Why you should think twice about prescribing antibiotics
A meme forwarded to me last year showed a chimp with the caption: “Monkey trained to dispense Z-Paks at urgent care.”
As one of the medical directors for a multi-office urgent care practice, one of the tasks is performing a chart review. One of the patterns we see too often is ubiquitous Z-Pak prescriptions for purported cough, sore throat, sinusitis and even an allergic rhinitis this last batch. Z-Paks are one of my pet peeves and, other than trying to put my five-year-old daughter to bed at night, are the only things that will give me palpitations and make my right eye twitch only the way a Red Bull-laced study marat...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - June 3, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/rich-rodriguez" rel="tag" > Rich Rodriguez, MD < /a > Tags: Meds Emergency Medicine Infectious Disease Source Type: blogs
Psychology Around the Net: April 28, 2018
Even if you’re not a cat person, it might benefit your mental health to adopt a feline mentality!
Along with the benefits of thinking like a cat, this week’s Psychology Around the Net takes a look at new studies regarding dark chocolate and mental health, the link between allergic conditions and mental illness, a mindfulness exercises for attitude reflection, and more.
How to Think Like a Cat, With Humorist Stéphane Garnier: The latest from The Upgrade (Lifehacker’s podcast) features Stephane Garnier, author of How to Think Like a Cat, and discusses why adopting a feline mentality can help us build self...
Source: World of Psychology - April 28, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Alicia Sparks Tags: Books Health-related Industrial and Workplace Money and Financial Personality Psychology Around the Net Research Stress Allergies Attitude Career credit scores Dark Chocolate Finances How to Think Like a Cat Immunity Inflam Source Type: blogs
Giving antacids and antibiotics to babies can lead to allergies
Follow me on Twitter @drClaire
Allergies are on the rise, especially food allergies. While nobody knows for sure why this is happening, a leading theory is that we may be doing things that mess up our natural microbiome.
Our microbiome is the trillions of organisms that live on and in our bodies, such as bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses. We generally think of these organisms as “germs” that can cause illness — and while they can, in some situations it turns out that the right organisms in the right balance actually help keep us healthy. Our microbiome affects how we digest foods, stay at a healthy weight, fight ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 10, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Allergies Children's Health Parenting Source Type: blogs
S.T.Stent Keeps Sinus Cavity Supported Post Surgery for Nearly a Month
STS Medical, a company based in Israel, won FDA clearance for its sole product, the S.T.Stent sinus stent. The composite device is indicated for treatment of chronic sinusitis, as part of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), to help keep the sinus cavity open post surgery. It can also be used to address nose job failures, chronic allergic rhinitis, as an option over sinuplasty.
The device is flexible and conforms to the sinus cavity of the patient it’s placed in, relying on a balloon delivery system for expansion. Once positioned, it’s designed to anchor in place and not move around. It is then left w...
Source: Medgadget - January 9, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: ENT Source Type: blogs
Searching online from a patient perspective can make you a better doctor
As a pediatric allergist, I treat several conditions that commonly affect children, including asthma, food allergies, eczema and allergic rhinitis. Almost everyone knows someone affected by some form of allergic condition, which makes for frequent questions from families, referring providers, and the public at large.
Early in my career, I noticed that many patients (and even colleagues in other specialties) were asking me questions that were either outdated or born entirely out of myth. Do kids with egg allergy need to avoid the MMR or influenza vaccine? If someone has a shellfish allergy, are they going to have an allergi...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - June 23, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/david-r-stukus" rel="tag" > David R. Stukus, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Patients Source Type: blogs
6 tricks that pharmaceutical marketers use
Long before the Internet and direct-to-consumer advertising, the medical profession tried to reassure people about their health concerns. Remember “take two aspirins and call me in the morning?”
Flash forward to today’s online “symptom checkers.” They are quizzes to see if someone has a certain disease and exhortations to see their doctor even if they feel fine. Once drug makers discovered that health fears and even hypochondria sell drugs, there seems to be no end to the new diseases, symptoms and risks people need to worry about.
In fact, since drug ads began on TV, Americans take so many drugs it inspires ...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 30, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/martha-rosenberg" rel="tag" > Martha Rosenberg < /a > Tags: Meds Medications Source Type: blogs
Keep your seasonal allergies in check
Seasonal allergies can be frustrating. When spring crawls in, many people begin to experience all-too-familiar itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, and congestion. Symptoms of seasonal allergies are the result of an immune system in overdrive in response to pollen and other allergens. Those bothersome symptoms are intended to protect you from unwanted foreign particles, but in this situation they end up causing misery. There are quite a few options when it comes to controlling allergy symptoms, but we want to watch out for a few that can be quite dangerous when used incorrectly.
Nasal steroids
The first-line treatment for se...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - May 1, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Dominic Wu, MD Tags: Asthma and Allergies Ear, nose, and throat Health Source Type: blogs
NasoNeb II Nasal Nebulizer Gets Green Light in Europe
MedInvent, a company based in Medina, Ohio, received European CE Mark approval for its NasoNeb II Nasal Nebulizer. The device is intended for patients with chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis, delivering drugs (typically budesonide) into the nasal and paranasal sinus cavities.
