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 'health blog'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:46 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107744&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-ms-honeymoon%2F Diagnostics are better. Primary care doctors are more aware. Patients are seeking knowledge. The general population of people newly diagnosed with MS seems to be getting a bit younger. Truth be known, it’s likely that they are being diagnosed earlier in the course of multiple sclerosis, and that’s a good thing! Medications appear to be more effective early in the course of MS. That’s not just to say they seem to “work” better at keeping attacks down. The meds seem to slow the progression to the point where we may have some extra “good years” before (if) our MS decides to get progressive. Herein lay my thoughts for today: The MS Honeymoon. Many, if not most, of us can think back to some physical “oddities” which we experienced well prior to diagnosis. It wasn’t until a f... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107744 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:40:34 +0100 5107744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086380&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fstanding-up-with-multiple-sclerosis%2F It’s not uncommon for me to use alliterations and metaphor when I write about MS. Today, however, I write about the actual difficulties of “standing up” when you have multiple sclerosis. Difficulties with the vertical posture come in many colors, shades, and tones for those of us on different places on the MS rainbow. When I was first diagnosed, and trying to keep my jet-set, full-time employment, my boss in Germany told me of a dear friend of his with MS. Your man had apparently had MS for years and the only way you might notice anything is that he couldn’t stand for very long at a cocktail party. If that is the “infrared” end of the MS standing spectrum, “ultraviolet” would be those who cannot stand at all. I recognize that there are many in our Life With MS Blog communit... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086380 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:00:32 +0100 5086380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077888&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fnew-study-questions-ms-drug-value%2F This study will surely be a part of my decision-making process. We all know that MS meds work better for some than others, that some MS meds work for each of us while others may not, and we know that we really don’t know if a drug was working unless we stop and see our disease kick back into pre-therapy mode. This study, however, makes me believe that it’s time for the price of MS medications to come down — WAY DOWN — and I think that it’s time that we get some regulators involved. Many MS meds have been on the market for nearly 20 years now. Those first drugs have well been paid for and their investors handsomely rewarded. It’s time that we start realizing that. While I’m not diminishing the importance of multiple sclerosis disease-modifying drugs, it is not good for Manyone... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077888 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:28:12 +0100 5077888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028750&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fjuly-check-in-hows-your-ms-today%2F Time once again for our monthly open blog where we ask the question, “How’s your MS today?” After catching up (or trying) on all of your comments while I was away on holidays I’d venture to say that this may be a busy month for comments on this topic. I wrote some of those posts in advance and some during my trip. I didn’t have time to check in very often so I was surprised to see so many comments on many of the posts. As to how my MS is; I can’t really tell… I’m recovering from a sinus infection and we all know how that can muck with MS. In fact, I now remember that my diagnosing MRI showed a big, ol’ nasty sinus infection. The radiologist who read the films even mentioned it in his report: “major sinus infection in three cavities, multiple plaque lesions on brain and ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028750 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:16:47 +0100 5028750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028752&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-and-the-question-of-disability-insurance%2F I’m not sure if the advancement of a post-holidays head cold into a sinus infection (and the associated MS issues related to a fever) had any part of my sensitivity to comments that circulated here on the Life With MS Blog and our Facebook Page but I thought that it might be time we discuss disability insurance and SSDI again. In this day and age of starkly divided political views many see “leaving work” because of MS as yet another way in which too many people are grasping at a government entitlement and suckling from the public teat. Others see SSDI as an insurance plan into which they have paid and, like any other insurance policy, when they need it they expect it to be there for them. There are many, many problems with the entire “disability” system (for lack of better termin... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028752 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:26:57 +0100 5028752 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008473&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-falls-secondary-damages%2F Supportive, light-weight shoes, a sturdy cane (“stick” in Ireland), cool ocean breezes and keen mindfulness allowed for some “hiking” on my recent holidays in Ireland. We kept to well worn paths and all, but it was nice to get out into nature even if it was only a few feet of the roads. Preparations for these jaunts included cool showers, a fistful of meds and the ever-watchful eye of Caryn as we trod step by spongy, peat supported step… And I’m proud to say that I was one of the few in our group who did not fall during our trekking! Chalk that one up to another lesson of living with MS. So many times, however, we know that we do fall and as I’ve commented before we may meet the canvas more often when we are feeling at the upper end of the MS spectrum. The injuries resulting ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008473 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:18:28 +0100 5008473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008472&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Flife-can-become-very-weird-living-with-chronic-pain%2F I know. You’re thinking life is weird already but let me say, if you’re newly diagnosed, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” If you are one of us who live with connective tissue or rheumatoid disease you may see a certain set of weirdness. If you suffer from back pain or had a previous injury, you’re not excluded, either. It’s amazing what life can do to twist, shape and torment us. If our diseases or injuries don’t do enough in that department then there are always the medications to take up the slack and pile it on. Get your sense of humor ready and if you don’t have one, well, blessings upon you my friend because you’re going to need one. The other day I was fitted for a sacroiliac belt to aid my sacroiliac joints to stay put. All that was missing at the fitting was Scar... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008472 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:13:33 +0100 5008472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984585&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fhow-ms-treatments-and-our-expectations-have-changed%2F The old adage is that “Nothing is more constant than change” and there is little truer to someone living with MS. Symptoms change, doctor change, medications change…MS changes. A person living with MS 20 years ago, stranded on an island and newly returned to their home, wouldn’t even recognize the face of Multiple Sclerosis in the world today. Where once there were no meds (or maybe a very competitive lottery to get into a drug trial) there are now 6 approved therapies and scores in the final testing phases. Those once told to “go home and get your affairs in order” are now assisted in living a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Exercise — once the terror of MS docs — is now not only recommended, it is encouraged. Woman who were once counseled to really think about having... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984585 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:04:54 +0100 4984585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976059&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Friding-around-in-a-very-personal-journey-with-ms%2F A bus full of commuters passes you on a busy street. A car idles, waiting for a traffic light to change. The azure-blue, summer sky is unzipped by the contrail of a jumbo jet filled with hundreds of souls… and they all have a story. Have you ever been in an airplane on approach or departure; close enough to the ground to see the ant-like scene below as it gets on with the workaday world? Have you ever thought of the lives going on inside that plane far, far above your head? Have you ever felt yourself cut-off from the world as if you were in a personal space capsule catapulting through time, space and dimension and nobody gets it? Caryn and I have just experienced a very personal grief (and I trust our community to please leave it at that) during which we felt as if the world was going b... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976059 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:48:56 +0100 4976059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968705&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fwhere-do-you-find-true-grit%2F It’s often inspiring how life leads us along, licking our wounds which it also inflicted upon us; we love it, we hate it. These last few weeks I have been immersed in the past. I live in a home that is 120 years old and often wonder about those who lived here before we did. Did they love? Did they find joy and survival, together or individually? Did they have physical pain? Surely, they must have because they were without NSAIDs, biologics, acid inhibitors, a local drug store, or a supermarket. I often run across some little remnant of the past presence of one who lived here, like finding an oyster shell working its way out of the foundation outdoors or the aqua blue marine paint that dripped from the brush of an “ancient” mariner who used to live here, many years ago, still trailing... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968705 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:08:46 +0100 4968705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968706&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fprogressing-with-progressive-ms%2F Most of us with MS know terms like RRMS (relapsing remitting), SPMS (secondary progressive), and PPMS (primary progressive) when it comes to our disease. Less often heard variations are “chronic progressive” or “worsening progressive,” and I even heard someone refer to their MS as “acute, progressive chronic MS.” Not sure where he had heard that one. While we all want to find a “normal” group of people with MS to which we can identify and belong, it really isn’t all that important as to which group we fall (save for those of us whose doctors are sticklers for medications). What is important is that, as our disease may move from a relapsing-remitting phase – which is often medically described as “inflammatory disease” – to a stage of slow (or not), stea... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968706 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:04:58 +0100 4968706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960209&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-little-things-we-can-still-do-for-ourselves%2F Like many of my generation and those who came before, I feel now like I may have spent too much time in my “former life” chasing the elusive brass ring. It wasn’t enough to be recognized wherever I went, professionally. Not enough to have the house in town and an apartment in the city. Even my dear Jaguar was a few years older than I would have liked. Now, please don’t get me wrong! I was very appreciative of the things I had attained, but they did not make me happy — Things seldom make us happy. Because of the way I have learned to live my life post-MS, I feel much more attuned with what happiness rarely is and I find it mostly on the inside. That being said, there are still a few little things that I do that make me very happy indeed. Last week, while in New York I treated myse... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960209 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:36:22 +0100 4960209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934587&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fhow-would-you-like-your-ms-society-to-use-social-media%2F I am off this morning to meetings in New York City with a newly formed group of advisors to the National MS Society on the topic of social media. Like many organizations, the NMSS is aware that online communities have changed the way that people with MS connect with one another and the whole-wide world around us. The event is to include several roundtable sessions with some of my fellow bloggers and online community leaders on the topic of multiple sclerosis. Lisa Emerich of Brass & Ivory and Carnival of MS Bloggers , Marc Stecker who many of you will know as the Wheelchair kamikaze and Ashley Ringstaff of MS World will all be in attendance for the day-long summit along with several national and chapter leaders from the Society. I am, of course, humbled to be in such lauded company and... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934587 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:08:54 +0100 4934587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934588&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fa-glass-of-wine-a-nibble-of-cheese-and-some-ms-art%2F One of the down sides to my increased schedule of travel schedule, writing deadlines and other obligations (oh, and how our favorite disease is handcuffing me in the heat and humidity) is that I don’t get to do all of the things that I would like to do. It’s something we all have to deal with on some level; right? Well I want to make sure that I share this event – which I’ll, unfortunately, have to miss due to the above listed set of cascading events – with all of you who are within driving distance of Seattle. But in doing so, I hope that it might be a little bit of a spark for those of you who are not. Next weekend, the 18th & 19th, the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Swedish Neuroscience Institute, in association with the Bellevue Arts Museum, is presenting their second annu... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934588 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:30:04 +0100 4934588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921623&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fa-life-with-chronic-pain-dont-panic%2F When we are struck with a life of chronic pain, we are terrified, feel forsaken and usually panic. Those who don’t panic are usually in denial and get around to panic later when the fear of the unknown sweeps over them. Today, as usual, I searched my heart and mind to find the helpful ideas which have and do help me everyday of my life. Please, let me list them for you in the hope that you will also find courage, calm and control in your life if you are also facing this monster each day. Gain Control. I know, you feel like your body has betrayed you and after all the great things you did for it, too. Stop asking yourself why this happened to you and look forward. Of course, it might help you to know if it’s genetic, for the sake of your children, but for now, you have to deal with eac... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921623 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:20:44 +0100 4921623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893703&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Feveryday-life-with-chronic-back-pain%2F As many of you who have been reading this blog for some time know, I live with sacroiliac joint pain and have for more than twenty years. Those particular joints are the two upon which you place your derriere, hold your two lower cheeks together and keep your legs from falling off. The pain from them often extends into the pubic area, the hips, and the lumbar spine and down the legs. Pain in these regions can have an affect on your bowel and bladder habits as well. Recently, the inflammation of those large joints has, for me, been worse than ever. I share this with you to explain why I have low back pain on the brain today, as well as on my backside. Since I have a brain that tickles easily, I have been remembering an event of many years ago when I was in nursing school. One of my nursing ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893703 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:12:47 +0100 4893703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862630&cid=t_143666_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F24%2Ftwitter-chat-tonight-on-mental-health-in-older-adults-mhsm%2F I’ll be hosting my first Tuesday night #mhsm chat on twitter tonight, on the topic of mental health in older adults. I blogged about this issue earlier this month, and we recently started a whole blog about getting older, Boomers on the Rise: Aging Well. Older adults have the same human needs, wants and desires as the rest of us (as we’ll all find out first-hand soon enough). Sometimes loneliness and depression is a factor for seniors, and sometimes seniors feel forgotten in life, as they watch their children grow up, move away, and have lives quite independent of their parents. It is a time of change, a time of recognition that our bodies often can’t do all the things they once could, but also a time of new discovery and reinvention. Much of an older adult’s mental... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862630 Tue, 24 May 2011 18:55:22 +0100 4862630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592392&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthyroid-cancer-a-hazard-from-radioactive-iodine-emitted-by-japan%25e2%2580%2599s-failing-nuclear-power-plants%2F2011.03.15 One of the most abundant substances in the cloud of radioactive steam released by a failing nuclear power plant is iodine-131 — a radioactive form of the element iodine that is found throughout nature. Iodine-131 poses a special health risk because of its cancer-causing effect on the thyroid gland. The small, butterfly-shaped thyroid sits just below the voice box. From this perch, it controls how fast every cell in the body changes food into energy. The gland’s main product, thyroid hormone, governs the function of the digestive tract, brain, heart, nerves, muscles, bones, skin, and more. Iodine is a key ingredient that goes into making thyroid hormone. We get this element from ocean-caught or ocean-farmed fish and shellfish, milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, and fruits and vegetables gr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592392 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:00:43 +0100 4592392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592399&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoes-i-know-cpr-mean-you-can-do-cpr%2F2011.03.14 While I was browsing the produce section of my grocery store the other day, the sound of a panicked voice coming over the store’s loudspeaker made me jump. “Does anyone in the store know CPR? Anyone? CPR? We need you in baked goods!” I froze. In theory, I know how to perform CPR — cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I took a two-hour course on it nearly 25 years ago. But I hadn’t given it much thought since then and I certainly hadn’t practiced what I learned. My mind started whirling as I tried to remember the sequence of steps. They’d changed the rules a few years back — I knew that much — so I wouldn’t have to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. But where exactly on the chest was I supposed to push? Should I form a fist and push down with my knuckles, or use the ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592399 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:00:53 +0100 4592399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4575057&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fshingles-recurrence-can-the-vaccine-help%2F2011.03.11 This month’s Harvard Health Letter has an article about getting shingles a second or even a third time. (Click here to read the full article.) The bottom line is that recurrence is a) certainly possible and b) if some recent research is correct, much more common than previously thought and about as likely as getting shingles in the first place if you’re age 60 or older. I talked to Barbara Yawn, M.D., director of research at the Olmsted Medical Center in Rochester, Minn., for the article and mentioned results that she and her colleagues first presented at a conference several years ago. Yawn reported a more complete version of those results in last month’s issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings (a favorite journal of mine). Full text of the study isn’t available unless you h... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4575057 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:00:50 +0100 4575057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560272&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fteens-who-smoke-pot-at-risk-for-mental-illness-later%2F2011.03.08 Teenagers and young adults who use marijuana may be messing with their heads in ways they don’t intend. Evidence is mounting that regular marijuana use increases the chance that a teenager will develop psychosis, a pattern of unusual thoughts or perceptions, such as believing the television is transmitting secret messages. It also increases the risk of developing schizophrenia, a disabling brain disorder that not only causes psychosis, but also problems concentrating and loss of emotional expression. In one recent study that followed nearly 2,000 teenagers as they became young adults, young people who smoked marijuana at least five times were twice as likely to have developed psychosis over the next 10 years as those who didn’t smoke pot. Another new paper concluded that early marijuan... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560272 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:00:56 +0100 4560272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549753&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpulmonary-embolism-if-it-can-strike-serena-williams-it-can-ace-anyone%2F2011.03.04 News that tennis star Serena Williams was treated for a blood clot in her lungs is shining the spotlight on a frightfully overlooked condition that can affect anyone — even a trained athlete who stays fit for a living. Williams had a pulmonary embolism. That’s doctor speak for a blood clot that originally formed in the legs or elsewhere in the body but that eventually broke away, traveled through the bloodstream, and got stuck in a major artery feeding the lungs. (To read more about pulmonary embolism, check out this article from the Harvard Heart Letter.) Pulmonary embolism is serious trouble because it can prevent the lungs from oxygenating blood — about one in 12 people who have one die from it. “No one is immune from pulmonary embolism, not even super athletes,” says ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549753 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:00:19 +0100 4549753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536064&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-the-king%25e2%2580%2599s-speech-teaches-us-about-stuttering%2F2011.03.01 The film “The King’s Speech” won the Academy Award for Best Picture [on Sunday night.] The movie has come in for some criticism for its depiction of the political machinations surrounding the abdication of Edward VIII  and Britain’s appeasement of Hitler. The British-born writer Christopher Hitchens, unsparing and deliciously eloquent as always, puts the politics of  George VI in a far less favorable light than the movie does.       But ”The King’s Speech” has won almost universal praise for its portrayal of the reluctant monarch’s stuttering, a speech pattern that includes involuntary repetition of sounds and syllables and “speech blocks” that cause prolonged pauses. Many young  children who stutter grow out of the problem, but p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536064 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:00:13 +0100 4536064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507279&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthink-zinc-for-a-cold-not-me%2F2011.02.22 Media channels are a-twitter with the news that zinc can beat the common cold. CBS News, the LA Times, the Huffington Post, and hundreds of others are treating a quiet research report as big news that will have a life-changing effect. After reading the report and doing a little digging into the dark side of zinc, I’m not rushing out to stock up on zinc lozenges or syrup. The latest hubbub about zinc was sparked by a report from the Cochrane Collaboration. This global network of scientists, patients, and others evaluates the evidence on hundreds of different treatments. In the latest review, on zinc for the common cold, researchers Meenu Singh and Rashmi R. Das pooled the results of 13 studies that tested zinc for treating colds. By their analysis, taking zinc within 24 hours of first no... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507279 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:00:38 +0100 4507279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4498274&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdeep-brain-stimulation-experts-raise-alarms-about-aggressive-marketing%2F2011.02.19 A paper published in the February issue of Health Affairs – discussed at length in an article in the New York Times – contains the sort of blunt, plain-spoken language you seldom read in academic journals. The authors, who include some of the most prominent neuroscientists and ethicists in the world, warn that manufacturers are misusing the FDA’s humanitarian device exemption to promote deep brain stimulation as a “treatment” for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). In fact, they make clear that deep brain stimulation is very much an experimental procedure. Research is still at an early stage, and the risks to patients are not well defined. When suffering is severe and no other treatment has provided relief, there is value in making available an intervention like deep b... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4498274 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:00:39 +0100 4498274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4472948&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhen-your-health-hinders-your-love-life%2F2011.02.13 This is the time of year when stores are filled with red hearts and other reminders that Valentine’s Day is approaching. It’s a mood booster, not to mention a nice break from all that winter grey (at least up here in Boston). After all, what would life be like without romance, love — and sex? Unfortunately, a variety of health problems — as well as some of the treatments for them — can get in the way of sexual desire and functioning. Here’s a quick look at some of the main sources of trouble and suggestions about what to try first. If these initial strategies don’t work, have a heart to heart with your doctor about what to do next. There may not be a quick fix for health-related sexual problems, but there are steps you can take to help ensure that you can still en... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4472948 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:00:26 +0100 4472948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464607&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fis-life-with-chronic-pain-a-reality-or-a-cartoon%2F As most of you already know I have been having a terrible time with some funky new virus this year. I feel like a turtle that got tipped and can’t get upright again. That could explain why the room keeps spinning. Some spirit with a sense of humor keeps rocking my shell and occasionally gives it a spin. On Saturday, I went into urgent care. It was cold and slow. The people were very kind but I had to wear my gloves and jacket to keep from shaking my teeth out of my mouth while shivering. I had a chest X-ray, was given an antibiotic and left there being told I would eventually be okay. The diagnosis was viral with bronchitis. Since, like many of you, I already had a satchel full of problems, all things were complicated. We got out into the parking lot and I could hardly wait to get home a... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464607 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:46:51 +0100 4464607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460063&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fis-life-with-chronic-pain-a-reality-or-a-cartoon%2F As most of you already know I have been having a terrible time with some funky new virus this year. I feel like a turtle that got tipped and can’t get upright again. That could explain why the room keeps spinning. Some spirit with a sense of humor keeps rocking my shell and occasionally gives it a spin. On Saturday, I went into urgent care. It was cold and slow. The people were very kind but I had to wear my gloves and jacket to keep from shaking my teeth out of my mouth while shivering. I had a chest X-ray, was given an antibiotic and left there being told I would eventually be okay. The diagnosis was viral with bronchitis. Since, like many of you, I already had a satchel full of problems, all things were complicated. We got out into the parking lot and I could hardly wait to get home a... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460063 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:13:54 +0100 4460063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4459959&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-forecast-for-heart-disease-gloomy-with-a-strong-chance-of-boomers%2F2011.02.10 As a youngster, I loved being part of the baby boom — it meant there were dozens of kids on my block who were ready to play hide-and-seek or join mysterious clubs. Now that I’m of an AARP age, there’s one club I don’t want to join: The one whose members have bypass scars, pacemakers, or other trappings of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association’s (AHA) gloomy new forecast on cardiovascular disease tells me it won’t be easy to avoid. The AHA foresees sizeable increases in all forms of cardiovascular disease (see table) between now and 2030, the year all of the boomers are age 65 and older. Those increases will translate into an additional 27 million people with high blood pressure, eight million with coronary heart disease, four million with stroke, and thr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4459959 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:00:43 +0100 4459959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436749&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Favoid-weight-gain-by-using-brain-tricks-to-master-portion-control%2F2011.02.04 When I was growing up, my parents had a simple rule when it came to food: “Finish everything on your plate.” We had to sit at the table until we did. They meant well. They wanted us to understand that food should not go to waste. The problem with this advice — and I’m sure I’m not the only American who grew up with it — is that we learned early on to eat everything put in front of us when we sat down to meals. Then the size of the plates grew — and so did the amount of food we consumed. It’s called portion inflation. Take a look at the illustration at left. It’s based on an analysis published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association which found that typical restaurant portion sizes today are two to eight times as large as those in 1955. Back then, p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436749 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:00:41 +0100 4436749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405992&cid=t_143666_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fmakeup-is-fun-even-during-chemotherapy%2F This weekend I went shopping with girlfriends. We had a blast. We looked at jewelry and tried on clothes and played with makeup — all the girly stuff. These two girlfriends and I each have two sons. In addition, all of our sons are pretty much the same age and in college. That means that we haven’t had daughters to shop with, but we do have each other. I treasure all my girlfriends; I can’t imagine life without any one of them. We had a great time trying on new makeup. I love makeup. Lipstick is my favorite, but I love choosing new eye colors too. Makeup was something I really appreciated while I was going through chemotherapy. Christmas fell halfway through my treatment period and Sister surprised me with a gift basket filled with the best makeup including lipstick, blusher, eyeline... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405992 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:35:13 +0100 4405992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394692&cid=t_143666_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fstrategies-for-survival-after-breast-cancer%2F Once we are diagnosed with breast cancer, there is a plan for treatment. Once we survive the treatment, there really isn’t a plan for our continued survival. We are not sent home with a warranty and no one assures us that the cancer won’t spread or come back. So a plan for continued health and survival isn’t a bad idea. This month, I committed to making my health a priority starting with my routine visit to my oncologist. From there, my plan is to follow up with annual tests and a colonoscopy. Next month I plan to go to my eye doctor and the dentist. In addition, my new plan needs to include my commitment to more exercise, and of course, better eating habits. However, my main focus is to find additional support through alternative medicine, perhaps herbal supplements, and massage the... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394692 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:43:08 +0100 4394692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377568&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhead-lice-fda-approves-new-treatment%2F2011.01.20 Good news for parents, teachers, pediatricians, and others engaged in the ongoing battle against lice: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just approved a new treatment for head lice in children age four and older. Called Natroba, it’s a liquid that is rubbed into the hair and allowed to sit for 10 minutes before being rinsed off. Natroba is a useful addition to the anti-lice arsenal, since some head lice have become resistant to permethrin and pyrethrins, the active ingredients in over-the-counter anti-lice products such as Nix and Rid. Head lice are tiny insects that go by the big name Pediculus humanus capitis. They thrive in the warm tangle of human hair, feeding off blood in the scalp and breeding with abandon. A female lays eggs called nits that she attaches to strands of hair.... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377568 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:30:14 +0100 4377568 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372145&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fwill-cleaning-your-blood-help-when-ms-flares%2F Plasmapheresis (from the Greek for “taking away something molded”) is a process by which the blood is removed, filtered, and replaced over a period of one to a few hours. In the past half century, plasmapheresis has evolved in its technology but is still based upon the same theory with which it began as a late 19th century dairy separator. In the 1950s, with the advent of more advanced machinery, medical researchers began to look at how “cleaning” the blood might affect disease function. By the 1970s plasmapheresis had become one of the few treatments for muscular dystrophy (MD). This weekend, the American Academy of Neurology posted its recommendations that plasmapheresis be added to our arsenal as a “secondary treatment for severe flares in relapsing forms of MS…” It is imp... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372145 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:58:26 +0100 4372145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360978&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprotect-your-heart-when-shoveling-snow%2F2011.01.18 After shoveling the heavy, 18-inch layer of snow that fell overnight on my sidewalk and driveway, my back hurt, my left shoulder ached, and I was tired. Was my body warning me I was having a heart attack, or were these just the aftermath of a morning spent toiling with a shovel? Now that I’m of an AARP age, it’s a question I shouldn’t ignore. Snow shoveling is a known trigger for heart attacks. Emergency rooms in the snowbelt gear up for extra cases when enough of the white stuff has fallen to force folks out of their homes armed with shovels or snow blowers.  What’s the connection? Many people who shovel snow rarely exercise. Picking up a shovel and moving hundreds of pounds of snow, particularly after doing nothing physical for several months, can put a big strain on the heart. ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360978 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:00:40 +0100 4360978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361253&cid=t_143666_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-and-oral-contraception%2F I was diagnosed with breast cancer just eight months after I married and moved to Michigan. My husband and I agreed that raising my two boys from a previous marriage was fulfilling enough and we didn’t need — or want — to have any more children. My decision to take the birth control pill was discussed with my doctor, and of course any concerns I had about it causing breast cancer were taken into consideration. Only 20 months before my diagnosis, I had a mammogram and follow-up ultrasound that showed no signs of a tumor. You can imagine how distraught I was at being diagnosed with breast cancer but even more perplexed at how a tumor of over 2 centimeters had developed so rapidly in my right breast. My new doctor and I had no reason to suspect that the birth control pill and its increa... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361253 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:53:21 +0100 4361253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349656&cid=t_143666_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fthe-test-i-would-insist-on-if-i-found-a-breast-tumor-now%2F When I was initially diagnosed with breast cancer, the surgeon felt that a lumpectomy would sufficiently remove the tumor. The day after surgery, my surgeon explained to me that the margins were not clear and that I would subsequently need a mastectomy which was performed two weeks later. Two things greatly concerned me — one, did the cutting through the tumor mean that cancer cells had an opening to travel into the rest of my body, and two, how aggressive would treatment have to be to deal with any of the cells that had spread? Years later I have the same concerns. I am worried that cancer cells that escaped the original tumor are lurking somewhere in my body, and I am wondering if maybe the aggressive treatment will yield new cancers or problems later in life for me. A lot of these con... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349656 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:24:13 +0100 4349656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343126&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmental-illness-and-the-tucson-shooting%2F2011.01.13 When reports arrived that accused gunman Jared Lee Loughner had opened fire in Tucson, Arizona on January 7, journalistic first responders linked the incident to the fierceness of political rhetoric in the United States. Upon reflection, some of the discussion has turned to questions about mental illness, guns, and violence. And plenty of reflection is required, because the connections are not at all simple. To get a sense of just how complicated they are, we invite you to read the lead article in this month’s Harvard Mental Health Letter entitled, “Mental Illness and Violence.” Strangely (for us) it was prepared for publication a month before the tragedy in Tucson. In light of the shooting, we are making the article available to non-subscribers. I am not surprised at the outrage ex... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343126 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:00:21 +0100 4343126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343245&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Flet-a-child-teach-you-about-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F The children in our lives bring us many gifts throughout all seasons. They may be your children, your grandchildren, or a friend or neighbor’s child; all seem capable of performing this fete. They bring us the gift of laughter, the gift of acceptance and most of all, the gift of insight. Today, I would like to share with you some of the gifts the children in my life have taught me over the years, if I may? Anything is possible. Unless someone tells you otherwise, there is nothing you cannot accomplish. Just do it. You may not always succeed in doing something well, but you must try. Giving up is not an option. With all of life’s possibilities, why should it be? Santa, as well as Mary Poppins, has a bag that holds anything you want to be in it. Size and weight are not issues; but y... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343245 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:13:25 +0100 4343245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337937&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F%25e2%2580%259cjust-in-case%25e2%2580%259d-heart-tests-can-they-do-more-harm-than-good%2F2011.01.12 Here’s an important equation that all of us — doctors include — should know about healthcare, but don’t: More ≠ Better “More does not equal better” applies to diagnostic procedures, screening tests meant to identify problems before they appear, medications, dietary supplements, and just about every aspect of medicine. That scenario is spelled out in alarming detail in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Clinicians at the Cleveland Clinic describe the case of a 52-year-old woman who went to her community hospital because she had been having chest pain for two days. She wasn’t having symptoms of a heart attack, such as shortness of breath, unexplained nausea, or a cold sweat, and her electrocardiogram and other tests were fine. The woman’s doctors concluded that her ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337937 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:00:10 +0100 4337937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331194&cid=t_143666_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fhealth-care-is-not-a-right-for-breast-cancer-survivors%2F Do our representatives really think that their time is best spent trying to repeal health-care reform? After the midterm elections, I wrote a blog about breast cancer survivors not wanting another fight, but it looks like the fight is on. Does the new Republican-dominated House of Representatives truly not care that breast cancer survivors are threatened by insurance company decisions that limit or deny their coverage — or even eject them? I have been barraged with comments over the past few years from people newly diagnosed with breast cancer who can’t get coverage. They either can’t afford it or are denied for having a pre-existing condition. New reform is set to ensure that no one can be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. Many people really do go without health insuranc... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331194 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:24:32 +0100 4331194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318443&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fpromises-to-myself-for-the-new-year%2F First of all, I need to get organized. I’ll get out all my random notes, including my exercise notebook I’ve kept for several years with all of my favorite and most helpful stretches and exercise moves diagrammed. I will make my best effort to perform stretches each day or at least every other day to keep limber and to alleviate some of my pain. If I don’t, I may end up looking like a human question mark. It might be time to buy a couple of new stretchy bands. Scares the beans out of me when the old ones pop. I will continue to clutter up my small home with a giant red exercise ball because it is ideal for maintaining balance and strength. Sitting on it while lifting my small weights, I will do my best not to fall off. Balance is so important. All I need is a fall. Then I’d be “t... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318443 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:26:44 +0100 4318443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309610&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftop-10-health-stories-of-2010%2F2011.01.04 1. Health care reform How could the health care reform legislation that President Barack Obama signed into law on March 23, 2010, not be the #1 story of the year?  Whether you are for or against it, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is nothing if not ambitious, and if implemented, it will fundamentally alter how American health care is financed and perhaps delivered.  The law is designed to patch holes in the health insurance system and extend coverage to 32 million Americans by 2019 while also reining in health care spending, which now accounts for more than 17% of the country’s gross domestic product. The biggest changes aren’t scheduled to occur until 2014, when most people will be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty (the so-called indiv... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309610 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:00:49 +0100 4309610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302123&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fechinacea-for-colds-does-it-really-work%2F2010.12.31 This study is unlikely to change minds about whether to take this remedy. Have you tried echinacea as a cold remedy? Has it worked? How do research findings, pro and con, affect your opinion of so-called alternative medicines? Many of the echinacea studies, especially early on, were sponsored by companies making or selling the product. This study was supported by a grant from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. - Peter Wehrwein, Editor, Harvard Health Letter *This blog post was originally published at Harvard Health Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302123 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:00:12 +0100 4302123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4298623&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgood-health-information-can-save-lives%2F2010.12.29 My colleagues at Harvard Health Publications and I have a mission: To provide accurate, reliable information that will help readers live healthier lives. We work hard to fulfill that mission, and the feedback we get from folks who read our newsletters, Special Health Reports, books, and online health information indicates we are on the right track. Every so often we hear something from a reader that makes me especially proud of the work we do. This letter was recently sent to the editor of the Harvard Women’s Health Watch: One of your mailings undoubtedly saved me a lot of grief. (My kids, anyway.) I was aware of a woman’s heart attack symptoms being different from a man’s, and your brochure contained a paragraph confirming that. Early in June I was packing for a trip to celebrate my... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4298623 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:00:36 +0100 4298623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4287415&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpainkiller-safety%2F2010.12.24 Perhaps as many as one in every five American adults will get a prescription for a painkiller this year, and many more will buy over-the-counter medicines without a prescription. These drugs can do wonders — getting rid of pain can seem like a miracle — but sometimes there’s a high price to be paid. Remember the heavily marketed COX-2 inhibitors? Rofecoxib, sold as Vioxx, and valdecoxib, sold as Bextra, were taken off the market in 2004 and 2005, respectively, after studies linked them to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like aspirin, ibuprofen (sold as Advil and Motrin), and naproxen (sold as Aleve) seem like safe bets. But taken over long periods, they have potentially dangerous gastrointestinal side effect... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4287415 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:00:34 +0100 4287415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4259133&cid=t_143666_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcan-you-afford-to-find-out-if-you-are-at-high-risk-for-breast-cancer%2F Let’s face it: Women who test positive for either of the genetic mutations for breast cancer have an unenviable disadvantage. According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer risk among the general population is about 12 percent, while about 60 percent of women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 will develop breast cancer — that’s five times the risk. Also, the average age for the general population to develop breast cancer is 60, yet the average age of onset in those with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer is in the 40s. If you are in one of these groups, you need to know it. Genetic testing is the only way to determine if you are in either of these high-risk groups. I am a huge advocate for testing since it saved Sister’s life; she had an early hysterectomy that discovered s... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4259133 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:16:56 +0100 4259133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4249057&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftreatment-resistant-depression-new-insights%2F2010.12.10 Only one-third of people with major depression achieve remission after trying one antidepressant. When the first medication doesn’t adequately relieve symptoms, next step options include taking a new drug along with the first, or switching to another drug. With time and persistence, nearly seven in 10 adults with major depression eventually find a treatment that works. Of course, that also means that the remaining one-third of people with major depression cannot achieve remission even after trying multiple options. Experts are hunting for ways to understand the cause of persistent symptoms. In recent years, one theory in particular has gained traction: that many people with hard-to-treat major depression actually suffer from bipolar disorder. However, a paper published online this week i... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4249057 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:00:24 +0100 4249057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214107&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-recommendations-for-vitamin-d%2F2010.11.30 Vitamin D has been talked about as the vitamin — the one that might help fend off everything from cancer to heart disease to autoimmune disorders, if only we were to get enough of it. “Whoa!” is the message from a committee of experts assembled by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to update recommendations for vitamin D (and for calcium). The IOM committee’s report, released this morning, says evidence for many of  the health claims for vitamin D is “inconsistent and/or conflicting or did not demonstrate causality.” The exception is the vitamin’s well-documented (and noncontroversial) benefits on bone growth and maintenance. The IOM panel’s report also says most North Americans (Canadians as well as Americans) have more than enough vitamin D in their blood to a... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214107 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:00:45 +0100 4214107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172017&cid=t_143666_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F16%2Fmedical-information-matters-2-10-is-up-at-the-search-principle-blog%2F In case you missed it: the new edition of Medical Information Matters (edition 2.10) – formerly MedLibs Round is up at the well-known blog “Search Principles” of the equally well-known Dean Giustini, a knowledgeable, helpful and friendly Canadian medical librarian, one of the first bloggers, a web 2.0 pioneer, author of many papers (like this one in [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172017 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:30:56 +0100 4172017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159245&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-better-health-blog-partners-with-harvard-health-publications%2F2010.11.11 I’m very pleased to announce that Harvard Health Publications (HHP) is Better Health’s newest content partner. Soon readers of the Better Health blog will enjoy contributions from the HHP team. We believe that their insight and perspectives will be a great addition to our unique collection of healthcare voices online. The Better Health blog is a continuation of “Dr. Val And The Voice Of Reason,” first launched in 2006. At the time, I was inspired to start a blog because of the baffling amount of misinformation that my patients were finding on the Internet. It was a David-versus-Goliath enterprise, but I felt duty-bound to do what I could to provide a counterpoint to media hype, fear mongering, and snake oil salesmen. Over the past four years I’ve been humbled ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159245 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:58:03 +0100 4159245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074168&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fglobal-handwashing-day-and-blog-action.html Today, October 15th, marks the first ever Global Handwashing Day (being celebrated in more than 70 countries around the world) and the fourth annual Blog Action Day, wherein bloggers from around the world post about a single topic of global interest, and this year's topic is water.Every day, more than 5,000 children die from diarrhea, and this is largely due to lack of access to clean water and soap with which to practice hand hygiene. And over all, 42,000 people die every week from lack of access to clean water. With more than a billion people worldwide (that's one in eight human beings) lacking access to clean water, the proportions of this issue are staggering and the implications for public health, disease management, economic development, food production and simple survival are stagge... Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074168 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:02:00 +0100 4074168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013102&cid=t_143666_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F30%2Fmay-i-introduce-to-you-a-new-name-for-the-medlibs-round%2F A couple of weeks or even months ago I asked you to vote for a new name for the MedLibs Round, a blog carnival about medical information. The decision was clear. Hurray! And the winner is…… Drumroll…. Medical Information Matters! ………………… I’m very pleased with the results because the name reflects that the blog carnival is [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013102 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:00:10 +0100 4013102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648685&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fpeople-say-the-stupidist-things-about-ms%2F While , “But you look so good…” may be intended as a compliment (or at least a deflector) coming from someone talking about your multiple sclerosis, there are other things that people say that is downright mean.  Whether or not it is intended, people can say some pretty hurtful things about (or actually TO) those of us living with MS. While I must admit that the most offensive thing anyone has ever said to me was along the line of, “You don’t really need that cane; do you?”; in a recent article in the National MS Society’s Momentum magazine I read evidence of some pretty awful stuff that people can say. Sure, we could chalk some of it up to ignorance, some comments up to fear and some a deflection device for their own “stuff”.  Some of it, however, is nothin... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648685 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:26:29 +0100 3648685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641160&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fms-and-a-moment-of-silence%2F Multiple sclerosis has created a lot of “noise” in my life.  Either real or perceived or figurative; a lot goes on in the head of someone living with MS.  I think the sheer volume of “stuff” I think about has quadrupled since diagnosis. I mean, seriously, who else has to think about all of the “what if’s” and “then I would’s” and “how will I’s” and “am I able to’s” that go with just about every part of our lives as MS progresses?! Whether it’s sleepless nights during/post attack, as my brain tries to reroute signals or the constant self-talk to get me through-over-around-(sometimes) under obstacles (both real and imagined) it seems that I’ve never a quiet moment. Well, this weekend I got one… well, several. I a... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641160 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:26:45 +0100 3641160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603716&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fsomething-you-can-do-for-world-ms-day%2F Today, May the 26th, 2010 has been proclaimed World MS Day by Multiple Sclerosis International Federation. This is the second of such observances. When I wrote about the day last year, I noted several of us who would have liked to do something in respect to the day, but didn’t know what, where or how. Today, not necessarily in direct connection with World MS Day, I have something we can all do (in a matter of 5 minutes) which might make us feel like we’ve added to the body of knowledge, as it were. Last week, I was forwarded a link to a short (like 5-question short) survey about MS and the Internet by the National MS Society. The results of which will be published in the fall edition of “Momentum”, the Society’s quarterly magazine. There is no personal information required in th... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603716 Thu, 27 May 2010 02:34:12 +0100 3603716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573825&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthings-weve-learned-from-ms%2F Please do not get me wrong; I HATE multiple sclerosis!  The content of this posting does not, in ANY WAY, hint that I’m ok with having this disease.  Like every circumstance in my life, however, I believe it is my task to learn something from and advance myself because of the experience. That said, I have learned much from living with MS. This weekend friends from Europe called to let us know they were arriving (in hours).  We knew they would be coming sometime this month, but weren’t exactly sure (as they have been driving around the western states on holidays). A quick phone call from a national forest in California and we were in full planning mode! On Saturday, just hours before a welcoming party, I suffered a couple of back-to-back self-inflicted injuries which lay me down for ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573825 Mon, 17 May 2010 19:23:36 +0100 3573825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3567926&cid=t_143666_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FXlGjWpifsQM%2Fmany-cuts-later-may-16th.html I began this blog three years ago with a post entitled “First Cut (I mean draft).”  I now have well over 1,000  posts (cuts which I hope haven’t been torture to endure)  and many new friends.   I have been interviewed because of my blog for both the  medical and quilting components.  I’ve even been interviewed by Dr. Anonymous. I have been included among the Better Health bloggers and gone to Las Vegas where I meet many of you in person. Thank you all for including me in the blogging community.  (Source: Suture for a Living) Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3567926 Sun, 16 May 2010 12:01:00 +0100 3567926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499197&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fms-and-compassion%2F Do you ever feel like you maybe don’t give yourself enough credit for doing as much as you do…MS and all? I had a very busy work weekend (which ran into Tuesday).  I had every intention of waking up on Wednesday, banging out a blog for posting and getting on with a productive day. And now, it’s Thursday! I really have no idea where yesterday went. By the evening I was beating myself up pretty good over what didn’t get done; including (but FAR from limited to) that blog… But this morning, even though I don’t feel 100%, I think I’ll get a little more done.  Certainly, I’ll not get everything done I want.  In fact I hope to get everything done I need and will call that a successful day.  But, here I am writing this blog so things are at least a bit better than yesterday. P... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499197 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:32:31 +0100 3499197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3440935&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fnew-webcasttelecast-ms-and-employment%2F Multiple Sclerosis is a disease which affects our lives in so many different ways; employment being one of them. Many of us have, for much of our adult lives, associated our identities with our careers.  Many of us derive great satisfaction and meaning from the work we do or from the independence our work (or at least our paycheck) affords. Many of us living with Multiple Sclerosis are struggling to say employed. Tomorrow (Tuesday, April 6th) night, I’ll be hosting a 2-hour live telecast/webcast entitled “Staying In The Employment Game”. The program will air live, with a studio audience at 8:00pm (PDT) on the stations of the University of Washington.  If you don’t live in the Seattle area, you can watch live via webcast on either the University website or Research Channel on the ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3440935 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:59:00 +0100 3440935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3435144&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fwhen-ms-wrings-you-out%2F MS is a condition which, no matter how well we plan, takes us by surprise now and again.  Go to bed “fine” wake up with part of our body not responding to a call to action.  A simple battle with the circulating bug du jour and a fever sits you down like a crumpled boxer in his corner. Vertigo, which can make a turn of the head into a cyclone-spiral to the floor… MS can really wring one out…with little warning! I’m currently on a planned slide into anemia after my treatment on Monday.  I’ve been able to pretty much plan a lighter schedule (ok, who am I kidding?) knowing that I’d be far from 100%.  Still there are things which should get done by me.  It’s just taking a little extra effort. So, it got me to thinking about those times when our requirements wander beyond t... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3435144 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:18:02 +0100 3435144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385460&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fms-at-work-thrive-to-survive%2F Last week I was “workshopping” some of the topics for the upcoming “Staying in the Employment Game” MS TV program.  We sat, a group of about a dozen of us, talking about issues with staying employed after diagnosis. My full-time work experience ended abruptly within 4 months of Dx.  Most of the people in our group were still employed with the same employers (if not in the exact same jobs) as they were when they learned of their multiple sclerosis.  For this reason, I wanted to learn more about the nuts and bolts of their experiences. I was a little surprised at the universality of one of the sentiments I heard that night… “I’ve gone from thrive to survive,” said one man; EVERYONE chimed in with the same feeling.  The conversation that ensued about promotion, income, sta... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385460 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:46:28 +0100 3385460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262760&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fstaying-employed-with-multiple-sclerosis%2F A topic which seems to thread itself into the tapestry of nearly all of our conversations at our Life with MS blog is employment. In these economic times, finding and/or keeping a job is difficult for “typical” people.  For we of the compromised myelin, the idea of finding new employment is daunting, while the thought of losing our jobs (and oft, thus our health insurance) is downright frightening! There are so many questions we have about MS and employment: Who do we tell and when?  How much do we disclose?  What are reasonable accommodations to request?  What does discrimination look like?  When do we say when? There is no shortage of questions…the problem is: Who do we ask? That one, I can answer! I am in the process of writing a two-hour television program/webcast which I’... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262760 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:12:11 +0100 3262760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3201725&cid=t_143666_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F23%2Fblog-for-choice-day-2010-some-of-my-favorite-posts%2F A few posts I enjoyed for various reasons, from bloggers both familiar and completely new to me. “Choice” as a Feminist Idol – Sungold at Kittwampus, who reminds us that “choice” is pretty empty if it doesn’t include access, justice, rights, autonomy, and self-determination. Likewise, Radical Doula argues that it should be “Blog for Justice Day.” Britni at Oh My God, That Britni’s Shameless shares a video, of a performance by Sonia Renee on “What We Deserve,” that gave me goosebumps (transcript provided). I Trust Me, But Can I Trust You? – Heidi of A Black Girl Named Heidi, on her own evolving understanding of what “trust” means Trust Women, by bergsie at Kittens Farting Rainbows. Included for the awesome blog ti... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3201725 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:32:36 +0100 3201725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3176029&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fhang-on-because-a-life-with-chronic-pain-brings-change%2F I have come to believe change is the only constant in this life. We who live with chronic pain, from a multitude of reasons, are relentlessly faced with change. We experience it in our relationships as we are hemmed in by our boundaries, limitations and restrictions. Sometimes, it’s just too much for others as their lives are changed due to ours changing. At other times our relationships are affected by our inability to travel or to perform some other act of daily life that others perform without thought. When the anvil of life falls on the top of your head, it’s no cartoon. You have little choice but to lie there as the stars and birds buzz around your head, waiting for life to resume some semblance of order. It takes time. It takes patience and it, most of all, requires good medical ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3176029 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:47:22 +0100 3176029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2705112&cid=t_143666_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F16%2Fweekly-news-round-up-16%2F Comments are working again at OBOS – we had some technical difficulties this week, but have new posts up on Wyeth Pharmaceutical’s ghostwriting of papers on hormone replacement therapy (to gloss over the risks), with the Colbert Report’s take and continued featuring of a copy of OBOS as part of the women’s health g graphics. Also, Christine’s critique of a pregnant-looking-women-breakdancing campaign (you really just have to read it). NaCl and hv has a series of how-to posts on bringing babies to conferences. I’m a little bummed that the Childcare entry doesn’t include “encourage conference organizers to provide childcare.” The Allied Media Conference manages to provide childcare and a kids’ track, which I assume increases the abi... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2705112 Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:20:05 +0100 2705112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570989&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fputting-pain-aside-to-celebrate-the-4th-of-july%2F Is there any other American holiday that brings back more memories than the Fourth of July? Probably Christmas with all its festivities, lights and symbolism of Christianity; certainly Thanksgiving because of the wonderful food, family and history but the Fourth is special. For many of us it is the holiday that symbolizes the freedom we have come to take for granted.  Its celebration during the warm summer month, the long run of daylight and the National pride it represents; all come together to create memories. Here in the Northwest, and even more so in the state of Alaska, the long daylight hours stall the firework celebrations until late in the evening. The little children try to stay awake for the bursts of glory but don’t always make it. In our community there are always firewo... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570989 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:12:11 +0100 2570989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511649&cid=t_143666_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fnestle-toll-house-cookie-recall-the-ecoli-mystery%2F Although Nestle has recalled some 300,000 cases of its refrigerated Toll House cookie dough from store shelves, as of June 22, 2009, none of their product had actually tested positive for the E. coli that’s caused illness in at least 70 people in 30 states. And since it’s highly unusual for E. coli, an intestinal bacterium of cattle (i.e., it’s in their feces) to be present in something like cookie dough, investigators are so far at a loss to explain exactly what is going on. But, since all of the people who became sick ate the same raw cookie dough product, it seems obvious that it’s the cookie dough that’s to blame. The question is, from where did the E. coli come? If it were inadequately cooked hamburgers that were responsible, it would be easy to link E. c... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511649 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:33:31 +0100 2511649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511650&cid=t_143666_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Ffda-warns-consumers-to-discard-zicam-products%2F In an unusual move earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted consumers that Zicam Cold Remedy products have been associated with long lasting or even permanent loss of smell. FDA recommends that consumers stop using these products and that they throw away any that might still be in their homes. The affected products include Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (the last one is a previously discontinued product). The products had been sold by Matrixx Initiatives to reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms; however, they have never been shown to be effective. These products were formulated and sold for intranasal use and may have contained zinc, which is potentially toxic to the nasal membranes. Th... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511650 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:12:13 +0100 2511650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512258&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthis-health-care-stuff-is-giving-me-a-headache%2F John Wayne, where are you when we need you? We’re in a mess over the health care in this here town. We could use you in any of your vast array of personas. Mclintock would be perfect in this situation, or possibly Marshal Rooster Cogburn.  Our little old western town is in an awful fix. A new mayor has come to town and wants to change everything. The problem we’re having is, first of all, to figure out what he’s saying. Then, just when we get it figured out, some of those other politicians that he’s always hanging out with demand things to be done their way. The old town hall was rockin’ yesterday when the new mayor gathered the doctor’s in the territory into one room and said, “We’re gonna fix this mess. I’m gonna make sure all the bad guys are run out of town. Then I�... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512258 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:06:45 +0100 2512258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473795&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fwhen-your-mind-writes-checks-your-body-cant-cash%2F I’m an educated person and know there is a mind/body connection.  I witnessed it often when rearing my two children, saw it everyday as a working RN and have often harnessed the power of the mind in terms of faith and confidence to make it through this maze I live with everyday. Of course, I’m referring to a daily life of chronic pain. In that life, I have to worry about the “disconnect” between my mind and its many ambitions and the follow through that is required. Did you know your mind needs your body to accomplish, well, everything except telekinesis? I’ve tried that, but can’t seem to get it to work for me. I’ve tried staring at the vacuum and willing it to move. Nothing happened. I’ve tried to follow the Disney tradition of the dancing... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473795 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:47:45 +0100 2473795 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473600&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FotUBjGxgNb0%2F You’ve likely heard by now. After weeks of hesitating, the World Health Organization has declared the H1N1 virus infections to be a Level 6 on the pandemic scale, which means a pandemic has been announced. The thing is, your life is still the same. My life is still the same. Nothing has changed from the five minutes before the announcement and five minutes after the announcement. That’s what people need to remember before beginning to panic. Here is some information that may help you learn more about pandemics, viruses, etc. What’s the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic? An epidemic is something that can happen anywhere, any time with just about any type of contagious situation. Last year, there were some epidemics of mumps in some universities, a few years ag... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473600 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:46:17 +0100 2473600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469802&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fms-recipe-for-success-fresh-lemonade%2F It wouldn’t be too self-indulging to say that life has, in the form of multiple sclerosis, given each of us a big, fat lemon!  In figurative ways, over the past three years, many have offered comments as to how they’ve made lemonade.  Today I’ll offer a recipe for the real thing. As summer makes its way up the globe, temperatures rise and motivations dive.  It’s just too hot to get anything done for “normal” people.  Throw MS into the soup and, well, somebody cool me down! Lemonades of my youth were typically derived from a powdered mix and left me wondering what all the fuss was about.  Even today, most people only know “real” lemonade at a county fair or an urban street festival. The ease with which a quick glass of pucker can be rustl... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469802 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:59:56 +0100 2469802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2464322&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fms-money-matters-medical-bankruptcy%2F Last summer we started an occasional topic here at Life with MS: “MS Money Matters.”  Our blogs on this subject have dealt with drug prices, gas prices, insurance prices etc.   