Medical Costs
People have complained that I haven ' t said why Medicine is costing so much in the U S of A. Give me a break -- I can ' t talk about everything at once. I ' ve been intending to get to this all along. This is just the first installment, it ' s a long story.So, thanks to all the mind boggling complexities of employer-provided insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and a few other programs, something like 90% of Americans have some form of health insurance. Great news! That means we can all afford the medical services we need and nobody has to go broke because they get sick or are injured in a car crash or ...
Source: Stayin' Alive - March 28, 2024 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs

Medical care, medical costs
 Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, something like 90% of Americans have some form of health insurance. Great news! That means we can all afford the medical services we need and nobody has to go broke because they get sick or are injured in a car crash or by somebody exercising their Second Amendment rights! Err, no. Sadly it does not mean that. In the first place, for the 50% of people who get their insurance through employment, it ’s costing them more and more for the premiums – by three times the rate of inflation, since 1999.    With that, plus deductibles, copays, and payment denials by in...
Source: Stayin' Alive - February 2, 2024 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs

Best Blood Pressure Monitors During Pregnancy
Conclusion Pregnancy is a period in a woman’s life where health monitoring becomes crucial, and one key aspect that requires regular monitoring is blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to severe complications, such as preeclampsia, which poses risks to both the mother and the unborn child. This guide provides comprehensive information on selecting the best blood pressure monitor during pregnancy, considering the vast array of options available in the marketplace. It highlights the essential features to consider, such as accuracy, ease of use, and additional features like irregu...
Source: The EMT Spot - August 28, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Monitors Source Type: blogs

A massive national failure
Over the decades, the U.S. has built a Rube Goldberg contraption out of employer provided health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and some smaller bits and piece that has resulted in, officially, about 90% of Americans having insurance.Great news! That means we can all afford the medical services we need and nobody has to go broke because they get sick or are injured in a car crash or shot by somebody exercising their Second Amendment rights! Err, no. Sadly it does not mean that. As a matter of fact, four out of ten insured adults surveyed in 2023 said they had skipped or delayed some type of care in...
Source: Stayin' Alive - June 16, 2023 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs

Can You Get Pregnant With Hypertension?
Despite hypertension posing challenges to fertility, remember, it doesn’t rule out pregnancy! Let’s shed light on the complexities, risks, and importantly, the strategies to manage hypertension during your journey to motherhood. Quick Summary Women with hypertension can indeed get pregnant, but they may face challenges and potentially take longer to conceive due to the condition’s impact on the body’s reproductive system. Hypertension can lead to complications during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, and premature birth. Therefore, managing hypertension throughout pregnancy i...
Source: The EMT Spot - June 10, 2023 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Michael Rotman, MD, FRCPC, PhD Tags: Blood Pressure Source Type: blogs

Premature babies grow up. It ’s time to pay attention. [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! “Premature babies (a.k.a. preemies) and their families are increasingly becoming a powerful voice in society. Life in and after the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is like being dropped off a cliff. I support the preemie community from pregnancy to NICU to home and Read more… Premature babies grow up. It’s time to pay attention. [PODCAST] originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - October 3, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Podcast Pediatrics Source Type: blogs

Smart Pacifier Monitors Electrolyte Levels
At Washington State University a team developed a smart pacifier that can provide continuous monitoring of electrolyte levels in saliva. The measurements could help to avoid twice daily blood draws for premature infants. Blood draws are currently routine practice to monitor for signs of dehydration, which can be dangerous for infants born prematurely. The new pacifier uses microfluidic channels to draw saliva inside, and then sensors within the device measure sodium and potassium ion concentrations and transmit the data wirelessly to a caregiver through Bluetooth. Premature infants are incredibly delicate and require a ...
Source: Medgadget - May 26, 2022 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Pediatrics WSU Source Type: blogs

Premature babies grow up. It ’s time to pay attention.
Premature babies (a.k.a. preemies) and their families are increasingly becoming a powerful voice in society. Life in and after the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is like being dropped off a cliff. I support the preemie community from pregnancy to NICU to home and into the adult years because I had a preemie. My daughter’sRead more …Premature babies grow up. It’s time to pay attention. originally appeared inKevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 24, 2022 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/post-author/deb-discenza" rel="tag" data-wpel-link="internal" > Deb Discenza < /a > < /span > Tags: Conditions Pediatrics Source Type: blogs

