The cost of costs
The reason insurers impose deductibles and copays is to discourage utilization. They believe, no doubt correctly, that if people have to spend their own money they may choose not to get as many medical services or buy as many medications. The problem with this reasoning is that people aren ’t wise shoppers for medicine. Now, I’ll be the first to shout it from the rooftops that as a nation, we spend far too much on medical services that are low value or worthless. In fact, I will do so (metaphorically) later in this book. But it’s not because consumers of medicine aren’t wise s hoppers, and making them pay out...
Source: Stayin' Alive - June 17, 2023 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs
Can You Take Painkillers With Hypertension?
Conclusion
The crossroads of hypertension and painkillers is a complex and sensitive one.
While studies have highlighted potential risks, there are ways to navigate this maze safely.
It all comes down to individualized care, frequent communication with healthcare providers, and an active approach to managing your health.
With the right approach, relief from pain can be found—even within the parameters of managing high blood pressure.
Read also: Can Cold Medicine Raise Blood Pressure?
Reference
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), Published by American Heart Association in 2017. https://www....
Source: The EMT Spot - June 15, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
How the Arts transform our Brains, Bodies, and Minds
One of my favorite sayings comes from David Thoreau: “My life has been the poem I would have writ / But I could not both live and utter it.” It speaks to the way that life and art are intertwined, and how we gain so much from living life with a sense of beauty and aesthetics in mind.
There are many ways art infuses my own life—from singing and playing guitar to reading novels and attending plays, which all help to improve my mood and enhance my sense of wonder with the world. Probably, neuroaesthetics many of you feel the same way. Some of you may have felt you’ve even been saved by art.
Now, a new book, Your Brai...
Source: SharpBrains - May 31, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Greater Good Science Center Tags: Brain/ Mental Health Education & Lifelong Learning art neuroaesthetics Your Brain on Art Source Type: blogs
Masked Hypertension: Your Silent Health Threat
Conclusion
Masked hypertension is a silent threat that occurs when normal blood pressure readings at the doctor’s office conceal high readings at home or elsewhere.
Although the precise cause remains uncertain, factors like smoking, excessive alcohol, and work-related stress appear to play a role.
Despite the symptomless nature of this condition, regular monitoring of blood pressure can help detect and manage it effectively, preventing serious complications.
Regular lifestyle modifications and prescribed medications can help keep this masked menace at bay.
References
Cuspidi, C., et al. (2023). Masked hy...
Source: The EMT Spot - May 30, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
Learning ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy)
Around 2001 I read what I believe is the first randomised controlled trial of ACT for people living with chronic pain (McCracken, 1998). I quickly dived into this ‘new’ therapy – it appealed to me because it resonated with my own experiences with psychological therapies for depression, and in the way I had learned to live alongside my own pain. For those who don’t know, I developed chronic pain around the age of 22ish (dates are hard to remember!) and after seeing a pain specialist was given those fateful words ‘I’m sorry, there’s nothing we can do from a medical perspective.’...
Source: HealthSkills Weblog - May 14, 2023 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: BronnieLennoxThompson Tags: 'Pacing' or Quota ACT - Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Chronic pain Motivation Occupational therapy Pain conditions Physiotherapy Professional topics Psychology Research Science in practice acceptance and commitment therapy Therap Source Type: blogs
11 Crucial Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure You Shouldn ’ t Ignore
Conclusion
To summarize, hypertension is frequently unrecognized until it becomes severe, making it one of the major reasons for death worldwide.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of their condition and fail to recognize the symptoms. This lack of awareness can lead to serious health consequences, particularly as hypertension affects approximately 1 in 3 adults worldwide.
Although high blood pressure may not cause noticeable symptoms in many cases, some signs that may indicate a person has this condition include headaches (particularly at the back of the head), dizziness, blurred vision, shortness of breath, ...
Source: The EMT Spot - May 11, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs
A man in his 70s with acute chest pain and paced rhythm.
Sent by Pete McKenna M.D. Edits by Meyers and SmithA man in his 70s with PMH of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, CVA, dual-chamber Medtronic pacemaker, presented to the ED for evaluation of acute chest pain.Triage ECG:What do you think?This is diagnostic of proximal LAD occlusion. This is a huge anterolateral OMI. Deadly. I cannot be anything else.Code STEMI was activated by the ED physician based on the diagnostic ECG for LAD OMI in ventricular paced rhythm. There is concordant ST elevation in I, aVL with reciprocal concordant STD in inferior leads, as well as excessiv...