The company says the product provides superior spread of the drug through the target sinuses and promises “no pulmonary deposition.”
It can be used by patients at home, each session lasting only a couple minutes. Components are made to be easily washed and reused.
Here’s a company promo video introducing the NasoNeb system:
...
Source: Medgadget - March 14, 2017 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Editors Tags: ENT Medicine Pediatrics Source Type: blogs
Overselling the Microbiome Award for @nytimes on thumb sucking, nail biting protecting from allergy
I am continually torn about handing out "overselling the microbiome" awards to many "stories" that are coming out recently on new scientific studies. On the one hand, many of these studies are quite interesting. On the other hand, a huge number of them oversell the implications of the work. And for some reason it seems to me that studies that could indicate a positive role for microbes in some way seem to end up with more misrepresentation than other types of work. Mind you, I truly believe the cloud of microbes living in and on various plants and animals are likely to play fundamental roles in all ...
Source: The Tree of Life - July 13, 2016 Category: Microbiology Authors: Jonathan Eisen Source Type: blogs
‘Man Flu’ Plus MS Have Me at Death’s Door
My current bout with a recurring sinus infection is making me feel like a knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing troglodyte.
It’s a simple and relatively insignificant infection; a “healthy” person would just pack a few extra tissues and get on with his day. I, on the other hand, feel like I’m a walking (well, stumbling), talking poster child for Man Flu.
Men Really Get Sicker. Really!
For those who haven’t heard of Man Flu, it’s a term for the severity with which my gender suffers from the most insignificant of bugs. A bit of a virus and we men are down and out, looking to be taken care of 24/7, moaning and groani...
Source: Life with MS - June 10, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Trevis Gleason Tags: MS multiple sclerosis Living with MS MS symptoms trevis gleason Source Type: blogs
How Does Vaccinated Children ’s Health Compare to Unvaccinated Children?
Conclusion
While government groups maintain that no studies have been done to compare the health of vaccinated to unvaccinated, the reality is that several comparative studies have been completed by independent researchers in the US and in other countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refuses to conduct such studies, claiming they would be unethical to perform. In reality, these studies could easily be performed, since many educated parents choose to not vaccinate their children.
The evidence is overwhelming. Studies completed in New Zealand, Germany, Africa, Great Britain and the United States have come ...
Source: vactruth.com - June 3, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Michelle Goldstein Tags: Logical Michelle Goldstein Top Picks Top Stories truth about vaccines vaccinated vs. unvaccinated Source Type: blogs
How Does Vaccinated Children’s Health Compare to Unvaccinated Children?
Conclusion
While government groups maintain that no studies have been done to compare the health of vaccinated to unvaccinated, the reality is that several comparative studies have been completed by independent researchers in the US and in other countries.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refuses to conduct such studies, claiming they would be unethical to perform. In reality, these studies could easily be performed, since many educated parents choose to not vaccinate their children.
The evidence is overwhelming. Studies completed in New Zealand, Germany, Africa, Great Britain and the United States have come ...
Source: vactruth.com - June 3, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Michelle Goldstein Tags: Logical Michelle Goldstein Top Picks Top Stories truth about vaccines vaccinated vs. unvaccinated Source Type: blogs
Why Patient Voices Are Important
Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out the collection of articles in the March issue and our new blog content for more on the patient voice in medicine.
I used to live on a short dirt road where everyone knew everyone else. We recognized each others’ children and would often share childcare responsibilities. A part of our extended neighborhood family for me included occasional medical consultations. I would hear about a neighbor’s call to his doctor to be seen for a cough and fever and the appointment that could not be scheduled for a week. I would bring my stethoscope over to the neighbor’s house to see if he really ...
Source: Academic Medicine Blog - March 22, 2016 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: David P. Sklar, M.D. Tags: Featured From the Editor listening to patients patient centered care patient voice physician-patient relationship Source Type: blogs
An Expert’s Guide to Sneezin’ Season
From HealthDay posted on MedlinePlus, http://1.usa.gov/1R6budt
Dr. Jordan Josephson, a sinus specialist, said that some parts of the country may experience a “pollen superburst” this spring. Dr. Punita Ponda, an allergist-immunologist, recommended that people who know they have allergies start taking allergy medication one to two weeks before the start of the season.
Dr. Josephson also recommended additional ways to keep symptoms under control by taking precautions while indoors or after spending time outdoors.
If you need additional allergy resources, try one of these NIH sites:
Seasonal Allergies (Aller...
Source: BHIC - March 17, 2016 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Annette Parde-Maass Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Legally High
A 24-year-old is brought to the emergency department by EMS after being found altered outside a fast food restaurant talking to inanimate objects. Initial vital signs on arrival include a blood pressure of 145/92 mm Hg, heart rate of 126 bpm, respiratory rate of 22 bpm, temperature of 98.4°F, and pulse oximetry of 100% on room air.
The patient is awake, alert, but oriented x 0. He is tachycardic, dry, flushed, and his mydriatic pupils measure 5 mm in diameter. The patient repeatedly was asking to go to the bathroom, and after multiple attempts, ultrasound was used to scan his bladder. It was determined that he had 50...
Source: The Tox Cave - December 1, 2015 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
