Take 2 broccoli and call me in the morning
We live in a pill-popping society. The first line treatment for many of the medical problems that walk through our doors is a medication. Have heartburn? Forget about avoiding the foods that cause your symptoms — just take a pill. New diagnosis of diabetes? We give lip service to lifestyle modifications and then start patients on Metformin. Hypertension? Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers — take your pick, and I guess make the obligatory mention of weight loss.
I fully realize that there is a time and a place for medication. There are varied medical problems that can only be treated ...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - April 10, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/the-fit-physician" rel="tag" > The Fit Physician < /a > Tags: Physician Primary Care Source Type: blogs
Tropical Travel Trouble 007 Mega Malaria Extravaganza
LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog - Emergency medicine and critical care medical education blog
aka Tropical Travel Trouble 007
When you think tropical medicine, malaria has to be near the top. It can be fairly complex and fortunately treatment has become a lot simpler. This post is designed to walk you through the basic principals with links to more in depth teaching if your niche is travel medicine, laboratory diagnostics or management of severe or cerebral malaria. If you stubbled on this post while drinking a cup of tea or sitting on the throne and want a few basi...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - April 5, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Neil Long Tags: Clinical Cases Tropical Medicine malaria Plasmodium plasmodium falciparum plasmodium knowles plasmodium malariae plasmodium ovale plasmodium vivax Source Type: blogs
Are you taking too much anti-inflammatory medication?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling
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
Apple cider vinegar … for heartburn?
I’ve always thought it sounded counterintuitive to use an acid to alleviate indigestion, but the number of times I’ve heard people treat their symptoms of heartburn with apple cider vinegar is too large to count. So, I decided to look into whether this strategy works, and to do some investigation about the idea behind its use. To my surprise, there is no research published in medical journals that addresses using raw apple cider vinegar to treat heartburn, despite widespread use and recommendations from blogs and websites.
What is heartburn?
Heartburn is most commonly caused by stomach acid contents traveling up into t...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 28, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Marcelo Campos, MD Tags: Complementary and alternative medicine Digestive Disorders Folk remedies Health Source Type: blogs
Solving the problem of non-emergent care in the emergency department
I recently opined about a decision by Anthem to deny paying for emergency room (ER) care that it deemed to be non-emergent. My point was that insurance companies should not be obligated to pay for routine, non-emergent care, recognizing that we need a fair and reasonable method to define a medical emergency. In my view, payment should not be denied to a patient who reasonably believes he needs ER care, even if the symptoms are (hopefully) found to be innocent after a medical evaluation.
For example, if a patient develops chest pain at 10 p.m., and is worried about an acute cardiac issue, he should call 911. If...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - March 22, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/michael-kirsch" rel="tag" > Michael Kirsch, MD < /a > Tags: Policy Emergency Medicine Source Type: blogs
MedCline Reflux Relief System: A Medgadget Product Review
Conclusion:
Overall, Amenity Health has created a very high quality product in their MedCline Reflux Relief System. It effectively prevents reflux and is, in my opinion, more comfortable than the more traditional wedges on the market. However, higher quality comes with a higher price tag. New users might find it somewhat challenging to adapt to the new sleeping position used with MedCline Reflux Relief System, but once acclimated, those suffering from nocturnal reflux may finally be able to enjoy a peaceful and restful night’s sleep.
The MedCline Reflux Relief System is available on Amazon and through the company’...
Source: Medgadget - March 7, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Kenan Raddawi Tags: Exclusive GI Medicine Source Type: blogs
Stem-cell transplant: A possible high-risk/high-reward treatment for scleroderma
In this study, 36 people with severe scleroderma received stem-cell transplantation and were compared with 39 otherwise similar people who received a year of standard immune-suppressing medication.
After 4.5 years, those assigned to receive stem-cell transplantation had
improved overall survival compared with standard treatment (79% vs. 50%)
less need for immune-suppressing medication (9% vs. 44%)
fewer deaths related to worsening scleroderma (11% vs. 28%)
more deaths related to treatment — (3% vs. 0%).
These findings suggest that stem-cell transplantation may be much better than standard treatment for people with seve...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - February 16, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Autoimmune diseases Health Skin and Hair Care Source Type: blogs
Join the Undoctored Revolution
Let’s take back control over personal health. Share this to expose healthcare for the corrupt enterprise it is.
