maintain. Doctors and nurses used to be able to get “freebies” by buddying up with the X-ray, CT or MRI technologist and running a scan for free. Some hospitals allow their employees to test the machines after being set up or maintained to get images for testing purposes. I’m sure more than a technologist or radiologist or two have found incidentalomas from this practice. (more…) ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3784260 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:00:00 +0100 3784260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750061&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-cellphones-kill%2F2010.07.13 San Francisco recently passed a law requiring disclosure to consumers of the amount of radiation emitted by cellphones at the point of sale. Research has been inconclusive on whether there is a link between cellphone usage and cancer. More definitive findings could be years away. Understandably the law addresses a universal concern that we all have. We are more fearful of threats we can’t see, smell, hear, taste, or touch. Radon, carbon monoxide, and radiation fit these criteria. Yet, cellphones kill in other ways which are far more immediate, equally as subtle, and just as concerning. This silent epidemic is increasing at an alarming rate. Everyone sees it, but does nothing about it. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Saving Money and Surviving the Hea... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750061 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3750061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729810&cid=t_92543_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Faaa-air-graphic-public-service-ad-warn-dangers-texting-driving%2F The AAA affiliate in North Carolina is planning on airing a public service ad aimed at deterring teens from texting and driving. It shows a simulation of several teens’ heads hitting and breaking the windshield with resultant facial trauma after the driver is distracted and causes a motor vehicle accident. While perhaps more graphic than the general public is used to seeing on television, the actual facial trauma is much less severe than what actually occurs and presents to the trauma bay in real life. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729810 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 06:50:24 +0100 3729810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671784&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F17%2Fput-down-your-iphone-while-driving%2F Not only is it dangerous to drive while talking on your mobile phone or iPhone or Blackberry, it’s also not good for your relationship either. So says a professor who thinks that if driving while distracted by your technological gadget is bad enough, imagine what trying to hold up your end of the conversation in your relationship might be. Relationships rely on good, clear communication. Driving relies on good, clear undivided attention and no distraction. The two don’t seem entirely compatible, so it seems to reason the good professor has a point. “In general, cell phone usage while driving might lead to missed relationship stop lights, slow reactions to dangerous relationship circumstances, loss of control of one’s part of the interaction, and interaction mistakes that co... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671784 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:28:19 +0100 3671784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3658899&cid=t_92543_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fmother-driving-onset-seizure-collapses-wheel-saved-son-motorists-struck%2F ABC News is reporting the story of Sarah and Nicholas Prokos of Port Charlotte, Florida who survived a crash of their car after Sarah suffered a seizure and lost control of her car which was heading toward a roadside pond. Eight year-old Nicholas, who was strapped into his backseat booster seat, scrambled to the front seat and steered the car into the guard rail, where it hit two other motorists on the busy four lane highway, one of whose vehicle was flipped upside down. In the interview with ABC, Sarah Prokos explains that she had a seizure the week before the accident and took care to explain to her son what a seizure was. In the interview, Prokos beams at her son as she tells the story. Nico is rightfully being lauded as a hero. His mother Sarah’s behavior, however, borders on un... Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3658899 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:48:46 +0100 3658899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648266&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fteen-auto-accident-rates-higher-when.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648266 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:22:00 +0100 3648266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621337&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fauto-accident-rate-higher-for.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621337 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:49:00 +0100 3621337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595712&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FT38ThbcsgI0%2F Please join us in congratulating USA Hockey, Allstate, and Nationwide, for reaching the podium of the 2010 Brain Fitness Innovation Awards, unveiled today. The podium’s top position went to USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), a full-time development program aimed at preparing student-athletes for participation on the US National Under-18 and Under-17 Teams, for its innovative cognitive training system designed with the help of Applied Cognitive Engineering (ACE) and the BIRD Foundation to help hockey players develop perception and decision-making skills. More than two years in the making and $2 million to produce, the Hockey IntelliGym offers players a video-game-like training environment to enhance ‘hockey-sense’-the information gathered from surrounding... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595712 Mon, 24 May 2010 19:59:55 +0100 3595712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3549270&cid=t_92543_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F04%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2010-vol-303-no-16%2F This article looks at the difficulty of determining driving fitness in the United States in the absence of a consensus on the assessment of older drivers with cognitive impairment, and no gold standard for determining driving fitness. This article describes the challenges of driving with cognitive impairment for both the patient and caregiver, summarizes the literature on dementia and driving, discusses evidence-based assessment of fitness to drive, and addresses important ethical and legal issues. An NHS Athens Password is required to access this article online, alternatively comtact the library for a copy of this article. Filed under: Current Awareness, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: Cognitive Decline, Dementia, Driving, Older People, United States (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3549270 Tue, 04 May 2010 20:55:40 +0100 3549270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3549272&cid=t_92543_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F04%2Fjournal-of-the-american-medical-association-2010-vol-303-no-14%2F This article examines whether any evidence exists regarding the risks distracted drivers pose and how to avert them, and what are the respective responsibilities of government, industry and drivers? An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online, alternatively contact the library for a copy of the article. Filed under: Current Awareness, E-Journals, Journals Tagged: Distracted Drivers, Driving, Electronic Devices, Mobile Phones, Road Accidents (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3549272 Tue, 04 May 2010 20:43:34 +0100 3549272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3475992&cid=t_92543_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FtHRS5kHASFc%2F This advertisement, commissioned by the UK’s Sussex Safer Roads, is probably the most dramatic plug seatbelts we’ve ever seen: Post from: BlissTree Video of the Day: "Embrace Life" Campaign from Sussex Safer Roads (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3475992 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:30:34 +0100 3475992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3306898&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F24%2Fintroducing-adhd-in-focus%2F Attention deficit disorder is a serious mental health issue that affects the lives not only of children and teens, but millions of adults as well. So we’re pleased to announce the launch of our latest blog, ADHD In Focus, that will focus on topics in attention deficit disorder (ADHD). ADHD In Focus is hosted by Kathryn Goetzke. Kathryn is the driving force behind the non-profit organization for depression called iFred (the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression). iFred is dedicated to encouraging research on depression and reducing the stigma associated with the disease. In addition to her incredible work on iFred, Kathryn is someone who actually battles attention deficit disorder, hence the reason she agreed to write for this blog. I’m proud to welcome h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3306898 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:57:35 +0100 3306898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3275553&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fteens-drowsy-driving.html A new study of teen drivers found that sleepiness at the wheel and poor sleep quality increased their risk of crashing a vehicle. The results were published today in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.The Italian study involved 339 high school students. Each of them had a driver’s license. Their average age was 18.4 years. Fifty-eight percent of participants were male.They were surveyed about lifestyle habits, sleep habits, sleep disorder symptoms and daytime sleepiness. Driving habits and sleepiness at the wheel also were evaluated. Questions assessed the frequency and timing of car use and accidents.Results show that teen drivers who reported having bad sleep or being sleepy while driving were twice as likely to have had a crash. Eighty of the 339 students had already crashed at le... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3275553 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:48:00 +0100 3275553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3272886&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fduh-study-sleepy-teens-more-accidents%2F Here’s another for the Duh Study File: “A study in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that sleepiness at the wheel and poor sleep quality significantly increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents in adolescents.” Who’d have thought? Do these studies really do anything to educate the public? Do you really think a sleepy teen is going to read a piece about sleep teens and driving and think it applies to them? If parents haven’t clued in on this problem before, would this type of article really make a difference? Researchers in Italy asked 339 licensed drivers (58% male) who were between 18 and 21 years old to complete questionnaires about their lifestyle, sleep habits, if they were fatigued during the day, how they dealt with thei... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3272886 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:12:36 +0100 3272886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3205069&cid=t_92543_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F2fGnPqmTWDI%2F Friday there was an article circulating around twitter "Woman charged after diabetic episode.'  I wasn't going to blog about the article but  after talking to my husband--I changed my mind.  I decided to take a few snippets from the newspaper article, please make sure you click on the link to get the full story.PWD, 39, of Lake Forest, is accused of failing to take proper care of her blood sugar level, triggering an episode of hypoglycemia in which she lost control of the Suburban. The PWD is accused of taking insulin on an empty stomach, dropping her blood sugar to a dangerously low level. On July 3, 2007 around 2:15 p.m., the PWD was driving with 8- and 9-year-old children in the SUV when she lost control, veering across a center divider and into oncoming traffic on the no... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3205069 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0100 3205069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3066985&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fhelp-keep-buzzed-drivers-off-the-road%2F Drunk driving is a bit of a misnomer. It gives you the impression that you need to be obviously drunk: weaving as you walk, slurring your speech, acting like a jerk. But driving drunk is not that obvious most of the time. Driving while under the influence is a better term, but it boils down to the same thing: You’ve had too much to drink and you shouldn’t be driving because you’re a buzzed driver. Maybe, no matter how much alcohol you’ve had, you shouldn’t be driving at all. It works in many Northern European countries, there’s no reason why it couldn’t work in North America. The National Highway Safety and Traffic Association (NHTSA) and the Ad Council are continuing their efforts with their PSA campaign called “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.�... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3066985 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:40:59 +0100 3066985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2950707&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fdrowsy-driving-prevention-week-nov-2-8%2F Can drowsy driving be equated to drunk driving? If you look at the statistics of crashes and deaths caused by sleepy drivers and compare them with those of drunk drivers, it won’t take you long to see the similarity. The National Sleep Foundation notes that a study in Australia compared various levels of sleepiness with blood alcohol levels and what they found may be surprising. Being awake for: 18 hours equaled a blood alcohol level of 0.05 24 hours equaled 0.10 0.08 is considered to be the level of legally drunk It’s because of numbers like this, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) is reminding us that November 2 through 8, 2009 is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. The hope is that a week of awareness may help reduce the estimated 100,000 crashes, which result in more than 1... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2950707 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:09:26 +0100 2950707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2898900&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Finjuries-reduced-when-victim-intoxicated%2F It happens a lot. We read or hear of a drunk driving crash (I refuse to call it an accident) and while the victims are severely hurt or killed, the drunk driver walks away, virtually unhurt. Or, even if hurt, they recover quickly. It always makes me wonder about the effect of alcohol on the body when it gets hurt. Now it seems, there’s proof that being drunk limits the amount of damage the body sustains in a trauma. Researchers studied almost 8000 people who had been hurt in accidents. They were looking to see if alcohol in the body at the time of the accident had any impact on the severity of the injuries. The study findings were published in the most recent issue of the journal American Surgeon. The researchers weren’t interested in glamorizing alcohol and hope that this stud... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2898900 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:36:39 +0100 2898900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894485&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F02AapfvWo4Y%2F Why there’s no way to enforce a ban on texting while driving. How onerous financial rules will only delay economic recovery and dampen long-term growth. It’s time to start over on health care reform: “If you’re going the wrong way down a road, the answer isn’t to step on the gas, but to turn around.” Is the current recession the worst since the Great Depression? You might be surprised… When “history” dials the wrong number. Podcast: Will the GOP of 2010 Be led by ideas? (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894485 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:33:57 +0100 2894485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894489&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FGP-tW8jzjpA%2F Radley Balko exposes the politicians who play the game of enacting laws for symbolic purposes.  In this game, whether the proposed law has any actual impact on the supposed problem seems entirely beside the point.  Excerpt: Maryland just passed a texting ban, but state officials are flummoxed over how to enforce it. The law bans texting while driving but allows for reading texts, for precisely the reasons just mentioned. But how can a police officer positioned at the side of a highway tell if the driver of the car that just flew by was actually pushing buttons on his cellphone and not merely reading the display screen? Unless a motorist is blatantly typing away at eye level, a car would need to be moving slowly enough for an officer to see inside, focus on the phone, and observe the driv... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894489 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:30:00 +0100 2894489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2868724&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fdrowsy-driving-osa-sleep-loss-alcohol.html Sleep loss and alcohol both have negative effects on driving performance. Are people with obstructive sleep apnea more vulnerable to these effects?A new study from Australia involved 38 people with untreated OSA. They were compared with 20 healthy controls.Participants were tested three times in a driving simulator. They drove after a normal night of sleep and after only four hours of sleep.They also drove after consuming enough vodka to raise their blood alcohol concentration level to 0.05 grams per deciliter; this means they had 50 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 milliliters of blood. For most drivers in Australia a BAC level of 0.05 or higher is considered “drink driving.”The simulators tracked steering, speed control and other measures of driving performance. These measures have... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2868724 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:00 +0100 2868724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838905&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fo56RFSOqAVg%2F In response to claims that texting-while-driving (TWD) causes traffic accidents, Congress is considering “a federal bill that would force states to ban texting while driving if they want to keep receiving federal highway money.” This approach to forcing a particular policy on the states mimics the 1984 Federal Uniform Driving Age Act, which threatened to withhold federal highway funds unless states adopted a 21-year-old minimum legal drinking age. The justification for that law was reducing traffic fatalities among 18-20 year olds. A federal ban on TWD is not compelling: 1. Federal imposition of the 21-year old minimum drinking age did not save lives. 2. A ban on texting might increase other distractions: adjusting the radio, putting on makeup, eating a sandwich, reading a map,... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838905 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:56:09 +0100 2838905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782278&cid=t_92543_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F10%2Fprobably-more-than-six-degrees-of-separation%2F In a precedent-setting case,a Quebec judge has sentenced a serial drunk driver to life in prison. Aside from the obvious ‘but for the grace of God, there go I’ the court house in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec – where sentencing took place on Wednesday – faces the east side of a park which my very first place of [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782278 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:43:52 +0100 2782278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2762103&cid=t_92543_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FnvAAK8pyoz0%2Falways-on-guard.php I talked on Monday about all the driving I'm doing now, and how the reach of headlights has some parallels to our blood sugar testing.Another similarity struck me as I was driving through Wisconsin.  It was just about dusk (prime time for deer crossing), and I was on a small, two-lane highway.  There were tall pine trees on both sides of the road, right up to the shoulder. I couldn't see anything but pavement and pine trees.  I was absolutely paranoid about deer running across the road.  Paranoid.I was torn between staying at 65mph to hurry through this claustrophobic stretch of highway, or slowing down to feel a little more careful.  The thing is, this is not like headlights, where going slower means you have more time to react.  If a deer darts in front of m... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2762103 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0100 2762103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2752098&cid=t_92543_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FTc2D_FGr9Tw%2Fheadlights.php I am glad to say that I've found some work.  It is not diabetes related, but it seems to be paying a couple of the bills and gives me a lot of flexibility. This job involves a lot of driving.  4 hours into Wisconsin or Iowa (one way) a few times per month, minimum.  I've got a lot of time just staring through my windshield and watching bugs bounce off (or not... SPLAT!).  It gives me a lot of time to think about stuff, which is kind of nice.One of the things I was thinking about is how the tools we have to manage our diabetes are a lot like headlights.  Especially when you're driving down a dark country road in the middle of the night.  Your headlights are blazing beams of light ahead of you, but when you're driving 65mph, it doesn't seem like they reach quite... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2752098 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0100 2752098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2724913&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F08%2F21%2Fdubious-blue-light-iphone-app%2F Recently a press release crossed my desk advertising a blue light application for your iPhone (now) and for the Blackberry and Palm soon. I was amazed at the brash medical claims this software maker was claiming — claims that one might think might need to evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration because they relate to the claimed treatment of seasonal depression. What’s so special about blue light? In recent years, there’s been a growing body of research that suggests light in the 460 - 470 nm wavelength spectrum can be particularly effective in helping people with seasonal affective disorder (also called seasonal depression or SAD). It’s also been theorized to help fight fatigue and drowsy driving. But here’s the rub. When you examine those studies, you... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2724913 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:15:35 +0100 2724913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2587951&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fdrowsy-driving-mercedes-saab-develop.html Car makers Mercedes-Benz and SAAB are both using high-tech systems to help prevent drowsy-driving accidents.Mercedes introduced its Attention Assist system as a standard feature of the 2010 E-Class. Sensors measure more than 70 parameters to monitor your alertness.They keep track of your speed and acceleration. The sensors record your use of turn indicators and pedals. They even take into account external factors such as wind.But the system focuses on your steering behavior. It detects minor steering errors that often occur in the early stages of drowsiness.Attention Assist then warns you when you are at risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. A chime sounds, and a message appears on the instrument display. It shows a coffee cup with the words, “Attention Assist: Time for a break?”You... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2587951 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:03:00 +0100 2587951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561531&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FfsWe8_hlCOU%2Fcaregivers-alzheimers-other-victims-on.html Quick notice and reminder. Tonight ABC will be featuring Alzheimer's and caregiving.Watch "Primetime: Family Secrets" TONIGHT at 10 p.m. ETWhen his mother Lawanda was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Blane Wilson swore he would not put her in a nursing home."It's like adopting another child," Georgia Wilson, Blane's wife, says about Lawanda, 78.44 million Americans provide unpaid care to a loved one, according to a study by the by the National Allegiance for Care Giving and the AARP. Of those, 23 percent are providing care for someone with Alzheimer's, dementia or other forms of mental confusion, according to the same report.Blane Wilson says it's been rough dealing with a parent with a disease without obvious, physical symptoms.Go here to continue reading...Bob DeMarco is an Alzheimer'... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561531 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:59:01 +0100 2561531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561532&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2F7cYCcg0104c%2Fultimate-love-triangle-mother-in-laws.html Lawanda Wilson was 72 when she decided to test her luck and drive from her home in Midland, Texas, to Las Vegas to visit one of her sons in the summer of 2003."I just thought, well, I'd just go and have a good time," said Wilson, now 79.But she couldn't find her son's house. Lost and disoriented, Wilson ended up sleeping in her car for days.She got back to Midland in one piece, but it was clear she was no longer capable of taking good care of herself. She wasn't eating. She wasn't taking her pills.It turns out she was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease."I knew that my mother was starting to lose her memory a little bit," eldest son Blane Wilson said, "but I never dreamed that it would be anything like this. I didn't see it coming at all."Go here to continue reading.Primetime: F... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561532 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:56:20 +0100 2561532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2552992&cid=t_92543_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F29%2Frecent-health-related-statutory-instruments-2%2F SI 2009 No. 1548 Children And Young Persons, England And Wales Protection Of Vulnerable Adults, England And Wales. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009 SI 2009 No. 1541 Social Security. The Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-focused Interviews) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 SI 2009 No. 1488 Social Security. The Social Security (Equalisation of State Pension Age) Regulations 2009 Posted in Human Resources, Legislation, Statutory Instruments Tagged: Adults, Children, Driving, Human Resources, Incapacity Benefit, Legislation, Pensions, Social Security, Vulnerable People (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2552992 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:37:08 +0100 2552992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511976&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F_61B2ooGmnw%2F Given the whole distracting "controversy" of whether Nintendo Brain Age "works" or not, I have started to use the following "brain teasers" in my talks in order to help the audience gain a more useful perspective of what is going on. They worked great both in the Medicare Readmissions Summit in DC a few weeks ago, and at the Games for Heath Conference last week. Q: How many soldiers in the US Army have gone through computerized cognitive testing before being deployed, and why? A: Over 150,000, in order to establish an objective starting baseline and identify potential PTSD and TBI problems upon their return Q: How big is the ongoing investment by OptumHealth, a division of UnitedHealth Group (UNH), in developing computerized cognitive assessments to inform cli... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511976 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:07:33 +0100 2511976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2477535&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYn8JdhViL8Y%2F It has been a good run, but it appears government might finally bring America’s love affair with the car to an untimely end, says Cato Mencken Research Fellow P.J. O’Rourke. The author of the new book Driving Like Crazy, spoke at Cato last week about classic cars, government regulation, the takeover of GM and the forthcoming “Obamamobile.” (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2477535 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:59:53 +0100 2477535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469439&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FAVkJ9brtCRA%2F What do automobiles and  American founding principles have in common? At a Cato forum Tuesday, P.J. O’Rourke, author of the new book Driving Like Crazy, said well, plenty. “Cars fulfilled the Americans’ founding fathers’ dream and ideal,” said O’Rourke. “Of all the truths that we hold to be self evident, of all the  unalienable rights with which we are endowed, what is the most important to the American dream? It is right there, front and center…freedom to leave…freedom to get the hell out of town.” Indeed, the American automobile as many have known it is fading fast. After years of government incentives to build certain types of cars, tax credits to buy smaller ones, higher gasoline tax proposals, and the government takeover of General Mot... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469439 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:23:03 +0100 2469439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447711&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fwipe-that-smile-off-your-face.html "You may not smile in Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada, or Virginia." At least, not if you are getting your driver's license photo taken.Apparently, they use photo detection software to compare faces for identity fraud purposes. And smiling thwarts the computer.Is it even legal (or constitutional) to require drivers to not smile? Can they frown? Stick out their tongues? Look cross-eyed? (Interesting face research where you can combine 2 faces; and a blog on pics of faces in places; and make your own Flash face like Mr Potato Head).I supposed DMV would prefer folks who are depressed when they get their photo taken, to keep the computers happy. One man's downer is another machine's Prozac.Just bizarre.----- Listen to our latest podcast at mythreeshrinks.com or subscribe to our rss feed. (Source: Sh... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447711 Sat, 30 May 2009 12:30:00 +0100 2447711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365382&cid=t_92543_136_f&fid=36162&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyelomablog.com%2F2009%2F04%2F23%2Fflashing-lights-southern-pines-police%2F This evening was the second of eight sessions of this year’s Southern Pines Police Citizens Police Academy. If your community’s police department has a program like this, I encourage you to get involved. It doesn’t seem like eight weeks is enough time to learn all there is to know. During the first session, we had an introduction to the department and its functions given by Chief John Letteney, Community Services Coordinator, Bob Temme and the department’s chaplain. Today’s lecture and demonstrations were conducted by Sgt Austin, who described the functions and responsibilities of the patrol division. We got to tour the department offices and take a look at some of the equipment used in patrol cars. We talked a lot about impaired drivers and the methods used t... beth's myeloma blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365382 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:23:03 +0100 2365382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365247&cid=t_92543_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fearth-day-and-health-walk-more-drive-less%2F In honor of Earth Day, which was April 22, I’ve been writing this week about things you can do to improve both your health and the health of the environment. On Tuesday, I wrote about changing your diet in an earth-friendly manner, and today I’d like to talk about another activity that would be good for you and good for the environment; namely, walking more and driving less. You can also substitute bicycle riding for driving, but walking is easier and needs no equipment. Countless studies have proven the health benefits of walking, and less driving is obviously beneficial both from reduced energy consumption and lower production of pollutants such as greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. Walking has been shown repeatedly to be an excellent form of exercise, espe... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365247 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:40:12 +0100 2365247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313543&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F06%2Fnegative-anticipation-set-up-for-worry%2F Last night I was worried about a work thing that I felt less than ideally prepared for. Some parts were fine, but others worked against my weaknesses. In short, I was pretty worried. When I went in to work, it all went better than I expected. Some bumps in the road, but it was a great learning experience with good support. I knew this in my head going in, but I was still worried. And I was still somewhat worried about doing it the next time. So if my logic tells me it’s likely to be OK, why did I still get so worried? Worrying is feeling anxious about something that could or will happen in the future. The emotion usually includes fear of either something specific or of the unknown. Your heart beats faster, you might feel sweaty, and you often feel a sense of physical tension in your ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313543 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:55:00 +0100 2313543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2272468&cid=t_92543_112_f&fid=34799&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmwwak.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fthank-you-trooper.html I'm doing a lot of traveling right now. I was out on the west coast earlier this weekend, and now I'm here, in Amsterdam, headed to Scotland. Lots of work to do, too. On Friday night, it all caught up with me. I was driving back to my hotel (nearish to the airport) from my mom's house (150 miles from the airport). I had given 2 hours of lectures at a conference, and hopped into my car to go visit my mom, who lives... well... 150 miles north of the conference venue.Add the cumulative exhaustion of 11 years of medical training to the traveling and the conference giving, and well, I was exhausted. But my mom has had a rough time, and she needs to feel like people care, I think. So, I went to see her. My plan was to go, get there and leave by 630-7pm. I got there, she and my aunt wanted to go ... Midwife with a Knife blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2272468 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:44:00 +0100 2272468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207951&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fdrowsy-racing-nascars-jeff-gordon.html Even a top NASCAR driver can suffer from drowsy driving. Especially when he’s a new parent.Florida Today reports that sleep loss may help explain Jeff Gordon’s disappointing 2008 season. It seems that the four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is still adjusting to fatherhood. His wife Ingrid gave birth to their daughter Ella Sofia on June 20, 2007.“It's that I'm not sleeping,” Gordon recently told reporters. “I'm showing up to the race track trying to hold my eyes open because I'm sleep deprived because she was up crying at 3 in the morning. I'm trying to be a good husband, not necessarily just a good father, and play my role."The 37-year-old Gordon already ranks as one of the best NASCAR drivers in history. He is sixth on NASCAR’s all-time win list with 81 victories; “The Kin... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207951 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:34:00 +0100 2207951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207955&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fto-sleep-or-to-wake-drowsy-driving.html Today Boston Globe writer Geoff Edgers shares some interesting insights from his recent episode of drowsy driving.It wasn’t quite a near-death experience. But it was enough to destroy his tire. And put a scare into the friend who was riding with him.It also caused him to question his priorities. Where exactly is sleep supposed to fit in his busy schedule? It seems like the need for sleep is a frustrating nuisance that prevents him from getting more done.One of Edgers’ main complaints is that he feels like he doesn’t have time to sleep. In a competitive workplace he can’t get by on talent alone. He has to put in more time than the next person.On top of that there are other obligations that demand his time. Family. Hobbies. Other projects.Is it worth it to cut back on something he va... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207955 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:17:00 +0100 2207955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207961&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fdrowsy-driving-rumble-strips.html You’re sleepy, but you’re intent on making it to your destination on time. So you keep driving.You fight to keep your eyes open. Suddenly you’re startled by a loud noise as your car begins to shake.Your eyes pop open as you realize that your car was drifting off the road. You just encountered a rumble strip.The first shoulder rumble strips appeared on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway in 1955. They are used to prevent run-off-road crashes. The Federal Highway Administration reports that this type of crash causes one-third of all traffic fatalities. The main cause? Drivers are too sleepy.But are rumble strips an effective solution for drowsy driving? A recent study examined how rumble strips affect sleepy drivers.Thirty-five shift workers operated a driving simulator in the morning af... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207961 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:23:00 +0100 2207961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207963&cid=t_92543_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Favoid-putting-infant-to-sleep-in-car.html Car safety seats should never be used to put a baby to sleep. That’s the warning for parents after the recent death of an infant in Quebec.The mother of the 2-month-old baby had put him to sleep in a car seat after he woke up crying early one morning. An hour later when she checked on him she realized that he had stopped breathing.This issue received attention in 2006. An article in the British Medical Journal reported on the similar death of nine infants.The problem is that infants do not have well developed head control. The researchers found that a baby’s head may slump forward while sleeping in a car seat. As a result the baby’s jaw presses against his or her chest.This position narrows the airway and makes it hard to breathe. The throat muscles also relax during sleep. This incr... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207963 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:06:00 +0100 2207963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160402&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6072 Driving while suffering from flu increases the risk of a road accident, as much as two glasses of whisky, according to a British new study.read more | digg story from the Malaysian Medical Resources Driving while suffering from flu raises risk of an accident (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160402 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2160402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2104992&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F511462725%2F Good article in the New York Times today: An Epidemic of Crashes Among the Aging? Unlikely, Study Says - "The (Insurance Institute for Highway Driving) insurance institute is conducting further research to determine why the risks appear to be going down for older drivers. It may be that today’s older drivers are simply in better physical and mental shape than their counterparts a decade ago, so they are not only less likely to make a driving mistake, but also less frail and better able to survive injuries." There is no doubt that, as a group, older persons of any given age are in better physical and mental shape today than their counterparts years ago. For context, worldwide life expectancy has increased more than 20 years in less than 6o years - so you can imagine how a person... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2104992 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:09:36 +0100 2104992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2078820&cid=t_92543_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F502843236%2Fstates-unleash-new-ignition-lock-laws.html The brave new world of DUI enforcement.Starting this month, drivers convicted of driving while intoxicated in at least six new states will face a hi-tech hurdle to repeat offenses: ignition interlocks. After a high profile national campaign, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other organizations convinced several state legislatures to pass laws mandating the dashboard installation of small ignition interlock device activated by a breathalyzer.“It’s amazingly inconvenient, “ David Malham of the Illinois MADD group told Associated Press. “But the flip side of the inconvenience is death.”Will high technology really help keep drunk drivers off the streets and highways? Malham, quoted in the Chicago Tribune, insisted that “it’s not about changing human nature, it’s about science ... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2078820 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:13:00 +0100 2078820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074604&cid=t_92543_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F498891837%2Fknow-your-measure.html Three quizzes for the holiday drinking season.It’s that time of year again, when the amateur drinkers take to the streets and taverns along with the professionals. If you go out on New Years Eve, and you plan to drink, count yourself lucky if you return with nothing more serious than a black eye or a broken taillight. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, federal traffic data shows that “from 2001-2005, an average of 36 fatalities occurred per day on America’s roadways as a result of crashes involving an alcohol impaired driver. That number increases to 45 per day during the Christmas period and jumps to 54 per day over the New Year’s holiday.”Herewith, three tools to aid you in determining whether the holidays have made you just a little bit TOO happy.... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074604 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:10:00 +0100 2074604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2028070&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F12%2F11%2Fthe-situation-of-driving-while-texting%2F Sarah Flagg of The Missourian examines the law and psychology of drivers who text message. According to the National Safety Counsel, “Distracted driving contributes to hundreds of thousands of injuries and deaths each year.” Driving while texting is a particularly common phenomenon among younger persons, with one estimate indicating that “nearly half of ages 18 to 24 admitted texting while driving at least occasionally, as compared to less than five percent of those ages 45 and older.” We excerpt Flagg’s piece below. * * * Missouri Rep. Joe Smith, R.-St. Charles, pre-filed a bill earlier this month that would create the state’s first restrictions on cell phone use while driving, unless the phone is equipped with a hands-free device. The bill would ban cell phon... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2028070 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:10:56 +0100 2028070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2005730&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F12%2F02%2Fsafer-to-chat-with-passenger-than-on-cell-phone%2F Tara Parker-Pope blogged about new research describing results that found talking to the passenger in your car is safer than talking on a cell phone. David Strayer, professor of psychology at the University of Utah and the study’s lead author [said,] “When you’re in the same physical environment, you tend to adjust your discussions to the difficulty of driving. If driving becomes difficult, they stop talking or they point out hazards.’’ The current research, like virtually all research into driving behaviors, was done in a simulator. But this study also used hands-free cell phones, suggesting that even hands-free isn’t as safe as we might have been led to believe. So states that have banned handset cell phone conversations while allowing hands-free conversations (I&#82... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2005730 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:29:48 +0100 2005730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006587&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F12%2F02%2Fthe-situational-power-of-anonymity%2F Sam Sommers has another first-rate situationist post, titled “Aggressive Drivers Anonymous” over on the Psychology Today Blog.  Here are some excerpts. * * * Last week I was driving my daughters to a birthday party when I pulled over at an intersection to let a fire engine through. Naturally, one driver, in a green Nissan, decided to use the speeding truck as his personal blocking back, tailing close behind and passing those of us who had pulled to the side. He made just enough progress before getting to the stoplight that I found myself totally cut off once the truck passed, forced to sit there and wait through yet another cycle of the light. I could have just let the transgression go, of course, but I felt an uncontrollable urge to honk my horn at Green Nissan as we waited a... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006587 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:21:07 +0100 2006587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856277&cid=t_92543_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FAddictionInbox%2F%7E3%2F413011962%2Fjohn-mccain-and-ambien.html Is he sleep-driving through the campaign?After the last three weeks of erratic and unpredictable behavior from presidential candidate John McCain, it seems reasonable to revisit an issue first raised in May by ABC News: Is McCain’s use of the drug Ambien as a sleep aide affecting his behavior and judgment?After the press was allowed a brief look at candidate McCain’s medical records earlier this year, Dr. Peter A. Fotinakes of the St. Joseph Sleep Disorders Center in Orange, California, told ABC News that, while Ambien was generally a safe medication, “Taking more than the recommended dosage of Ambien or combining it with other sedative-hypnotics--for example, alcohol—may result in amnesia, fugue states, and sleep walking.”Ambien’s official website lists other reported effects:... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856277 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:02:00 +0100 1856277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1848179&cid=t_92543_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fdriving-on-election-day-is-particularly-hazardous%2F Election day, Tuesday, November 4, is fast approaching and I encourage everyone to register and vote in this historic presidential election. But a new study has found that if you drive on election day during voting hours, you should exercise extra caution. That’s because, as strange as it may seem, there’s an 18 percent increased risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident during voting hours on a presidential election day than on a non-election day. The research was published in the October 1, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers examined all eight presidential elections since 1976 and found a consistent pattern of increased fatalities on election days across the decades. They compared the number of traffic accident-related fatalities on... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1848179 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:17:36 +0100 1848179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739072&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F08%2F28%2Fthe-debate-on-alcohol-and-21-year-olds%2F Suddenly it’s a new world once again, as states take their independence seriously and realize that they are not beholden to our federal government for laws they disagree with. The law in question is the forced adoption of the 21-year-old alcohol drinking age, basically federal law since 1984 (states who do not adhere to the guideline lose a percentage of their federal highway funding — a stick that has little to do with responsible alcohol consumption). Dana Boyd has an interesting essay on the topic, which has risen to the forefront of public debate as some states want to revisit the issue, noting the hypocrisy of sending 18-year-old children to war in Iraq who, after returning home from duty, still can’t have a drink while talking about the carnage they witnessed. En... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739072 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:34:45 +0100 1739072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711799&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2FrFzxqTRrzxw%2F Discussion with him proved unsuccessful and somehow he found the extra set of keys.  So family members disabled the car and kept delaying “getting it fixed.”  He finally lost interest in driving and seemed content to let others drive him. My neighbor’s aunt didn’t pass her sight test, and her doctor informed her that new glasses wouldn’t help enough to enable her to drive. She accepted this although she was frustrated and upset. However, it often is very difficult.  They even may pass a driving test and receive a license renewal, when you know they’re not safe on the road. Check out several  resources: The Alzheimer’s Association - Driving with Alzheimer’s The Hartford - Alzheimer’s, Dementia & Driving The Mayo Clinic - ... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711799 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:00:10 +0100 1711799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1677591&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F353499517%2F From the website of the investing venture capital firm, Milk Capital: Milk Capital invests USD 5 million in CogniFit -July 31st, 2008. "Milk Capital invest USD 5M in Cognifit, a company specialized in cognitive and brain software The solutions developed by CogniFit are designed to be applied to a large number of fields, such as healthcare, driving, education, sport and many others. The field of applications is almost unlimited as it is only restricted by the capacities of the brain." -"Since its establishment in 1999, CogniFit attracted 4.2M$. Despite this rather moderate investment at the beginning, the company has grown significantly and today, its software is distributed in a large number of countries, from the United States through France to New Zealand, and has been tr... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677591 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:37:08 +0100 1677591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1660722&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F07%2F28%2Fwhen-panic-attacks-in-the-lehigh-tunnel%2F Mapquest said it was a three hour trip. But I knew better; it would take me nearly five hours to get home for my Christmas break from school. Was I a slow driver? No, not particularly. Was there a chance of snow? Not at all; blue skies all around. Was I planning on taking a two-hour break at one of the turnpike’s service plazas? No; a fast-food meal there would take twenty minutes, tops. Was I banking on getting lost? No, I’m one of those map nerds who enjoys aiding lost friends via telephone with the full-sized map of Pennsylvania that I (seriously!) have tacked to my bedroom wall. The three-hour trip from grad school in Newark, Delaware to my hometown of Kingston, Pennsylvania was going to take five hours because I couldn’t stand driving through the Lehigh Tunnel. It’s a long t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1660722 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:25:11 +0100 1660722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1622285&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35371&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthecaregiver.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Ffamily-conversation-with-older-drivers.html When the time comes for the elderly to stop driving they will do so only after "kicking and screaming all the way. If you find yourself in the position where you need to ask them to stop driving it will be one of the most difficult conversations you will ever face. Here are some tips on the following pages. Preparing for a conversationSuccessful family conversations begin with good preparation and caring communication. With sensitivity toward the feelings of older drivers, families can help the older driver make safe driving decisions and ensure peace of mind for the entire family.Start EarlyIf you start early you might find that convincing the person is easier over time.Ideally, the first conversations about safe driving should occur long before driving becomes a problem. Early, occasiona... CareGiver, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1622285 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:00:00 +0100 1622285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1561376&cid=t_92543_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fcell-phones-and-driving-dont-go-together%2F Today new laws go into effect in Washington (where I live) and in California (the most populous state – a full 12 percent of Americans live there!) banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Washington and California join Connecticut, D.C., New Jersey and New York in having such cell phone bans. While I welcome these new laws, I don’t think they go far enough because research has shown that it’s not the number of hands you have available for driving, but rather how much attention you’re paying to your driving that’s important in crash prevention. Yet no state bans all cell phone use while driving, and the ones noted above don’t prohibit hands-free phoning (a list of all the various state laws is provided by the Governors Highway Safety Association). Driver inattent... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1561376 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:14:06 +0100 1561376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1531186&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F20%2Fdistracted-while-driving%2F Anybody who’s driven a car knows there’s been an instant or two where they’ve become distracted. The vast majority of the time such distractions don’t result in any problems. But once in awhile, the distraction can cause an accident, resulting in injury and even death. We often think of distractions in terms of what’s distracting us — a screaming child or cell phone ringing. But psychologists who study distractions while driving look at it differently. They’ve classified four broad categories of distractions while driving (Stutts et al., 2005): Visual distractions (e.g., focusing on something other than the road) Audible distractions (e.g., someone talking) Physical distractions (e.g., eating) Cognitive distractions (e.g., something that ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531186 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:44:29 +0100 1531186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1518671&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F13%2Fhow-not-to-discourage-drunk-driving-the-el-camino-high-debacle%2F Imagine you’re a high-school senior, sitting with friends in your Monday morning physics class. You notice that one of the popular athletes is absent but think nothing of it – he might have skipped class to go to the beach, you think, or maybe he caught that final cold of the season that’s been going around. Suddenly a uniformed highway patrol officer appears. Your jaw drops as she informs you and your classmates that the absent student, along with several other people you know, were killed in a car wreck over the weekend. You’re in shock, traumatized. Suddenly your upcoming prom and graduation don’t seem quite as exciting anymore, now that several of the people you wanted to share it with are gone. Now imagine your unspeakable anger a few hours later, when officials at your sc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1518671 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:37:11 +0100 1518671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1477894&cid=t_92543_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F29%2F2142%2F “Sleep-driving” while under the influence of Ambien has captured wide attention and continues to be an alarming problem. Ambien (zolpidem) is one of the new “Z” drugs used as sleeping pills that are popular in commercials and doctor’s sample cupboards. But alternatives exist (most obviously the other Z’s - zopiclone/Lunesta, and zalepron/Sonata). There have been occasional newspaper reposts of sleep-driving of individuals arrested while sleep-driving, people who took Ambien at bedtime and didn’t even wake up during the arrest process. Like Devin Dove, who remained asleep until he woke up in a hospital bed and was handed a ticket for DUI by a nurse. The previous night he’d had no alcohol, no drugs - only his prescribed Ambien - and no recolle... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1477894 Fri, 30 May 2008 01:31:17 +0100 1477894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1397921&cid=t_92543_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHEALTH%2F%7E3%2F277322610%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. Related articlesThe Genetics of Panic DisorderNovel Gene Suppresses Tumor Growth in Multiple CancersHEALTH Highlights - August 9th, 2007Healthy Tips for the Fourth of JulyHEALTH Highlights - June 26th, 2007 (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1397921 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:35:36 +0100 1397921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1344719&cid=t_92543_158_f&fid=36160&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeinstitute.com%2Fcaregivingminutes%2F%3Fp%3D52 www.popeinstitute.com When speaking to families about my being an elder care specialist and aging in place consultant, they always marvel at the availability of such a resource and thank me for my commitment to advocating for seniors and their families. Families I work with are always grateful to know that I am there to help them find solutions and manage the challenges that come with caring for a sick, disabled, or elderly loved one. I wish I could tell you that Pope Institute is the only elder care company around. I wish I could tell you I work with millions of families each year (imagine the improvements in quality of care if that were the case). I wish I could tell you that your family is the exception and you will never need an impartial elder care specialist to help you mana... CaregivingMinutes™ by Pope Institute blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1344719 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:08:32 +0100 1344719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1336453&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F260444543%2F Driving as Next Brain Fitness Application?  Last month, at the MIT/ SmartSilvers event where we presented our Brain Fitness Market Report, we discussed what specific applications, beyond the current emphasis on healthy aging, might take computerized cognitive training to a new level.   Assessing and improving driving skills would be a top candidate, given both the well-defined nature of the need and the appearance of programs with growing evidence (both scientific and real-world) behind. The New York Times Asks...  Along these lines, the New York Times just published this article: Are You a Good Driver? Here’s How to Find Out. A few quotes: - "COULD a video game make you a better driver? More important, could computer software prevent teenagers from making fatal mistakes or e... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1336453 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:13:24 +0100 1336453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1311335&cid=t_92543_151_f&fid=36047&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FADozenSteps%2F%7E3%2F253696502%2F An honest-to-God, real live drunk showed up at our meeting last night followed closely by the men in blue… He’s been here before. A few years ago. He was disruptive then and he was disruptive last night - but not too bad, thankfully. Our meeting went along with just a couple of bumps, then the policeman showed up. It wasn’t over… He’d shown up late. During the meeting we discovered he’d driven himself to the church because the officer popped into the room and asked who was driving a particular vehicle. What became apparent later was that there had been reports to the police from the local neighborhood about this person driving erratically. After the meeting we discovered that one of our members, who is a long-term, good standing sober member of our grou... A Dozen Steps blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1311335 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:35:16 +0100 1311335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1240363&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F237148716%2F Dear Mr or Mrs Next US President, We are glad to welcome you to our blog carnival. After a short hiatus, Encephalon is back and gathering steam. We have prepared this "revival" edition just for you, so you can be well informed and impress us all during the upcoming Sciencedebate 2008. Without further ado, let's proceed to the questions posed by 24 bloggers on neuroscience and psychology issues. We hope they provide, at the very least, good mental stimulation for you and your advisors. Big Questions Do I deserve to vote even if I don't have Free Will? (Marc at Neuroscientifically Challenged). If culture sculpts our brains, what can our brains do to refine our culture first? (Stephanie at Brains On Purpose). Is God more than a flying brain? (Jessica at bioephemera). Is Your brain r... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1240363 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:47:33 +0100 1240363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1239450&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F237148716%2F Dear Mr or Mrs Next US President, We are glad to welcome you to our blog carnival. After a short hiatus, Encephalon is back gathering steam. We have prepared this "revival" edition just for you, so you can be well informed and impress us all during the upcoming Sciencedebate 2008. Without further ado, let's proceed to the questions posed by 23 bloggers on neuroscience and psychology issues. We hope they provide, at the very least, good mental stimulation for you and your advisors. Big Questions Do I deserve to vote even if I don't have Free Will? (Marc at Neuroscientifically Challenged). If culture sculpts our brains, what can our brains do to refine our culture first? (Stephanie at Brains On Purpose). Is God more than a flying brain? (Jessica at bioephemera). Is Your brain reall... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1239450 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:17:59 +0100 1239450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1238215&cid=t_92543_151_f&fid=36047&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FADozenSteps%2F%7E3%2F236636737%2F And society continues to misperceive… Lary Sorensen, no longer anonymous, cannot hide from the aftermath of another alcoholic episode. One which ought to, but might not, prove beyond any doubt that he is powerless over alcohol. “It was 3:12 on a Saturday morning, Feb. 2, when Roseville police officer Brian Dobrzycki approached a gray 1998 Ford parked on the shoulder of I-696, near I-94, a man slumped unmoving over the steering wheel. Dobrzycki hammered on the windows and the windshield to no avail, and called emergency medical services. Moments after they arrived the man stirred, and eventually was able to unlock his door. Dobrzycki identified him: former All-Star pitcher and Tigers announcer Lary Sorensen. He was dead drunk — nearly literally so.” Way beyond &#8220... A Dozen Steps blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1238215 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:22:14 +0100 1238215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1205051&cid=t_92543_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F229385028%2F Today we are fortunate to interview Dr. Jerri Edwards, an Associate Professor at University of South Florida's School of Aging Studies and Co-Investigator of the influencial ACTIVE study. Dr. Edwards was trained by Dr. Karlene K. Ball, and her research is aimed toward discovering how cognitive abilities can be maintained and even enhanced with advancing age. Main focus of research Alvaro Fernandez: Please explain to our readers your main research areas Jerri Edwards: I am particularly interested in how cognitive interventions may help older adults to avoid or at least delay functional difficulties and thereby maintain their independence longer. Much of my work has focused on the functional ability of driving including assessing driving fitness among older adults and remediation of cogniti... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1205051 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:23:15 +0100 1205051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1173344&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F222009134%2F Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University released the results of a new study looking at driving and Alzheimer’s Disease. Using 6 monthly self-reports, family reports and a standardized road test, the study observed 128 individuals, 84 with early Alzheimer’s Disease and 44 ‘age-matched control subjects without cognitive impairments’ over a period of 2-3 years. Their results indicate “… people with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) experienced more accidents and performed more poorly on road tests compared to drivers without cognitive impairment” and that “… people with what is defined as mild dementia were significantly more like to fail a road test than those defined with very mild dementia.” (reference) Tags: Alzhei... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1173344 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:30:22 +0100 1173344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1124924&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F209842538%2F Discussion on warning signs that indicate that it’s time for someone with Alzheimer’s to stop driving and how to approach the subject. Share This (Source: Alzheimer's Notes) Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1124924 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:21:18 +0100 1124924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=833388&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F31%2Fcancer-survivor-forced-to-remove-wig-for-driving-test%2F Filed under: Daily newsAt the University of Florida, where my husband works, spouses can get campus I.D. cards which allow access to recreational centers, swimming pools, a university lake, and more. A few years ago, I stood in line for my card. It was during my chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer, and I wore a blond wig topped with a ball cap. Once at the front of line, a college student employee told me to remove my hat so my photo could be taken. I couldn't take my hat off -- it covered a partial wig made for use with hats, and the very top was made of soft cotton and no hair. I didn't want to be photographed wearing my clown-like wig. I didn't want to be photographed bald. I wanted to look as normal as possible during a time when I felt nothing of the sort.I told the I.D. center s... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=833388 Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 833388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=799301&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F144200561%2F Most of us look forward to travel. We research, plan, and organize the where, what, and how with great enthusiasm. Going somewhere new, exotic, and unfamiliar is seen as a fun adventure. But for those with Alzheimer’s Disease, the adventure is often not fun. Being in unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar people can cause increased stress on those who rely on familiar environmental cues to maintain their reality and equilibrium. Travel is not out of the question for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s just that extra planning is needed to help anticipate problems and situations that might cause distress. Here are some things to consider when traveling with someone with Alzheimer’s Disease. In the car Never leave someone with Alzheimer’s Disease alone in t... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=799301 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 23:41:24 +0100 799301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=767608&cid=t_92543_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F138992257%2F This would be, I often think, the time that Charlie’s schoolbus pulls up and I see his big brown eyes looking aslant out the window. (For ESY 2007, That Time has been 1:05pm, if not earlier.) For the past six years, I have arranged my work schedule according to that time; when I can, I have sought out shortcuts from work to home and bothered Jim to help me find them; I have learned which stop lights seems to last longer and at what point to switch out of the left lane on Routes 1 & 9 south so I can merge onto the ramp for highway 78; I know how many minutes it takes to walk, run, or race-walk from my office to my car; I drive home on what has been called “equal parts roller coaster and demolition derby” because it is more direct, and (all important) faster. I have ne... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=767608 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:30:34 +0100 767608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=760527&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F137619113%2F             Deciding when to take the keys away from a driver with Alzheimer’s disease often poses a great problem for family members, especially when that person thinks they still drive well.  Or when a spouse or child considers them still a safe driver. “He only hits the bushes on the side of the road once in awhile,” was a remark made to my husband and me about a family member.  (His keys “disappeared” permanently shortly after that.) Some older people, like my dad at age 90, recognize they can no longer drive safely…and don’t want to drive.  My dad didn’t have Alzheimer’s, so perhaps could make his decision more rationally.  However, he wouldn’t turn in his license, so his and Mother’s car insurance premiu... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=760527 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:34:01 +0100 760527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=729828&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F12%2Fdiabetic-driver-accused-of-cavalier-attitude-causing-womans-d%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Daily News, OpinionUK couple Suzanne and Julian Meredith went for an evening stroll one night, but their outing ended in disaster. A driver lost control of the wheel and ploughed his car into the two, killing Mrs. Meredith, who was fifty-two years old. The driver, an aircraft engineer named Phillip Willey, is now defending himself in court against a charge of dangerous driving causing death. Turns out, though, Willey is diabetic and he's using that as his defense, saying he blacked out while behind the wheel. Well, that was his defense until the prosecution turned the argument on its head and used it against him, alleging the accident was one hundred percent Willey's fault because he had a "cavalier attitude" to his condition and did not check his blood sugar l... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=729828 Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 729828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=720473&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F131776231%2F A group of researchers in the United Kingdom contend that many of those with early stage Alzheimer’s disease are safe to drive providing they are closely monitored. According to Dr. Desmond O’Neill, who co-wrote the analysis published in the June 20th edition of the British Medical journal, the clinical evidence led them to a conclusion that “…with frequent assessment of driving skills, the risk of accidents among older people with dementias was acceptably low for up to three years after diagnosis.” (Driving and Alzheimer’s) Want to know more about whether someone with Alzheimer’s should be driving or not? Check out this ‘Practical Guide to Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Driving’ created by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, ... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=720473 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:39:33 +0100 720473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=601850&cid=t_92543_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F13%2Fin-memory-of-a-mom-in-search-of-a-cure%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, Fundraisers, BlogsLast May, Lori Raimondo set off on a cross-country trek in search of one dollar for every day her mother Lorraine battled breast cancer. She called her 10,344-mile excursion Road to a Cure. Her goal was to raise $9,490. She ended up with nearly $14,000. She succeeded. She exceeded. And she donated every cent to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.Raimondo's driving journey is long over. But our collective breast cancer journey is not. And so Raimondo, in honor of her mother on this Mother's Day, asks friends and family and strangers alike to continue contributing to the breast cancer cause so that the road to a cure may one day come to an end.Raimondo is accepting donations on her website. She will continue to pass on everything she gathers t... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=601850 Sun, 13 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 601850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=544829&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F109208855%2F WebMD has a collection of short online videos worth checking out. Here’s a few of them: Motion Blindness and Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Relief Alzheimer’s Treatment Study Driving and Dementia (Source: Alzheimer's Notes) Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=544829 Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:34:07 +0100 544829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=537458&cid=t_92543_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2F108230417%2F This from NASCAR.com - ‘NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip has partnered with The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation to launch the “Waltrip Challenge“, a nationwide fundraising competition for Alzheimer’s disease research.’ The Waltrip Challenge offers fans the opportunity to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and also raise money for Alzheimer’s research. Fans can register for the challenge at www.waltripchallenge.com. When registering, they create their own website for fundraising. From there, they can encourage family and friends to donate to the challenge. So far, over $9800 have been raised. The fan who raises the most money will win a ‘day at the races’ - an all-expense trip for two to Daytona 500 in 2008 wher... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=537458 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:33:53 +0100 537458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=526718&cid=t_92543_133_f&fid=35098&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclub166.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fdriving-ambitions.html photo credit Orrin"Guess what your son did today? Go ahead, I bet you can't guess."When Buddy Boy is "my son", I know it must have been something particularly egregious."I went shopping today and picked up a new outfit for Sweet Pea, and when we came home I took her upstairs to her room to try it on. I left Buddy Boy in the kitchen eating a sandwich""Yea, well, OK, what did he do?""I was only upstairs for 5 minutes. When I came down I couldn't find him. I spent about a minute searching the house and screaming his name. The front door was still closed."By this point Liz is getting visibly more upset, reliving what was obviously traumatic to her. I, being the sensitive type (and realizing that I did not get a frantic call in the middle of the day, the house had not burned down, and the kids ... Club 166 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=526718 Sat, 07 Apr 2007 03:20:00 +0100 526718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651161&cid=t_92543_107_f&fid=35667&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsubcellularbizniz.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F09%2Fpart-iv-driving-in-us.html Part I: The VisaPart II: Arriving in the USAPart III: Tax stuffPart IV: Driving in the USPart V: In for the long haulA word on the most feared and reviled organisation in AmericaNo, I’m not talking about Al Qaeda, nor the IRS. I'm talking about the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Imagine all the bureaucracy in all the world from the last 200 yrs distilled into one room, and you get a rough idea of what the DMV is like (If you can't imagine that, then watch Terry Gilliam's Brazil). Unfortunately, if you want an ID or driver’s license, and intend to buy a vehicle, you will have to deal with the appropriate state DMV. The only advice I can give is to go early in the morning (i.e. be there when they first open the doors). And maybe take a few Diazepam first.Getting a driver's lic... Across the Bilayer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651161 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 04:06:00 +0100 651161