The Other Opioid Crisis: Hospital Shortages Lead To Patient Pain, Medical Error
I came across this public-accesss story, and wanted to share the perspective:
Pauline Bartolone, Kaiser Health News
Even as opioids flood American communities and fuel widespread addiction, hospitals are facing a dangerous shortage of the powerful painkillers needed by patients in acute pain, according to doctors, pharmacists and a coalition of health groups.
The shortage, though more significant in some places than others, has left many hospitals and surgical centers scrambling to find enough injectable morphine, Dilaudid and fentanyl — drugs given to patients undergoing surgery, fighting cancer or suffering traumatic i...
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - March 26, 2018 Category: Addiction Authors: Jeffrey Junig MD PhD Tags: Acute Pain Anesthesia Public policy surgery Chronic pain opioid addiction Source Type: blogs
Which Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Test to Choose?
Due to the collapse of the price of genetic testing and the FDA’s gradual ease of the regulatory environment, direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing companies are booming. You can inquire your deoxyribonucleic acid about your ancestry, health risks, metabolism, and some start-ups even promise you to find true love or your kids’ talents. As the jungle of DTC companies is getting denser, more and more people ask me which genetic tests are worth the try. They love the possibility of getting access to their DNA but don’t know where to start. Here’s the DTC genetic testing kick-starter package!
Navigating through...
Source: The Medical Futurist - March 20, 2018 Category: Information Technology Authors: nora Tags: Genomics 23andme ancestry DNA DTC future genetic test Genetic testing genetics Genome genome sequencing Health 2.0 Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, February 19th 2018
Fight Aging! provides a weekly digest of news and commentary for thousands of subscribers interested in the latest longevity science: progress towards the medical control of aging in order to prevent age-related frailty, suffering, and disease, as well as improvements in the present understanding of what works and what doesn't work when it comes to extending healthy life. Expect to see summaries of recent advances in medical research, news from the scientific community, advocacy and fundraising initiatives to help speed work on the repair and reversal of aging, links to online resources, and much more.
This content is...
Source: Fight Aging! - February 18, 2018 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
Doctors As Patients
I think doctor ' s make the worst patients. A friend ' s father, she told me, was a doctor but ignored his own cancer symptoms and said he was fine until he wasn ' t. I have never met a doctor who rushed to be a patient....But I think the best training for a doctor is to be a patient - particularly a patient of the disease or ailment they treat. This would provide so much more understanding for them.Here is the story ofa British breast cancer surgeon who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and finally returned to work in 2017. She never expected to face this diagnosis. I don ' t anyone ever does." Doctors face particu...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - February 14, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: being a patient breast cancer treatment doctors surgery Source Type: blogs
We heard you — incontinence affects men too. Here’s what you need to know
As men age, the simple act of urinating can get complicated. Prostate surgery often leaves men vulnerable to leakage when they cough, sneeze, or just rise from a chair. Or the bladder may become impatient, suddenly demanding that you find a bathroom right now. “Thousands of years ago, it was not as much of an issue,” observes Dr. Anurag Das, a urologist at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “There were lots of trees, and you could just find one and go.”
But tricky bladders can be whipped into shape. The first step is a careful assessment of what triggers those difficult moments. Often your doc...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - November 8, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Matthew Solan Tags: Health Healthy Aging Incontinence Men's Health Prostate Health Source Type: blogs
One Last Story on How Life Sucks After Breast Cancer
Okay, maybe I have been in a rut because I have been stuck at home after knee surgery because I can ' t drive. Or maybe because I have a cold that I am obsessing on crappy lives after cancer. Or maybe the internet gods had their stars align and all these stories ended up on my laptop in the same time period. But I hope this will be the last one for a while.Here ' s the story of a young woman who lost both her husband and her sister because of her lengthy cancer treatment." “The reality is that probably four out of seven days I’m in bed,” explains the 39-year-old, who lives with her mother at Bundall.“I’ve had my ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - November 6, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: being a patient breast cancer bonds breast cancer treatment stress Source Type: blogs
Worst Health Care Revolving Door Case So Far, Version 2.0? - From President of Lilly USA to US Secretary of Health and Human Services?