However, what happens when we just can’t pay those bills? Medical bankruptcy is a dilemma more and more Americans are facing every day.  A study titled, “Medical Bankruptcy in the United States, 2007: Results of a National Study” published in the American Journal of Medicine stated, “Based on the current bankruptcy filing rate, medical bankruptcies will total 866,000 and involve 2.346 million Americans this year – about one person every 15 seconds.” In a multi-institution survey published last week, not only was this rate disturbing, but the “who” and “why” of it all made ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2464322 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:23:32 +0100 2464322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458188&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FRFRYweLBpwU%2F Tick season is in full force in many places in the United States and a few in Canada. Tick-borne diseases, like Lyme disease, can have serious consequences in previously healthy people. The five types of tick-borne diseases are: Babesiosis Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis Lyme Disease Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Tularemia Of course, prevention is the best medicine. If you can’t avoid areas where ticks live, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of being bitten: Avoid sitting directly on the ground or fallen logs Avoid sitting on stonewalls or woodpiles Walk in the center of trails Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves Wear white closely knitted socks when outside and tuck your pant legs inside Tuck your shirt into your pants Wear light colored gloves We... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458188 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:25:31 +0100 2458188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452746&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FBav8FBjtkiA%2F Health Canada, the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. FDA, has issued a warning against Slim Magic Herbal products, used for weight loss. This warning was issued because investigators found an undeclared pharmaceutical ingredient similar to the prescription medication sibutramine, which is a prescription drug to help treat obesity. The products also contain a thick soluble fiber used to make you feel full as it expands when it absorbs water. This may cause an obstruction to your esophagus. According to the warning issued by Health Canada earlier today: The use of sibutramine may cause serious side-effects, including cardiovascular reactions, such as increased blood pressure, chest pain, and stroke, in addition to dry mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation. Sibutramine should only be used... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452746 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:38 +0100 2452746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452952&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fstay-connected-to-life-despite-daily-pain%2F I was reading the Milestones section in a recent issue of Time magazine a few days ago and came across an obituary of a 97-year-young woman who began blogging when she was a mere 95 years young. I don’t want you to get the impression I sit around reading the obits every day, although I do get a certain sense of relief that I’m not in them. This particular woman, a lovely and vivacious Spaniard named Maria Amelia Lopez reached 1.5 million people with her blog. She exclaimed it “wakes up the brain.” She chatted with her readers about her family, her grand-children, her great-grandchildren and other factors in her life. She chatted and shared her personal history and the history of Spain. She demonstrated to the world that interacting with others was a wholesome and healthy activity.�... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452952 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:26:39 +0100 2452952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452749&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fcn2_BSgF4c4%2F Breast cancer. After skin cancer, it’s the most common cancer in women in the United States. American women have a one in eight chance of developing some type of breast cancer in their lifetime. The American Cancer Society says that “an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States.” But, as shocking at the numbers may be, it’s not new news. We’ve heard it all before. Imagine now, a 10-year-old girl discovering a lump in her breast tissue - a lump that turns out to be cancer. Not only that, the type of cancer she has is so rare, it only affects .15% of women who have breast cancer. That 10-year-old girl is Hannah Powell-Auslam of Fullerton, California, and she discovered she had cancer this past April.... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452749 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:18:26 +0100 2452749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452951&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fsummer-officially-is-here-hows-your-ms-today%2F Time for our monthly interrogative: How is your multiple sclerosis today? It seems a little funny to explain this idea every month, but we have a lot of new readers and sometimes even I need a reminder.  We use the first Wednesday of each month’s posting to pose that question.  It gives us a reason to stop and think about (I mean really think) our MS and report back. Sometimes, we find that we’re not doing as well as we may have thought.  Other times, we joyously report that “it’s a good day!” I like this post because it also affords space for general conversation and questions amongst our community.  Ask what you like, comment to one another, vent.  It’s all about you. As I write this, the day is finally cooling here in Seattle.  It was nearly 90 F here today (and that�... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452951 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:22:09 +0100 2452951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2453096&cid=t_143666_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fcelebrating-the-birthday-of-a-life-lost-to-cancer%2F Last week my husband and I had the opportunity to meet a fabulous woman. Sheila is the kind of woman who greets you with a beautiful smile and then treats you like her best friend. We started talking and we told her how Bob was diagnosed with prostate cancer last fall and I had been diagnosed with breast cancer only a few years earlier. We asked her what could be worse than that for a family? She excitedly applauded that I was a breast cancer survivor but then gently said, “I can tell you what’s worse than that.”  She told us that even worse than that was losing your baby to breast cancer. We sat shocked as she told us the story of her 31-year-old daughter who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer went into remission for a while but then came back to claim her daughter&#... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2453096 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:59:43 +0100 2453096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452753&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FO4jRpFTuTKo%2F Granted, most of us aren’t hurtling ourselves into outer space, but this is an interesting finding. Astronauts are subject to space headaches caused by their out-of-world exerpience. According to findings of a study recently published in the journal Cephalalgia, 12 of the 17 astronauts (71 per cent) reported 21 headache episodes during the space missions – nine during launch, nine during the stay at the space station, one during activities outside the space station and two during landing. None of the astronauts had a history of recurrent headache on earth. Five astronauts reported headaches during one of the time frames, six during two time frames and one during four time frames. Headache severity ranged from mild to severe, with 29 per cent reporting mild intensity, 65 per cent... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452753 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:49:38 +0100 2452753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447727&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FMQgGV6nwNBo%2F Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are often referred to as mini-strokes. You can have all the symptoms of a stroke, but they only last a short time. Some people may have several of them without any long-term effects, others may have only one or two and then have a major stroke not long after. Almost 50% of people who end up having a major stroke after a TIA have it within 24 hours of the first TIA. For this reason, researchers say you should get to the hospital as soon as possible if you have symptoms of a TIA. A press release issued by the American Academy of Neurology says “Our study highlights the need for someone who is experiencing the symptoms of a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack to get to an emergency room fast,” said Peter Rothwell, MD, PhD, FRCP, FMedSci, with... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447727 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:45:12 +0100 2447727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447950&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fteri-garr-living-with-ms-in-the-public-eye%2F Like many of you, I’m still finding my way around the Everyday Health Web site.  There are nooks and crannies of hidden treasures and mounds of health information at every turn.  It’s kind of like moving to a new neighborhood; you never seem to have time to simply explore, you just find what you need as you need it.  Therefore I decided I would do some serious exploring the other day and became intrigued to see a photo of “one of us” in the corner of one of the pages and had to investigate further. Many of you know that actress, comedian, writer Teri Garr has been living with multiple sclerosis for several years.  Her book, Speedbumps; Flooring It Through Hollywood, was published several years ago and is a very good read (even if you don’t have MS). Everyday Health got a chan... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447950 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:18:11 +0100 2447950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447732&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FhJrmYWlhs2Q%2F Lamictal XR (lamotrigine) Extended Release Tablets have been approved by the US FDA for prescription to people, aged 13 or older, who have partial onset seizures. The original version of Lamictal has been available since the mid-1990s. Instead of trying to explain how it works, here is a video of a pharmacist explaining what Lamictal is. Just click on the TV screen: The newly approved extended version, Lamictal XR, limits the number of pills a person must take in a day - some people take several. The fewer medications a person has to take, the lower the chance of mistakes and the higher the chance of the person taking all medications as they should be taken. ~~~~ Image: iStock Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree FDA Approves Extended Epilepsy Medication (Sourc... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447732 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:49:23 +0100 2447732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447734&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F3i7Ck-8Rbv4%2F Anyone who has had a gallbladder “attack” knows how uncomfortable it is. They would also like to know how to prevent having another gallstone, avoiding the pain and discomfort. A new study, just presented at the Digestive Disease Week annual meeting, has found that moderate alcohol intake reduces the cholesterol in bile and may decrease the chances of developing gallstones by as much as one third. Gallstones are small stones that develop in the gallbladder, which is a small pear-shaped organ in what is called your right upper abdomen. Bile, which is made in the liver, helps your body digest fats, but the liver makes too much to use all at once. Leftover bile is stored in your gallbladder. When your body needs more bile, the gallbladder releases it into the intestine where the ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447734 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:57:00 +0100 2447734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447735&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FtIQJw-3ZpYk%2F Home safety is something we all need to be aware of. Can you name the two most dangerous rooms in your home? Do you know what simple items in your home can cause the most serious accidents? Would you know what to do if someone was injured in your home? Most dangerous rooms The two most dangerous rooms in your home are the kitchen and bathroom. So many accidents can occur in those places. Falls are particularly severe in bathrooms because they’re easy to cause and the limited amount of space and hard materials can make the fall much  more severe than if it happened elsewhere. Falls in bathrooms often occur because of water on the floor. The water on the (usually) ceramic tile can make anyone slip. Falls also happen in the shower or bath, either while entering or exiting, or while usi... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447735 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:07:20 +0100 2447735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447736&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FejeslLMEzL4%2F Despite the legality of abortion, those who work in facilities that provide abortions are still at risk from some people who don’t believe that abortions should be done. This became abundantly clear with today’s murder of 67-year-old Dr. George Tiller, one of the country’s few providers of late-term abortions. According to the news, the father of four and grandfather of 10 was shot to death as he participated in his role as usher at the Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Tiller had received numerous threats over the course of his careeer. He was shot in both arms in 1993 and his clinic was bombed in 1985. Late term abortions The term “late term abortion” is a controversial one. Some people refer to any abortion after 12 weeks as a late term ab... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447736 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:13:45 +0100 2447736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442194&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Ffinal-ms-book-club-blog%2F Over the past couple of years, we’ve taken the last post of the month to discuss a book we’ve been reading together…in theory.  The idea never really took off and I’ve always asserted that this blog was all about you.  So, today we end the run with a final discussion from Professor Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture. One of my favorite parts of these book club blogs has been our final discussion of each book.  We’ve been lucky enough to have our authors join us for a frank discussion of their books.  Everything, from what it took to actually sit down and write to their personal MS struggles, has been fodder for our pages. This post, however, will be devoid of the author as he passed away of the very disease of which he knew he would…and therefore ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442194 Fri, 29 May 2009 21:51:40 +0100 2442194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442052&cid=t_143666_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fproblems-with-inner-ear-function-quite-common-in-older-adults%2F Most people know that the ear has two functions; namely, hearing and balance. Now new research has shown that the inner ear balance function, called vestibular function, is impaired in fully 35 percent of all U.S. adults over the age of 40. Such dysfunction, which affects 69 million Americans can lead to catastrophic problems, most notably to falls with their attendant issues such as fractures. Vestibular dysfunction increases with age, eventually affecting 85 percent of those over the age of 80. The findings were published in the May 25, 2009 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. The researchers studied nearly seven thousand U.S. adults over the age of 40. Participants completed a questionnaire and also underwent balance testing by something called the “Romberg Test of Standin... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442052 Fri, 29 May 2009 20:52:01 +0100 2442052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442200&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fyour-expiration-date-and-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F Is it ever too late? Well, sure, when you stop breathing, when your heart stops or when you are Wiley Coyote and the Road Runner just dropped an anvil on your head. In the meantime, you’re alive. As far I know, I’m still alive; the question is, do you and I have an expiration date? I do have to confess there are days when parts of my body feel like they have passed their expiration date. I don’t feel curdled, like past date milk, but I do look curdled. This whole aging thing can be so depressing. I don’t squeak when I walk but I do click and pop a bit at times. I haven’t found any stamps on my body anywhere that state my expiration date is up, unless it’s hidden in a wrinkle somewhere. As a nurse I find it intriguing in a macabre sort of way that newborn... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442200 Fri, 29 May 2009 20:47:59 +0100 2442200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441819&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FD8n9oFHXf_k%2F Have you ever come across a problem with medications or certain products regulated by the FDA and you thought, “Someone should know about this!”? If so, there is a way that you can become involved, something you can do about it. You can file a report with the FDA. How? The MedWatch program at the FDA is for anyone, from consumers to medical professionals. The mandate is to accept reports and complaints, investigate them, and advise the public of any problems or issues that result from the investigation. MedWatch is the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) program for reporting serious reactions, product quality problems, therapeutic inequivalence/failure, and product use errors with human medical products, such as drugs and medical devices. If, for s... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441819 Thu, 28 May 2009 08:08:43 +0100 2441819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442195&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fhappy-world-ms-daysort-of%2F I’ll have to admit to you the mixed emotions of the first annual World MS Day. The fact that celebrities, politicos and athletes are rallying around our cause is heartening. That the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation has mustered all of its troops for a worldwide day of events, research and understanding for this annual (last Wednesday in May) is a pretty big deal; especially for folks who live in places where MS is either understood little or (worse) misunderstood completely. Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to support this thing to the best of my ability (how many of you are hearing about this for the first time through this blog? That’s doing something, isn’t it?).  