Source: Dr. Smith's ECG Blog - May 8, 2023 Category: Cardiology Authors: Pendell Source Type: blogs
A better future in migraine management: the essential role of primary care
This article is sponsored by Pfizer. The diagnosis and treatment of migraine, a debilitating neurological disease that affects nearly 40 million people in the U.S. and one billion worldwide, is poised for a transformation, and primary care physicians (PCPs) hold the key. Migraine is the most common diagnosis among patients presenting with headache in the
Read more…
A better future in migraine management: the essential role of primary care originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - April 24, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Bradley Torphy, MD Tags: Sponsored Neurology Source Type: blogs
‘ Women ’ s pain ’ – not just ‘ women ’ s pain ’
Women really do get a rough deal when it comes to pain. We live with the myth that because women experience pain in childbirth and (often) with periods of course women can ‘deal with it.’
Until recently women and female animals haven’t been included in pain research, and guess what? Women and female animals don’t have the same biological system for processing nociception.
Men are told ‘don’t be a girl’ about their pain.
Women are told they ‘look too good’ to be experiencing pain.
Women don’t get taken seriously when they ask for help with their pain &#...
Source: HealthSkills Weblog - April 20, 2023 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: BronnieLennoxThompson Tags: Pain Pain conditions Chronic pain gender gender disparity Health healthcare Research sex women Source Type: blogs
When life happens … .
Most of my writing comes from mulling over recent events as played out either in social media or research findings. Today’s post is a little different. It’s no secret that I live with persistent pain, fibromyalgia to be exact. I’ve found that being open about my diagnosis, and that all the strategies I advise to others are also strategies I employ, and that none of them are ‘the secret.’
I posted recently about a struggle I have dealing with reviewer’s comments on papers I submit for publication. Now peer review is a thing, I think it’s a good thing though somewhat exploitative ...
Source: HealthSkills Weblog - April 16, 2023 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: BronnieLennoxThompson Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Lessons Still Not Learned from the Infant Formula Crisis
Gabriella Beaumont-SmithOn March 28, the House Oversight Committee heldpart one of hearings on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its handling of the infant formula crisis. Former FDA Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas testified that the crisis could have been averted, or at the very least, the magnitude lessened. At Cato, we completelyagree.Unfortunately, Yiannas ’ proposed solution was more of what got us into this mess in the first place: overregulation of the formula industry and overbearing FDA authority. Other policymakers argue for much the same.Yet the infant formula industry ’s weakness is not owed to a...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - April 6, 2023 Category: American Health Authors: Gabriella Beaumont-Smith Source Type: blogs
Two Patients With More Than One Diagnosis
BY HANS DUVEFELT
I have written many times about how I have made a better diagnosis than the doctor who saw my patient in the emergency room. That doesn’t mean I’m smarter or even that I have a better batting average. I don’t know how often it is the other way around, but I do know that sometimes I’m wrong about what causes my patient’s symptoms.
We all work under certain pressures, from overbooked clinic schedules to overfilled emergency room waiting areas, from “poor historians” (patients who can’t describe their symptoms or their timeline very well) to our own mental fatigue after many hours on the...
Source: The Health Care Blog - March 16, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Medical Practice Hans Duvefelt neuralgia sinusitis Source Type: blogs
Brain-eating amoeba
TL:DR – The brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, does not eat brains but it can cause fatal brain swelling. Avoid it by only using sterile water for nasal irrigation and a noseclip when swimming in warm freshwater lakes.
Mrs Sciencebase was a yoga teacher for 20 years or thereabouts and one of the most peculiar aspects of that art was the use of the neti pot. A kind of jug with a long spout that allowed to pour a little water into your nostrils as part of a cleansing ritual. Technically known as nasal irrigation, but put simply it’s nothing more than pouring water into your nose.
It always struck me as a b...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - March 7, 2023 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Health and Medicine Source Type: blogs
Patient-Specific Soft Robotic Heart Replicas for Treatment Planning
Researchers at MIT have developed soft robotic heart replicas that closely match the anatomy of real people. The researchers used medical images of patient hearts to construct computer models that are suitable for 3D printing. Once printed with a soft material, the patient-specific heart models can be actuated using external inflatable sleeves, in the style of blood pressure cuffs, allowing the team to match the blood flow and pressure parameters parameters of the original heart. These models allow clinicians to accurately model cardiac anatomy, physiology, and mechanics for an individual patient, and test the effects of v...
Source: Medgadget - March 1, 2023 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Cardiac Surgery Cardiology aortic stenosis mit Source Type: blogs
Dear Patient, If You Have to Treat a Cold, Know This:
BY HANS DUVEFELT
Americans hate being sick. There are too many cold medicines out there to remember by name. But there are really only a handful of different drug classes to consider.
In order to choose any one of them, be clear about what you want to accomplish. It’s actually very simple.
1) Make my cold go away faster: Zink, echinacea, visualization/manifesting, sauna, prayer (may be mostly placebo effect ).
2) Stop my nose from running (including post nasal drip): You’ll want the crud to leave your body as soon as possible, so turning off the drain pipe that your nose has become can increase the risk of ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - February 9, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ryan Bose-Roy Tags: Medical Practice Cold Hans Duvefelt Medical Education Source Type: blogs