Extracellular Vesicles to Protect Lungs and Brain in Premature Birth
Researchers at the Ottawa Hospital in Canada have been investigating the potential of extracellular vesicles that are derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to protect the lungs and brain in very premature babies. Such babies require supplemental oxygen, but this can damage their lungs, causing a condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). In the meantime their brains are also at risk because of low oxygen. These researchers have been investigating the potential of MSCs to help protect and regenerate such tissues, and a recent study in mice suggests that extracellular vesicles from such cells c...
Source: Medgadget - April 5, 2022 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Conn Hastings Tags: Ob/Gyn Pediatrics ottawahospital Source Type: blogs

What's new in midwifery - 7th December 2021
Some recent things you may want to know about.  See also Twitter (#whatsnewinmidwifery).  Librarian intervention (if you have one) may be needed for access to some items in full.COVID vaccines and pregnancyUKHSA analysis of data about births finds vaccinated women no more likely to have a stillbirth or premature birth.  Reported in the Guardian/.   I think the data is probably the data reported inthis news item from the UKHSA.FullFact have investigated misleading claims made by some about miscarriage in vaccinated women.Asystematic review of safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness o...
Source: Browsing - December 7, 2021 Category: Databases & Libraries Tags: COVID-19 midwifery Source Type: blogs

Pregnancy in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy : LSCS or vaginal delivery ?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a specific genetic disorder of myocyte (myosin and others) within the sarcomere. Though uncommon in pregnancy it raises considerable anxiety to the patient, family, and the obstetrician.  Hemodynamics Though we tend to worry more about dynamic LVOT obstruction, it is actually the restrictive physiology of LV myocardium that might cause more concern. Three key variables operate in this entity namely preload, afterload, and contractility that determine the cardiac hemodynamics and possibly the symptoms. We know the classical consequence of pregnancy is a fall in systemic vascular resistance(...
Source: Dr.S.Venkatesan MD - August 27, 2021 Category: Cardiology Authors: dr s venkatesan Tags: Pregnancy and heart pregnancy and heart disease Uncategorized esc ropac zahara pregnancy heart disease complicating pregnancy indication for lscs in hcm hocm lscs or normal delivery in hocm hcm pregnancy in hocm pregnancy in hypertrophic c Source Type: blogs

Wondering about COVID-19 vaccines if you ’re pregnant or breastfeeding?
Now that COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out, pregnant and breastfeeding people have many questions around risks and benefits. At first, many of those receiving vaccines in US will be healthcare workers, although the circles for vaccine eligibility are widening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine agree that the new mRNA COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to pregnant and breastfeeding individuals who are eligible for vaccination. Here are answers to some basic questions you may have about getting a COVID-1...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 7, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ilona T. Goldfarb, MD, MPH Tags: Coronavirus and COVID-19 Health Parenting Pregnancy Prevention Vaccines Source Type: blogs

Congenital heart disease overview
Congenital heart disease can be broadly classified into cyanotic and acyanotic. Acyanotic congenital heart disease can be further subdivided into left to right shunts, obstructive lesions and a miscellaneous group. Cyanotic congenital heart disease can be classified into those with decreased pulmonary blood flow and those with reduced pulmonary blood flow. Left to right shunts include atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus and aortopulmonary window. One person can have more than one of these shunts. Large left right shunts can induce the development of pulmonary hypertension and lead to ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - October 10, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis Tags: HBC Source Type: blogs

LIONESS Device to Help Prevent Preterm Birth
Premature birth remains a huge clinical challenge, often resulting in lifelong consequences for both children and mothers. Even in developed nations, preterm birth is the most common cause of mortality for children under five years of age. In many cases, spontaneous onset of labor occurs and it is challenging to prevent this using current methods such as medications, surgery, or hormones. A company called PregnanTech out of Misgav, Israel has now designed an implantable device that reduces the load on the cervix, keeps the cervix elongated despite contractions, and thereby delays the biomechanical cascade and preven...
Source: Medgadget - August 6, 2020 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Medgadget Editors Tags: Ob/Gyn Source Type: blogs

Too Many Small Steps, Not Enough Leaps
By KIM BELLARD I was driving home the other day, noticed all the above-ground telephone/power lines, and thought to myself: this is not the 21st century I thought I’d be living in.   When I was growing up, the 21st century was the distant future, the stuff of science fiction.  We’d have flying cars, personal robots, interstellar travel, artificial food, and, of course, tricorders.  There’d be computers, although not PCs.  Still, we’d have been baffled by smartphones, GPS, or the Internet.  We’d have been even more flummoxed by women in the workforce or #Blac...
Source: The Health Care Blog - July 28, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Christina Liu Tags: COVID-19 Health Tech Public Health Health Age Kim Bellard Source Type: blogs