DiscussionLast week we noted that Mr Trump famously promised to " drain the swamp " in Washington. Last week, despite his previous pledges to not appoint lobbyists to powerful positions, he appointed a lobbyist to be acting DHHS Secretary. This week he is apparently strongly considering Mr Alex Azar, a pharmaceutical executive to be permanent DHHS Secretary, even though the FDA, part of DHHS, has direct regulatory authority over the pharmaceutical industry, and many other DHHS policies strongly affect the pharmaceutical industry. (By the way, Mr Azar was also in charge of one lobbying effort.) So sho...
Source: Health Care Renewal - October 19, 2017 Category: Health Management Tags: crime deception DHHS Donald Trump Eli Lilly legal settlements marketing regulatory capture revolving doors Source Type: blogs
The latest scoop on the health benefits of coffee
In conclusion…
It’s unusual that a food on the “cancer risk list” comes off of it — and it’s even more unusual that such foods then become considered a healthy choice. But, as the millions of people drinking coffee every day will tell you, when it comes to coffee, there’s nothing like it.
The post The latest scoop on the health benefits of coffee appeared first on Harvard Health Blog. (Source: Harvard Health Blog)
Source: Harvard Health Blog - September 25, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Health Healthy Eating Source Type: blogs
Gold Nanostars and Immunotherapy Combined for a Cancer Vaccine
Researchers at Duke University have combined an FDA approved immunotherapy and a gold nanostar/laser treatment to completely eradicate tumors and vaccinate against the cancer.
The team’s technique involves injecting gold nanoparticles into the bloodstream. These star-shaped nanoparticles (nanostars) can accumulate in tumors after circulating within the blood. Then the tumor is blasted with a laser, causing the nanoparticles to heat up and burning the tumor.
“The nanostar spikes work like lightning rods, concentrating the electromagnetic energy at their tips,” said Tuan Vo-Dinh, a researcher at Duke University. “We...
Source: Medgadget - August 18, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Nanomedicine News Oncology Source Type: blogs
FDA Issues Two Proposed Studies on Disclosures for Advertising
Last month, the FDA issued two proposed studies on disclosures for advertising: one for general advertising and another for oncology advertising. Both studies have comment periods that end on August 18, 2017.
For both proposals, FDA invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,...
Source: Policy and Medicine - August 8, 2017 Category: American Health Authors: Thomas Sullivan - Policy & Medicine Writing Staff Source Type: blogs
Here ’s something completely different for low back pain
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling
It’s a question that has challenged generations of patients and their doctors. The answer has changed over the years. When I was in medical school in the early 1980s, bedrest for a week or more was often recommended for severe back pain. This sometimes included hospital admission. Then, research demonstrated that prolonged bedrest was actually a bad idea. It was no better (and often worse) than taking it easy for a day or two followed by slowly increasing activity, including stretching and strengthening the back.
Medications, including pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory dru...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - July 6, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Back Pain Complementary and alternative medicine Health Injuries Pain Management Source Type: blogs
Men ’ s Health Month: Getting Back to the Basics
You know the type. The macho guy who’s rough, tough, go-it-alone, leader-of-the-pack, help-not-wanted. Macho man may put off seeing a doctor for a checkup – because he thinks he’s invincible, doesn’t get sick, it’s a waste of time, only for the weak.
Physicians at the University of Maryland Medical Center say some men only give in when they have symptoms, when major treatments are required, or when preventive steps are more demanding. Even so, it’s never too late to start on the road to health.
June, Men’s Health Month, is a great time to focus on preventable health problems and encourage early detection and ...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - June 28, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Tags: Health Tips Heart/Cardiac Care heart health mens health Source Type: blogs
Don ’t Underestimate Patients
By GEORGE BERGER, PHD
I was diagnosed with aggressive but localized prostate cancer at a major Dutch academic hospital. My parameters were PSA 29 or 31, Gleason sum 4 + 4, and stage T2c. Fortunately, there were no detectable distant metastases. The specialist drew a simple image of my urinary tract and told me I was excluded from brachytherapy, which I had never heard of before, because of the size of my prostate. I had to choose between external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and radical prostatectomy (RP). How on Earth could I choose rationally while knowing so little about prostate cancer? However, I had studied maths and phy...
Source: The Health Care Blog - June 17, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Irvine Tags: Uncategorized ADT Dutch Health Care System Gleason Prostate Prostate Cancer Sweden Source Type: blogs
Pioglitazone and bladder cancer
(Source: Notes from Dr. RW)
Source: Notes from Dr. RW - June 7, 2017 Category: Internal Medicine Tags: endocrinology oncology pharmacology urology Source Type: blogs
