Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication?
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You might call them pain relievers. You might take them for back pain, headache, or arthritis. Your doctor calls them “NSAIDs,” which stands for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Whatever you call them and for whatever reason you take them, NSAIDs are among the most popular medications worldwide. In fact, estimates suggest that about 15% of the US population takes an NSAID regularly (including those that are over the counter and prescription strength). Along with sporadic users, more than 30 billion doses are taken each year.
Some of the most common NSAIDs include ibuprofen (as in...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 2, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Arthritis Back Pain Drugs and Supplements Headache Health Injuries Pain Management Source Type: blogs
Where do you stand on bystander CPR?
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A recent survey confirmed what many have suspected: if you collapsed, there’s a good chance that the average bystander would not be prepared to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). And if they tried to revive you, there’s an even better chance they wouldn’t do it correctly.
Of course, there is a certain circularity to this — if you don’t know how to perform CPR, or if you know how but aren’t sure you’ll perform it correctly, you’ll be less likely to try.
So why are so few prepared?
The list of reasons is long, including:
no prior instruction or certification
fear ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 29, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: First Aid Health Heart Health Source Type: blogs
Do you want to be interrupted to view what the computer calls normal or nonspecific ECGs? 2 cases at once!
Two CasesMale PatientI was handed this ECG of a 40-something male patient. It was recorded at triage. The chief complaint was " chest pain. "The computer interpretation was " Nonspecific "What do you think?Female PatientAt the exact same time, I was viewing the computer queue of unconfirmed ECGs (read by computer but not yet overread by physician) and saw this one from a 40-something woman, about whom I knew nothing:The computer interpretation was: " Normal ECG "What do you think?Male Patient:When I saw the first one, on a 40-something male, I knew it was anewinferior MI (minimal STE in III with reciprocal STD ...
Source: Dr. Smith's ECG Blog - March 27, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Steve Smith Source Type: blogs
Health Care ’s Pigs and Pokes
By ROBERT MCNUTT, MD & NORTIN HADLER, MD
Take the example of a middle-aged woman undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Month after month she receives a bill for $16,000. This purchases a monthly infusion of one chemotherapeutic agent. Much of the bill is paid by her insurance, but her personal checking account will cough up about $1000 per month until she pays down her deductible.
The invoice, however, is an illusion. The amount is not the actual number of dollars required to pay for services and materials rendered. Most of the money is diverted in accordance with contractual agreements between the hospital and ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - March 18, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
On the Non-Effectiveness of Cost Effectiveness Analyses
By ROBERT MCNUTT, MD & NORTIN HADLER, MD
Take the example of a middle-aged woman undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Month after month she receives a bill for $16,000. This purchases a monthly infusion of one chemotherapeutic agent. Much of the bill is paid by her insurance, but her personal checking account will cough up about $1000 per month until she pays down her deductible.
The invoice, however, is an illusion. The amount is not the actual number of dollars required to pay for services and materials rendered. Most of the money is diverted in accordance with contractual agreements between the hospital and ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - March 18, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