Imagine that you receive a letter in the mail stating “In order to retain your right to freedom of speech, you will be billed $10,000 per year every year for the rest of your life.”
You would be—-understandably-—outraged. Freedom of speech in America is precious, something Americans have waged wars to defend, something we now view as a basic right, no financial price required to maintain it. It should be free and available to everyone regardless of religion, color, political leanings, or income.
...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - February 9, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Undoctored Wheat Belly Lifestyle diy health Dr. Davis grain-free healthcare Source Type: blogs
There's a lot we don't understand about IVF !
IVF is seen to be a modern medical marvel of scientific technology, and while it has allowed us to delight millions of infertile couples, the truth is also that there's lots about the IVF process which we cannot control, because we don't understand it very well.Patients need to understand the limitations of IVF, so that they have realistic expectations of what we can do for them. Otherwise, every IVF cycle which fails causes needless heartburn,Thus, we still cannot predict- how a patient will respond to superovulation- which egg will fertilise- which embryo will cleave normally , and which will arrest;or- which embry...
Source: Dr.Malpani's Blog - February 5, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: blogs
Insurers, Not Legislators, are the Gatekeepers to Care, and a Call to Deep Six the Term "Worried Well."
Over onPete Earley's blog, there is a post titled:Senators ’ Letter To SAMHSA Is Misguided: Dr. McCance-Katz Is Doing What Congress DemandedPete is on the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee, a group operating under the Department of Health and Human Services. He is an extraordinary writer and a tremendous mental health advocate. His post inspired me to rant at him (Me rant? Shocking, I know...) and Pete and I are both posting my response. I can't begin to capture the essence of his post on the controversy over the NREPP website, nor will you need to understand that to ...
Source: Shrink Rap - February 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Unknown Source Type: blogs
Insurers, Not Legislators, are the Gatekeepers to Care, and a Call to Deep Six the Term " Worried Well. "
Over onPete Earley ' s blog, there is a post titled:Senators ’ Letter To SAMHSA Is Misguided: Dr. McCance-Katz Is Doing What Congress DemandedPete is on the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee, a group operating under the Department of Health and Human Services. He is an extraordinary writer and a tremendous mental health advocate. His post inspired me to rant at him (Me rant? Shocking, I know...) and Pete and I are both posting my response. I can ' t begin to capture the essence of his post on the controversy over the NREPP website, nor will you need to understand that...
Source: Shrink Rap - February 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Unknown Source Type: blogs
Insurers, Not Legislators, are the Gatekeepers to Care, and a Call to Deep Six the Term "Worried Well."
Over onPete Earley's blog, there is a post titled:Senators ’ Letter To SAMHSA Is Misguided: Dr. McCance-Katz Is Doing What Congress DemandedPete is on the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee, a group operating under the Department of Health and Human Services. He is an extraordinary writer and a tremendous mental health advocate. His post inspired me to rant at him (Me rant? Shocking, I know...) and Pete and I are both posting my response. I can't begin to capture the essence of his post on the controversy over the NREPP website, nor will you need to understand that to ...
Source: Shrink Rap - February 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Unknown Source Type: blogs
Your Guide To Better Sleep Habits
You're reading Your Guide To Better Sleep Habits, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you're enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
Nothing can be more frustrating than laying on bed at night and waiting for sleep that won't come. There are many reasons why you're having a hard time dozing off. You may be suffering from insomnia, experiencing immense stress or practicing unhealthy lifestyle habits. It's also possible that you have an underlying medical condition that affects your ability to get good sleep.
According to the sleep experts at National Slee...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - January 5, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: abyleague Tags: featured health and fitness self improvement good habits good sleep health benefits of sleep pickthebrain sleep habit Source Type: blogs
Giving birth is like running a marathon
Giving birth and running a marathon. They are two seemingly different entities but have many similarities. The inevitable pain, the highs, the lows, the feeling that you may falter or can’t survive the pain and, in the midst of it all, that you will never do it again … but then you do.
Marathons take months to train for by growing your strength and endurance as you increase your training miles. Pregnancy takes months to grow and mature your baby so that it can survive outside of you. In marathon training, you need to experiment and finally learn what types of fluids and fuel agree with you as you run. In pregnancy, nau...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - November 16, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/andrea-eisenberg" rel="tag" > Andrea Eisenberg, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Hospital-Based Medicine OB/GYN Source Type: blogs