I’ll go to an event, I‘ll write my representatives in congress I’l... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442195 Wed, 27 May 2009 17:22:18 +0100 2442195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441823&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FK_sbTgFepg8%2F I almost want to put this one in my Duh File, where I put studies that cause a reaction from me like “Geez, no kidding!” But, I guess it has its merit. It’s just that the connection is so glaringly obvious to me and likely to the millions of people who live with chronic pain. When you have chronic pain, how it’s managed, how it affects your life, and how you see it affects how you feel mentally and emotionally. If you see your pain as unchanging, as unbeatable, you may tend to give in to it, believing that you have no control over your pain. Pain can affect your quality of life. It can keep you from going out and socializing. It can keep you from doing your favorite activities and hobbies. Pain can also keep you from sleeping so you become sleep-deprived and fatigue... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441823 Wed, 27 May 2009 08:04:49 +0100 2441823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442196&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-ms-webcast-from-the-aan%2F As many of you know, a couple of weeks ago, I attended and blogged live from the American Academy of Neurology’s conference here in Seattle.  During that busy week, I snuck away from the event, along with Dr. Jeffery Cohen, for a quick interview. The results of that afternoon are now posted for your listening and educational pleasure. To get a chance to sit down in studio with Dr. Cohen was a real treat.  Not only is he a well respected researcher (who introduced some very interesting phase III data on the use of Fingolimod for MS) he is also a sought after clinician for many people living with MS in the Great Lakes region. Our conversation spanned his research along with some of what he thought were the highlights of presentations from the conference.  Taking a couple of hours ou... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442196 Fri, 22 May 2009 06:36:36 +0100 2442196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424222&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FCwEHJ0MPenw%2F Navigating the healthcare system can seem confusing when you realize that you may have to see Dr. A for one problem, Dr. B for another and yet you still need to see Dr. Z for something else. Aside from making you wonder who takes care of what, sometimes, care can fall between the cracks because Dr. A isn’t aware of Dr. Z’s treatments and Dr. B may not even be aware that you’re seeing either Dr. A or Dr. Z. So, what can you do to ensure you’re getting the best of care and that everyone knows about everyone else? Keep track of everything. Write everything down and take this as seriously as you would a job for which you’re getting paid. Journals: A journal is a great way to keep track of what is going on. Write in the journal all your doctors’ names and - e... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424222 Wed, 20 May 2009 20:34:05 +0100 2424222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424273&cid=t_143666_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fglymetrol-a-scam-targeting-people-with-diabetes%2F I’ve recently seen a number of TV commercials for a product called Glymetrol that are extremely troubling. In fact, I find the marketing of Glymetrol offensive on so many levels it’s hard to know where to begin telling you about it. First is the cavalier manner in which this “natural” product is being marketed to people with diabetes, a potentially life-threatening disease, with severe long-term consequences if not managed properly, even though it has neither been reviewed nor approved by the FDA. People with diabetes should be under the close care of a physician fully knowledgeable about their condition, their blood sugar levels, their diet, their weight, their insulin sensitivity and their medications. Only at the bottom of the Glymetrol FAQs page does it even remotely suggest co... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424273 Wed, 20 May 2009 17:02:59 +0100 2424273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424223&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F4w2zKqh3D2g%2F I feel that this post should come with a disclaimer like you see on so many products. Like the iron that sells with the disclaimer, “don’t press clothes while wearing,” or the nut cake you buy that says, “may contain nuts.” Or, my particular favorite, the stuntmen flipping their cars over three or four times, driving off a canyon and then land in the middle of a parking lot, ready for work, with the disclaimer “professional stunt drivers on a closed course, do not attempt at home.” Anyway, I’ve gone off track here. I have a “Don’t Try This at Home” story out of Australia. It’s about a quick thinking doctor, a boy with a head injury, and a handyman’s drill. I’ll give you a moment to stop squirming… Hea... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424223 Wed, 20 May 2009 01:38:38 +0100 2424223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424345&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-war-on-daily-pain%2F Funny, isn’t it, all the little truisms you pick up along the highway of life; kind of like road signs? Remember the old Burma Shave signs we used to read along the road when we would travel as children? Today, we’re all grown up and the road of chronic pain and illness is somewhat like those thoroughfares in Iraq; mined with hazards all along the way. Some days you maneuver along just fine, detecting the mines, driving cautiously and being just plain lucky. Those are the days your radar is working and you have gained the upper hand. Other days, a bomb goes off in your face or if it doesn’t, you almost pray one would. Each day is different than the previous one. You wonder, cautiously, “What will tomorrow bring?” It’s never boring, living this way, that’s for certain. We are ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424345 Tue, 19 May 2009 19:59:53 +0100 2424345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2417069&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F5CvJJDv9Cao%2F I’ve long had issues with medical shows presenting fair and truthful information. I know the shows are meant for entertainment and I take a lot of their stuff with a grain of salt - such as their usual pathetic portrayal of nurses in the real world. But when they misrepresent health issues, that bothers me a lot. A couple of months ago, the popular television show House had a bad (in my opinion) plot line that showed a man with “locked in syndrome” diagnosed as brain dead and the emergency room physician wanted to take his heart for donation - something that would never happen in the United States. Now, there are complaints about the season finale of another popular medical show, Grey’s Anatomy. I have to admit, I haven’t watched this show since its first year... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2417069 Mon, 18 May 2009 02:42:13 +0100 2417069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2417070&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FOmhYQtl0CEE%2F I don’t think we’ll ever reach a point that we’ve “heard it all,” because every time I think I have, I hear something else. What do you think about the possibility of your bag of chips, bottle of soda, and plate of store-bought cookies being bulked up with vitamins and minerals? Well in you’re in Canada, this could be coming to a store near you, considering what Health Canada is considering. However, according to articles I’ve been reading, the Health Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, has put the plans on hold pending further review. A smart move, perhaps? It seems that some people feel that if people are missing the vitamins and minerals found in a balanced diet and they are going to eat junk food anyway, they might as well benefit from junk food that&#82... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2417070 Sun, 17 May 2009 13:29:00 +0100 2417070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414898&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FbaeqVY0cUC4%2F I remember when my children were young, there were a few horrific car crashes that stayed in my mind. One of them was of a pregnant woman who was in a bad accident on one of the bridges into Montreal. She was heavily pregnant and had been thrown from the car. She died. However, the doctors were able to keep her alive long enough to deliver her baby. I remember thinking that I couldn’t understand why she wasn’t wearing her seatbelt. I know that many people think that a seatbelt may be harmful to a fetus in an accident, but even if that was true, I’d rather take that chance over death. After all, the doctors saving that woman’s baby were very lucky. It doesn’t usually work out that way. And, the findings were that the seatbelts helped prevent injury and save liv... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414898 Sun, 17 May 2009 06:44:00 +0100 2414898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2415600&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fwhat-is-the-worst-ms-symptom-you-have%2F Earlier this week, we posted a blog about a new drug that appears to help people with multiple sclerosis walk “better.”  Once again, in the comment section you have spurred another idea for a blog posting. Jane D wrote: “It would be lovely to walk better, but there are other MS symptoms that are, personally, more urgent to address.” Hmmmm, I thought.  Which of our symptoms, the “more urgent” ones would we like to see pharma address? The list of symptoms we all experience are as varied as we are as people.  Sure, over 85 percent of us likely experience fatigue from our MS.  Nearly that many have some of the other “majors” including: tingling, numbness and optical issues.  If we could choose only one of the symptoms (and remember we’re talking about symptoms here, not ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2415600 Fri, 15 May 2009 16:53:24 +0100 2415600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2408543&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fz4QPYV3b-rc%2F One of the biggest fears for Americans who lose their job is the loss of their medical insurance. Prescription medications can be very pricey and with no job to pay for them, health declines and then the necessary medical care becomes even more costly. While this particular move by Pfizer may be looked at very cynically by some, it also may help many. The company, reportedly the world’s largest pharmaceutical, has said that it will make available “more than 70 of its prescription drugs, from Lipitor to Viagra, at no cost to unemployed, uninsured Americans, regardless of their prior income, who lost jobs since Jan. 1 and have been on the Pfizer drug for three months or more,” says an ABC article, Pfizer Offers Free Drugs After Lost Jobs . Will other pharmaceutical companie... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2408543 Fri, 15 May 2009 11:12:16 +0100 2408543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2408544&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Flx0PMUKmkeI%2F Back in February, ruptured Achilles tendon made news because of an injury to Montreal Canadiens’ forward Robert Lang. He had severed his Achilles tendon during a game against the Boston Bruins. As is usually the case, he has surgery to repair the tendon and the latest news is that he should be back to playing form by the next season. Now, researchers have found that surgery may not always be necessary to fix a torn Achilles tendon, which may be good news, particularly for people who aren’t good candidates for surgery. According to this news release from the University of Gothenburg, Surgery may not be necessary for Achilles tendon rupture , there was no difference between patients who had surgery to stitch back together their tendon and those who didn’t: all patients had thei... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2408544 Fri, 15 May 2009 00:39:23 +0100 2408544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405513&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FfuoTx3qWJCU%2F Discussion of risks and benefits of spinal cord stimulation and shared decision making, including reference to the high rate of complications following stimulator placement for patients with persistent and disabling radicular pain following surgery for herniated disc and no evidence of a persistently compressed nerve root. Let’s see if this makes any difference to those of us who know how painful life is with a painful lower back. ~~~~ Image: iStock.com Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree New Guidelines to Treat Low Back Pain (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405513 Thu, 14 May 2009 01:54:50 +0100 2405513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405514&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fwb5nrcJfD9E%2F Medical alert bracelets, and more recently necklaces, have been around in many forms for quite a while. We see them for people who are allergic to certain things, have chronic illnesses, or special medical issues, like organ transplants. But many people don’t like to wear them. Would a tattoo be the solution? According to this USA Today article, Tattoos being used for medical alerts , tattoos alerting people of their medical condition is becoming an option for some people. And it’s more common that we probably realize. There’s a Wikipedia entry for medical tattoos , and there are discussions about them on various blogs and sites, like Diabetes Advocacy and The Diabetic Lifestyle Journal. What do you think? Is it a good solution or - in your opinion - a drastic one? I ha... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405514 Thu, 14 May 2009 00:16:00 +0100 2405514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405517&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F5CNF50H_Nh0%2F With the common cold and the seasonal flu making their rounds regularly, it’s still surprising how many people don’t know the difference between the two. Here in northern hemisphere, seasonal flu season is ending. It runs from late fall to spring, with the peak usually being in January and February. But, with the advent of the H1N1 virus, people are talking more about the flu than usual. There seems to be two distinct camps of people when it comes to influenza and it’s hard for anyone to fit in the middle. Either you’re one of those people who feel that you’ve been sick enough in the past and you survived, so what is everyone whining about or you’ve had the flu and you don’t ever, ever, ever want to experience that again. First, let’s get one... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405517 Wed, 13 May 2009 11:18:04 +0100 2405517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405784&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fchange-rearrange-or-go-insane-due-to-chronic-pain%2F As small children we figure out how much life changes. Little ones talk about growing tall, going to school and achieving greatness like peeing where they’re supposed to; learning to write their name and getting their shoes on the right feet…okay, the left one, too. We, as well as our parents draw growth charts on the kitchen doorway with a pencil; exclaim with joy when the urine goes into the pot and make broad, loud announcements to the rest of the world when each milestone is reached. Somewhere along the way we allow learning and change to blend together in our minds. They become one. They are not the same. You would assume since we grow up with change it would be a welcome companion, however, as young adults we are on a “high” assuming we are in charge. We chang... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405784 Tue, 12 May 2009 20:10:09 +0100 2405784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2406269&cid=t_143666_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F12%2Fcool-diseasome-graphic%2F Thanks to Dr Deb for pointing me in the direction of this cool graphic showing the common genetic links between a range of disorders…here’s the link to the full article, from The New York Times. You can find out so many teeny tiny bits of news on Twitter! Oh and you can blame Manly Jack for passing on this bit of humour… Sorry ’bout that. Normal transmission resumes shortly. (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2406269 Tue, 12 May 2009 06:45:38 +0100 2406269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398855&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FtSlALmqbICA%2F A cancer medication already available for other cancers, such as breast cancer, has now been given the FDA-go ahead to be used for a type of brain cancer, called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Senator Edward Kennedy was diagnosed last year with brain cancer called glioma. GBM is the most advanced of this type of brain cancer. The FDA reported yesterday: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Avastin (bevacizumab) to treat patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) when this form of brain cancer continues to progress following standard therapy. GBM is a rapidly progressing cancer that invades brain tissue and can impact physical activities and mental abilities. It affects about 6,700 persons in the United States every year. Following initial treatment with surgery, radiati... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398855 Sun, 10 May 2009 11:00:41 +0100 2398855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398856&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FvKNFgNsDr2I%2F The United States FDA has granted marketing approval to a new drug to help treat schizophrenia. Called Fanapt (iloperidone), the medication is intended to treat adults with schizophrenia while in the acute phases. It isn’t yet known how long they should be kept on the medication once the acute phases is over, but researchers agree that if the patient is responding, continuing with the treatment is encouraged. According to a company press release , “The approval was supported by two placebo-controlled Phase III clinical studies comparing Fanapt(TM) to placebo and active control in patients with schizophrenia, as well as safety data from more than 3,000 patients.” Schizophrenia is a fairly common mental illness, estimated to strike one out of every 100 people in North Amer... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398856 Sat, 09 May 2009 15:02:46 +0100 2398856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389973&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F02BCGsDJ9h0%2F If you know you have a vaginal yeast infection, you may be trying to find something that will help you find some relief from the itching and burning. If you suspect you have a vaginal yeast infection, you should have it checked by your doctor first. It may not be yeast but something else that’s causing the problem. Here are some tips to help relieve the discomfort while you’re waiting for treatment or are being treated for it: Apply a cool washcloth to the vulva Apply an ice pack (covered with a towel or other fabric) Aim a fan towards your vulva to cool it off and keep it dry Use a sitz bath with Espom salts While sitting on the toilet, use a squirt bottle to help clean the vulva area Do you have any tips? ~~~ Image: Stock.xchng Share and Enjoy: Po... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389973 Tue, 05 May 2009 15:56:00 +0100 2389973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2387015&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FsUDauw70cL0%2F This article, Certain Ecologic Factors Associated With Greater Risk Of Bladder Cancer, describes the results of a study done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The article says, “The study reaffirmed that cigarette smoking is directly associated with bladder cancer incidence and mortality rates in men and women, and found that well water intake is directly associated with bladder cancer incidence in women and mortality rates in both sexes; and that exposure to solar UV radiation is inversely associated with bladder cancer incidence and mortality rates in both sexes.” It’s an interesting study, which hopefully can bring more to the table in terms of ways we may be able to prevent bladder cancer. ~~~~ Image: Stock.xchng Post from: Blisstree Well water... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2387015 Mon, 04 May 2009 16:08:22 +0100 2387015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2387018&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FRtbEHZ72dJk%2F The Biggest Loser, a reality television show that pushes people to lose weight, is a big hit in North America. But do such shows and competitions help people actually lose weight? I’m not sure about the TV shows, but when it comes to competitions, some researchers are saying “yes.” In 2007, Rena Wing,professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the Waren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and her colleagues evaluated the Shape Up Rhode Island weight-loss competitions.  According to this article, Weight Loss Competitions Produce Encouraging Results, “Shape Up Rhode Island reduced the percentage of patients in the study who were obese from 39 percent to 31 percent. Researchers found that individuals who increased their activity the most achieved the best wei... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2387018 Sun, 03 May 2009 12:16:13 +0100 2387018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382576&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FfXky_hMEM-Q%2F Well, truth be told, I think you should be nice to a nurse every month, but maybe more so in May. In the United States, 2009’s National Nurses Week is from May  6 to 12 and in Canada, it’s from May 11 to 17. Where I work as a clinical resource nurse, I had some good plans for the week, but they fell by the wayside because of pandemic preparation and a lot of other work. On the other hand, because I’m in Canada, I have an extra week to see if we can manage something. The goal is to recognize the difficult job that they do. Why a national week? Why is it important to honor nurses? Well, if you think about it, Administrative assistants get tons of attention during their week, and teachers the same for Teacher Appreciation. But nurses? Most people don’t even seem to kn... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382576 Sun, 03 May 2009 02:39:08 +0100 2382576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382577&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fhlsku2BTfvI%2F Lyrica (pregabalin) is a very controversial medication in some areas. For example, it’s used for many people who have fibromyalgia (More positive Lyrica news for fibromyalgia ), but it seems to have caused serious side effects in some of the people who have taken it. It’s controversial because many people feel that it does more harm than good. That being said, it’s also helping an awful lot of people. Its labeled use allows doctors to prescribe it for neuropathic pain (nerve pain), which is very difficult to treat, most often caused as a complication of diabetes or shingles (post herpatic neuropathy). It’s also been used as an add-on medication (in addition to others) to treat epilepsy. Now, doctors have found that Lyrica also seems to be helpful for people who live... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382577 Sun, 03 May 2009 01:56:24 +0100 2382577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382578&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FXr_bA1bhXpY%2F We’ve known for a long time that a woman’s expected life span is generally longer than a man’s. In the United States, in 2004, the life expectency for men was 75.2 years (23rd in the world) and for women was 80.4 (25th in the world). For Canada, men’s average was 77.8 years (7th in the world) and women’s was 82.6 years (8th in the world). The number 1 country in the world for men’s life expectancy was Hong Kong, at 79 years, and for women was Japan, at 85.6 years. Sadly, living longer than men doesn’t mean that women live better. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center look a 5,888 people over 65 and they “found that women suffered up to two and a half times more disabilities than men of the same age.” The most common issues were ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382578 Sat, 02 May 2009 18:15:12 +0100 2382578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382672&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthree-bits-of-helpful-information-for-your-health%2F Every once in awhile I run into items or articles which I think would be of interest to all of you. These are usually little bits and pieces of information; not enough for a blog. What I like to do is to lump them all in a “stew” of an article. This blog, today, will consist of unrelated subjects which I have found helpful in dealing with all that I must. Swine Flu: Oh, come on, we’ve got to talk about this because everyone is. I know it’s a matter of concern but first of all, let me say, “Everybody calm down.”  If you want technical updates, Dr. Z’s blog at this site is excellent. He is covering all the bases of this potential epidemic. Dr. Krutka also has covered the pediatrician’s point of view. There is not much I can add to either one of these excellent blogs except t... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382672 Fri, 01 May 2009 20:20:50 +0100 2382672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2381353&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FlmKV_R39ZeE%2F If you’ve ever experienced abdominal cramping due to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease or any other problems with the intestines, you know that they can be truly incapacitating. How do I know? I was hit yet again this week. It had been a while since I had such bad cramping. While I  used to usually experience pain of about 7 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst ever, I think this week’s was 9, if not 10. And it just started out of the blue. But when do you need to see a doctor for something like this? My daughter was very concerned. She’s 20 and has experienced severe abdominal pain from appendicitis to gall bladder, so she was worried that I had something equally serious. Me, being me, knew that it wasn&#82... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2381353 Fri, 01 May 2009 01:42:17 +0100 2381353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2381354&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FMoyIJQDrnVA%2F Botox is better known for its wrinkle-reducing properties, but many doctors have been using it for disorders like cerebral palsy or neck spasms called cervical dystonia. According to the FDA website: The products required to add the new label and a REMS are Botox and Botox Cosmetic (botulinum toxin type A), marketed by Allergan; Myobloc (botulinum toxin type B), marketed by Solstice Neurosciences; and a new FDA-approved product, Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA), marketed by Ipsen Biopharm Ltd. Botox is FDA-approved to treat severe underarm sweating (primary axillary hyperhidrosis ), crossed eyes (strabismus ), and abnormal tics and twitches of the eyelids (blepharospasm ). Botox, Myobloc, and Dysport are FDA-approved to treat repetitive contractions of the neck muscles (cervical dystonia ). Bo... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2381354 Fri, 01 May 2009 00:44:25 +0100 2381354 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2375801&cid=t_143666_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F33Nq52mHUKI%2F Today, April 28th, is Blog for Fair Pay Day. In recognition of this important day, our guest post by Lisa Codispoti, Senior Counsel for Health and Reproductive Rights, National Women’s Law Center, relates to health care and equal pay. Between 2000 and 2006, health insurance premiums increased 87.5 percent—4 times more than wages. In addition to the burden of inflated health care costs, women are still paid only 78 cents for every dollar earned by men—with women of color earning even less. In a world where women are earning significantly less than men for comparable work, how can they also afford health care? Pay inequity for women compounds the issues that already exist with our broken health care system. This is a system that makes unfair practices by insurance companies flourish, s... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2375801 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:30:54 +0100 2375801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376715&cid=t_143666_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fa-true-breast-cancer-hero%2F It was a great weekend finally as far as weather is concerned in southeast Michigan. Although the warm weather brought in some late day thunderstorms, we got almost two days of sun. I got to work on my yard and set up my pond for the season, but I also took some time out for a boat ride with my husband. We take the boat out to the Detroit River through a canal from the marina. We also have to pass by a city park where people line the water to fish. I have to say the highlight of the ride was having the opportunity to cruise by the most amazing woman who was fishing by the river. She was sitting with her husband with her fishing pole set into the water. I’ll never forget her fabulous smile as she waved to me while we passed by in the boat. This woman had the ability in that moment to show... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376715 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:18:10 +0100 2376715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376483&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Flive-from-the-aan-conference-opening-weekend%2F Greetings from the American Academy of Neurology’s annual conference in Seattle, Washington! I hope everyone’s weekend was splendid. Mine was some kind of busy here. I spent the first half of opening day in the press room organizing my schedule for the week. Last Friday I wrote, “The volume of information on MS at this conference is staggering!” Boy, I had no idea! There are nearly 275 multiple sclerosis posters to be presented alone this week. Couple that with the great seminars, full & half day programs and informative speeches by research leaders. Wrap it up with a massive trade-show exhibition and I’ve got my work cut out for me. I’m not a stupid person but more than my fair share of information will be streaming over my noggin at any one time during this thing. Most in... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376483 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:06:32 +0100 2376483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367557&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fc7jnE5GW_dM%2F I wrote yesterday about World Malaria Day but it bears repeating because I was sent some more interesting information. Ashley Judd is PSI’s (Population Services International) global ambassador and a board member. In this PSA , she calls for the world’s attention on World Malaria Day 2009 as part of the global VOICES for a Malaria-Free Future. Much work is being done to raise awareness of this preventable and curable disease. According to an email we received from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Global Program on Malaria , The partnership Web site highlights the crucial role of political commitment and support of Rwandan leaders, community engagement, U.S. support and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) in making this success possible. Here are some links to help... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367557 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:39:45 +0100 2367557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367559&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FAD35rP5eaZk%2F Since mid-April, several people have died from swine flu and many more are ill, report Mexican authorities. The numbers reported differ a bit though, according to the news source. The New York Times reports 61 dead, while Associated Press reports “Mexico put the confirmed toll at 20 dead, but 40 other fatalities were being probed, and at least 943 nationwide were sick from the suspected flu, the health department said.” The worrying thing is that, like the major epidemic of early last century, it’s the young, healthy adults who are dying, not the very young, sick, or elderly who the most common victims of influenza. In an attempt to limit the spread of the illness, Mexican authorities have closed several school and cultural buildings. They are also discouraging people fro... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367559 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:34:05 +0100 2367559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365300&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fall-ms-all-the-time%2F The title refers to what several non-MS neurologists are calling the annual conference of the American Academy of Neurology, to be held next week in my hometown of Seattle, Washington.  They say that jokingly because multiple sclerosis is taking a prominent spotlight in this year’s event and you’ll be there!  Well, sort of… I’ll be attending the event this year with a press pass and reporting live from the conference all week long.  Our stalwart editor and community producer, Natalie, has agreed to the extra work of posting something from me every day during the event. There are hundreds of pages of event itinerary to be scanned for exactly which speeches, presentations and events I’ll want to attend.  The volume of information on MS in total is staggering! Also, and I’m ve... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365300 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:47:35 +0100 2365300 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365160&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FQ1qw3btjaF0%2F April 25, 2009 has been designated World Malaria Day. People who live in many parts of the world don’t worry about malaria, for the most part, but they should. Malaria is a disease that affects almost half of the world’s population in some way. According to the World Health Organization : Approximately half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria, particularly those living in lower-income countries. It infects more than 500 million people per year and kills more than 1 million. The burden of malaria is heaviest in sub-Saharan Africa but the disease also afflicts Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and even parts of Europe. Why does this affect us? Because we may go visit these countries, people may come from these areas, and because fellow humans are dying from w... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365160 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:37:57 +0100 2365160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365301&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fkelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community%2Fexercising-with-crohns-disease%2F I had a really bad flare up of my Crohn’s a few years ago where my ankles swelled up so much that I couldn’t walk for almost a month.  Crohn’s disease effects more than just the intestines, it can also affect the skin, joints, mouth, and throat.  In some people it can also affect the eyes.  Since this flare up, I stopped doing high impact exercise for fear that my joints would swell back up.  They were very touchy for a long time.  Recently, I had my yearly bone scan performed and found out that my bones actually got worse even though I was taking the bone strengthening medicine Boniva and lots of Calcium supplements (with Vitamin D) .  I started taking this dance class before I had my bone scan but am happy that I started it because moving your body around in any way helps the... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365301 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:47:55 +0100 2365301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365247&cid=t_143666_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=2365163&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F0UtbwKaUYUk%2F It’s not an unusual theme: a young person enters medical school determined to help save the world - or at least his or her small part of it. As doctors, men and women hold so much potential in their hands and while some go on to practice in the more traditional fields, others move on to more developing areas of medicine, like transplantation. While every doctor does affect lives, what transplantation surgeons and researchers do is, quite literally, give life back to someone who had no chance of survival before. Jeffery Steers, MD, is one such transplant surgeon. After graduating from the University of Kansas Medical Center, School of Medicine with his MD, he went on to do a residency in general surgery, followed by a fellowship at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in surgery. His ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365163 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:56:54 +0100 2365163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365164&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FOYRzLHHylz4%2F If you were a football fan back in the late 80s and early 90s, then you’ll likely know who William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry is. The 6 foot 2 inch tall and 370 pound Perry was a larger than life defensive lineman and Superbowl winner has been diagnosed with a rare neurological (nerve) disease called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). CIDP is a very rare illness but it’s often compared with Guillain-Barre syndrome, another rare neurological illness. Unfortunately, I erred when we first published this article when I described the disease that Perry has as acute and GBS as chronic. Obviously, that didn’t make any sense considering the word “chronic” in the name and I’m sorry about that. I should have reread my ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365164 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:46:30 +0100 2365164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365165&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FIOcRoTnt7WI%2F Last month, a federal court ordered the FDA to allow women 17 years and older to receive Plan B (0.75 mg levonorgestrel) without a prescription. Plan B is the so-called morning after pill. The FDA didn’t appeal this decision so, according to a press release issued today,  the “FDA notified the manufacturer of Plan B informing the company that it may, upon submission and approval of an appropriate application, market Plan B without a prescription to women 17 years of age and older.” The medication is already available in Canada without a prescription but in a few provinces, it’s kept behind the counter so a pharmacist can judge if it’s appropriate for each individual woman. The other provinces allow it to be sold on the shelves in the contraceptive section. Wh... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365165 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:25:28 +0100 2365165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2357450&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F9HlbLlYHYBg%2F Since such a large number of people don’t sign organ donation cards or place themselves on a registry, healthcare personnel find themselves in the position of having to ask shocked and grieving families about their wishes. This is a difficult task for people who aren’t trained or well-prepared for the role. According to a press release issued by the BMJ , A recent audit of 341 deaths in intensive care units in the UK revealed that 41% of relatives of potential donors denied consent. In an interview study a third of relatives who had refused donation said that they would not refuse again, whereas only a few of people who had given consent regretted their decision. The authors of the study review looked at 20 were looking to see if they could find specific factors that affected h... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2357450 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:16:21 +0100 2357450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2358189&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-high-maintenance-chick-and-chronic-pain%2F I remember when life used to be simple. In those days I had two children, a husband who worked full-time nights while going to nursing school full-time days while I ran a Victorian home, which I was also fixing up. I also had a full-time job as a nurse-manager and all the little day to day duties of wife, mother, friend and nurse. Laundry, constantly piling up, soaking pans in the sink and keeping up with everyday life, well, that’s the way it went as one day wove into the next. We were a happy family then and I hope we’re a happy family now, against all odds. Joy still lives in my heart although it doesn’t often find a welcome reception in my body. I thought I had a busy life. As all working mothers and wives come to realize, the housework such as cleaning and folding la... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2358189 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:07:15 +0100 2358189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353901&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F7yhV3nLG9x0%2F If you’re flying and the pilot has put on the Buckle Seatbelts sign, don’t think of it as a suggestion. It’s serious. How serious? A woman from Texas ignored the sign, which the pilot activitated because of turbulence. She went to the bathroom and when the air turbulance rocked the plane, she was thrown up to the ceiling and back down again, breaking her neck. According to this ABC article, Texas Woman Breaks Neck, Back In Airplane Turbulence, the woman sustained a broken neck that was similar to Christopher Reeves - a so-called hangman’s fracture. Two other passengers on the flight suffered more minor injuries. ~~~~ Image: MorgueFile.com (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353901 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:00:23 +0100 2353901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353902&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F03X0ZtVgfG8%2F If you followed me when I wrote Help My Hurt, you’d know that I had a Duh File for what I considered to be Duh Studies. What’s a Duh Study? One that makes you scratch your head and think one of a few thoughts: They got money from someone to research THAT? Tell me something we don’t know. You have got to be kidding me. I have just found another one. Did you know that breakdancers get hurt? Yes! Seriously!! They do!!! They even did a study on it. Imagine that. Ok, here’s the scoop. Researchers in Germany followed 144 breakdancers - both amateurs and professionals - and found that many of them got hurt. In fact, none of the professional breakdancers and only 4 percent of the amateur dancers had never been hurt. The study findings were published in the April issue of ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353902 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:08:57 +0100 2353902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353944&cid=t_143666_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fearth-day-improving-the-environment-and-your-health%2F April 22 is celebrated every year as Earth Day and this year I’d like to encourage you to think about changing your diet in ways that would benefit both your health and the health of the environment. And I can think of no better way than to follow the precepts set forth by Michael Pollan, Professor of Journalism at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, and the director of the Knight Program in Science and Environmental Journalism, and author of the excellent book In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, which I highly recommend. Mr. Pollan summarizes his philosophy in seven words: Eat food Not too much Mostly plants I’ll explain his idea more fully in a minute, but first I’ve got to tell you why you should change your diet. First, we know that four of... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353944 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:54:09 +0100 2353944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348669&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FoecdfGs2xxo%2F Stephen Hawking , the renowned physicist and possibly the longest surving person with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, has been hospitalized with what is reported to be a chest infection. The 67-year-old Hawking was diagnosed with ALS when he was 21 years old. Apparently, Hawking has been ill with this infection for a while now but is now in hospital for further treatment. According to the article, Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking is hospitalized , a spokesman will be issuing an update tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. While it’s not been said anywhere, usually this type of chest infection is pneumonia. And, for someone with a neurological disease like ALS, these infections can be fatal. As ALS progresses, the people lose control of their various muscle... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348669 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:46:06 +0100 2348669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348671&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FwKBw9uXst1M%2F Female athletes do tend to have more knee injuries than their male counterparts, but doctors and researchers chalked that down to the female anatomy - women are build differently than men. But now, there are findings that show it may be more than just the way they’re built. According to an article in the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail , Hormones, knee injuries linked , “Darren Stefanyshyn, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Calgary, and his team of researchers have found knee joint laxity, or looseness, which can make athletes more prone to injury, is influenced by phases in the menstrual cycle.” If this is a factor, it adds to the other anatomical differences that contribute to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The ACL plays a large role in k... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348671 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:32:29 +0100 2348671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348672&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F6fwENRo6WQg%2F If you smoke both marijuana and tobacco, you’re at an even higher risk of developing a serious lung disease, say researchers. According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal last week, people who regularly smoked both tobacco and marijuana were about three times more likely than non-smokers to develop a COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a serious lung disease. The authors wrote: Smoking only tobacco was associated with an increased risk of COPD, as defined in all 3 ways. Smokers who reported using both marijuana and tobacco were almost 2.5 times more likely than nonsmokers to have respiratory symptoms and nearly 3 times more likely than nonsmokers to have COPD as defined by spirometric testing. These effects persisted even after we adjusted for ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348672 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:49:51 +0100 2348672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348673&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FnOjZw_W4vWg%2F The spleen is an organ you don’t hear about very often. Most people don’t know what it does or why we have one. In fact, most of the time when someone hears about the spleen, it’s when someone has injured it and has to have surgery to remove it: a splenectomy. Boston Bruins defenceman Matt Hunwick was one of those unlucky ones yesterday. The 24-year-old hockey player had to leave his team, which is in the first round of the Stanley Cup play offs against the Montreal Canadiens, and will be spending the next few weeks recovering from his surgery. Your spleen is a rather small, unassuming organ. It can be anywhere from 2.5 to six inches long and is usually on the left side, just below your rib cage. For an unknown organ, it has an important role. Along with other body organs... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348673 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:49:29 +0100 2348673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348674&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FhUvDBN3FWfY%2F If you live in a community where your water contains flouride but you give your children bottled water to drink - they’re not getting any of the fluoride benefits. Dentists are, for the most part, in favor of flouridating drinking water. There has been a dramatic improvement in the teeth of children who drink flouridated water. The flouride plays an important role in preventing cavities and making teeth stronger. However, to benefit from the fluoride, you have to get it. According to a press release issued by the Academy of General Dentistry , “With soda and energy drinks being as popular as they are, not to mention the attractiveness of sugary snacks, children’s mouths are constantly fighting cavity-causing bacteria. Something as simple as drinking water from the tap is... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348674 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:14:03 +0100 2348674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313765&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fx5zJki_4cpU%2F Times have changed in how patients who are potential donors are considered to be dead and therefore able to be organ donors. It used to be that you had to be brain dead, with no signs of brain activity, cardiac - heart - death wasn’t in the equation. This has changed an now those who are heart dead can be organ donors but the teams have to move fast for the organs to be viable. I came across this story this morning of two families, two infants, and two sad stories. In a nutshell, one baby can’t live. She goes into cardiac arrest when she sleeps and needs to be brought back to life each time. Because of this, 2-month-old Kaylee Wallace lives on a respirator in the province of Ontario. Many miles away, is another infant, 1-month-old Lily O’Connor who desperately needs a hea... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313765 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:46:53 +0100 2313765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313767&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FkQpGzUhOwxw%2F It goes without saying that there are several sites and blogs on the Internet about organ donation and organ transplantation. Here are some of the more interesting ones I found and a bit about them. I am. Are you? is part of the Donate Life Illinois program. Aside from the interesting information, it also provides important need-to-know news, such as: “Illinois residents need to RE-REGISTER after Jan. 1, 2006 to join the state’s registry and ensure their wishes to be an organ/tissue donor are honored.” Greatest Gift Blog is a companion blog to the Greatest Gift Foundation. Becky writes about organ donation, including living donation as she was a living donor when she gave part of her liver to her brother. Donor Cycle is written by “TC,” an organ procurement t... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313767 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:12:30 +0100 2313767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313769&cid=t_143666_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fpo8OiLWZKiI%2F Many times, if you ask someone why they won’t agree to be an organ donor, you learn from them that their main reason is really not a reason: it’s a myth. Why myths are perpetuated is likely through fear. You hear something that frightens you and you pass it on. Some people don’t believe it and others do and will pass it on some more. But what are the myths about organ donation? 1-  I’m too young, not yet 18, so I can’t consent. While you are too young to sign consent to be an organ donor, if you’ve discussed this with your parents or guardians, they may make that decision for you. Infants have been donors. 2-  I’m too old to donate. There’s virtually no age limit as to when you have to stop considering yourself to be an organ donor. There i... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313769 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:43:28 +0100 2313769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2321720&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fsun-sensitivity-and-multiple-sclerosis%2F The long, damp winter chill seemed to finally lift this weekend and just in time for our local Walk MS events.  It was a busy weekend and, while I would have rather spent the warming days in the gardens getting at the long unattended weeds, it was wonderful to see so many people out to help us fight for the MS cause. The sun, in fact, boosted the temperatures into the 60s and the clear, blue skies rained down our daily doses of vitamin D all day long.  Caryn (my fiancée) and I, along with a couple of friends in town for the walk, even dined outside in the evening! As day slipped into evening, we all felt the effects of the day’s exposure to the sun…and that got me thinking. Over the years, I’ve taken several drugs for my multiple sclerosis carrying a warning label having to do wit... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2321720 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:26:11 +0100 2321720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2321750&cid=t_143666_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fweight-is-a-matter-of-balance%2F I know, this sounds like a physics lesson and I guess, in a way, it is. We are constantly inundated by ads, books and diet foods. The frozen food section at the market is now half filled with diet dinners. Billions of dollars are spent annually on all of these items as we all strive to look like Cindy Crawford or Tom Cruise. Since writing the last blog, two days ago, I’ve received word from many of you who struggle with weight, are tired of struggling with weight or have always been larger than most other people. There is so much heartache that swirls around this whole issue as we try to sort out fact from fiction; understanding from judgments and acceptance of who we are. I, also, mentioned an interesting article in Popular Science magazine March 2009. I’m somewhat limited by space bu... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2321750 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:24:03 +0100 2321750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2318537&cid=t_143666_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fyou-and-salt-not-so-perfect-together%2F Since nearly 70 percent of adult Americans have risk factors that warrant their reducing the amount of sodium they consume each day, the odds are high that you should pay attention to the following information and heed its advice. And since the national average daily sodium intake is already much higher than what’s recommended even for the 30 percent of people who don’t have risk factors, the odds are overwhelming that you are currently eating too much salt every day; the only question being how much you need to cut back? First let’s look at the 70 percent of adults who have risk factors. The risk factors are: High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) -31 percent of adults All people over age 40 - 34 percent of adults All black Americans – 4 percent of adults The people i... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2318537 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:58:23 +0100 2318537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2318538&cid=t_143666_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fnew-cigarette-tax-the-perfect-time-to-quit%2F On April 1 cigarette smokers are in for a big shock, and it’s one that won’t be an April Fool’s joke. That’s because the federal tax on cigarettes is going up 62 cents, from 39 cents to $1.01 per pack. The monies collected are earmarked to pay for an expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which was signed into law by President Obama in February. So in an effort to make lemonade out of what many smokers will doubtless see as one huge lemon coming their way I’d suggest they take this as a perfect opportunity to quit. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Each year, an estimated 443,000 people die prematu... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2318538 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:50:55 +0100 2318538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2290611&cid=t_143666_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Flexapro-celexa-and-depression%2F Last week’s FDA approval of Lexapro to treat depression in adolescents 12-17 years old got me to thinking both about bureaucratic nonsense and corporate shenanigans. That’s because, in a classic case of bureaucratitis, the FDA approval came just weeks after Justice Department prosecutors, following a 5-year investigation, accused Forest Laboratories of illegally marketing Lexapro for use in these very same children. Of course, such actions are not mutually exclusive because, in fact, it would have been illegal for Forest to promote the use of Lexapro in kids prior to such an FDA approval, but, really, when one arm of the government says it’s now fully convinced of Lexapro’s efficacy in children doesn’t it seem a bit odd that another arm would be spending so mu... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2290611 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:42:16 +0100 2290611