Treatment or mutilation?
I have been sitting with the following image from Dr. Sharma's Obesity Notes for a coupe of weeks now. The image is an illustration of a procedure known as sleeve gastrectomy, defined in Wikipedia as "a surgical weight-loss procedure in which the stomach is reduced to about 25% of its original size, by surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach along the greater curvature."
This is not a procedure done on a diseased organ but on a healthy functioning one. When an adult chooses this procedure in order to lose weight, I understand that, though I have grave res...
Source: Jung At Heart - October 8, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Source Type: blogs
Could your sleep be hurting your heart?
For many, snoring is not just an annoying habit that drives your loved ones crazy, it is a symptom of sleep apnea. Other signs of sleep apnea include sleepiness during the day and headaches in the morning.Sleep apnea is a serious breathing issue.This condition has be shown to seriously impact the heart. Studies have shown that sleep apnea is linked to hypertension, abnormal heart rhtyhms, heart attacks, heart failure and death. Continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP) is an effective treatment. CPAP can greatly reduced the frequency and severity of apneic episodes. Two recent studies have shown that using a ...
Source: Dr Portnay - October 8, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Medical Mispronunciations and Misspelled Words: The Definitive List.
Hearing medical mispronunciations and seeing misspelled words are an under appreciated joy of working in healthcare. Physicians often forget just how alien the language of medicine is to people who don't live it everyday. The best part about being a physician is not helping people recover from critical illness. The best part is not about listening and understanding with compassion and empathy. Nope, the best part about being a physician is hearing patients and other healthcare providers butcher the language of medicine and experiencing great entertainment in the process. Doctors c...
Source: The Happy Hospitalist - October 2, 2013 Category: Internists and Doctors of Medicine Authors: Tamer Mahrous Source Type: blogs
Canada’s PHD Medical Migrates Traditionally Hospital-Based Services to The Home
Credit: Tiffany L. Photography
While many of our Medgadget postings are focused on the latest technology or product approvals, we also like to focus on highlighting products/technologies that have significant impact in smaller markets. One such company is PHD Medical, founded in Canada in 2003, whose focus is on building platform-based technological solutions that migrate traditional services that are found in hospital to the home and community. Their core platforms each handle one aspect of the care spectrum; Diagnosis – Expert System (The sleep system also known as NPoses), Care Management – Etrending, and ...
Source: Medgadget - September 27, 2013 Category: Technology Consultants Authors: Janelle Chang Tags: Diagnostics Medgadget Exclusive Pediatrics apnea polysomnography sleep apnea Source Type: blogs
Pain, Insomnia, and Diabetes
By David Spero
Studies show that sleep problems contribute to Type 2 diabetes. But diabetes seems to increase pain sensitivity, and pain makes it harder to sleep. What a vicious cycle! What is the pain/sleep/diabetes connection, and what can we do about it?
I've written several times about diabetes and sleep, and also diabetes and pain. But this week I read an article that links all three problems. In the drug information journal MPR (Monthly Prescribing Reference), Debra Hughes, MS, discusses these issues with Victor Rosenfeld, MD, Medical Director of the Sleep Center at the SouthCoast Medical Group, Savannah, Georgia.
...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - September 11, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: David Spero Source Type: blogs
What Is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial Fibrillation is the most common abnormal heart rhythm.
More than 5.1 million Americans are living with Atrial Fibrillation (Afib). As the Baby Boomers age, these numbers will increase and are expected to reach nearly 16 million by 2050. September is Afib awareness month, take a few moments to learn about the symptoms and risk factors and be kind to your heart.
Symptoms of Afib vary from patient to patient. Some people feel as if the heart will jump out of the chest, others have no symptoms at all. Patients describe symptoms feeling like:
The heart skipping beats.
Racing or thudding of the heart.
Erratic heart bea...
Source: Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative - September 11, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Eliz Greene Tags: Award Winning Blog Heart Health Answers.com arrythmia Atrial Fibrillation busy woman's guide to a healthy heart Mellanie True Hills StopAfib.org Source Type: blogs
Nuvigil: Not Better Than Placebo for Depression Symptoms in Bipolar
Millions of people around the world rely on antidepressants in the treatment of clinical depression and, to a lesser extent, bipolar disorder. Over a dozen such medications exist, and many are also available in generic form.
But for reasons that scientists can’t yet adequately explain, some people don’t respond to many antidepressant drugs. And the drugs they do respond to may carry unwanted side effects that make taking the drug for any length of time downright challenging.
So drug companies are constantly looking for new drugs, new uses for old drugs, and new formulations of old drugs to help improve their b...
Source: World of Psychology - August 31, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. Tags: Antidepressant Bipolar Depression Disorders General Medications Research Sleep Stimulants Antidepressant Drugs armodafinil Batting Average Clinical Depression Depression Symptoms Depressive Symptoms Endpoints Excessive Slee Source Type: blogs
Heart disease 101: AF and Coronary Artery Disease — related, incidental or both?
There were many good questions raised on my last post. Thanks. One particularly relevant theme concerned the relationship of atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary artery disease (CAD). There’s a great deal of misunderstanding out there on how these two common disease relate to each other. I thought a few paragraphs might be useful.
On the matter of ‘arrhythmia’ and coronary artery disease:
I stated in the George Bush piece that a good reason to open a partially occluded artery with a stent was to treat an arrhythmia. I should have said ventricular arrhythmia or ventricular tachycardia (VT). I told you a ...
Source: Dr John M - August 15, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr John Source Type: blogs
Canadian Start-Up Taking Aim at Sleep Apnea Diagnosis (VIDEO)
When you imagine a hotbed for life science technology, Ontario, Canada isn’t at the top of most people’s list, but with 25 research and academic hospitals employing 10,000 researchers, Ontario is one of the largest biomedical research centers in North America. ApneaDx Inc. is one of those promising companies aiming to make a mark in 2013. The company raised $500,000 in 2012 and has secured $200,000 of additional seed funding from MaRS Innovation for 2013.
As patients suffering from sleep apnea (and their spouses) know, a clinical-quality sleep apnea monitoring system that is also user-friendly and reliable, remains an ...
Source: Medgadget - August 14, 2013 Category: Technology Consultants Authors: Janelle Chang Tags: Diagnostics Medicine canada innovation sleep apnea Source Type: blogs
How I Found Out I Had Sleep Apnea
Tips on how to recognize symptoms of Sleep Apnea. Also, some questions and observation done by my doctor that lead to the sleep apnea diagnosis.Contributor: Sheila C. VallePublished: Aug 13, 2013 (Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content)
Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content - August 13, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Source Type: blogs
A Surprising Cure for My Sleep Disorder
After years of experiencing insomnia - and a scare that it might be sleep apnea - I found a simple solution, without a CPAP or a sleep study in sight.Contributor: Tuesday ThomsonPublished: Aug 13, 2013 (Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content)
Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content - August 13, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Source Type: blogs
Searching for the Sandman's Lullaby
Sleep Apnea is a debilitation condition that will have you begging the Sandman for a restful night's sleep, but with medical intervention you and the Sandman will be good friends again!Contributor: janice schmittouPublished: Aug 13, 2013 (Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content)
Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content - August 13, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Source Type: blogs
Four Sleep Apnea Problems I Want Solved
Diagnosed with sleep apnea more than a decade ago, I've dealt with CPAP machines and masks trying to get a good night's sleep. Is it possible that the treatment is causing more problems than it cures?Contributor: Charlie ClaywellPublished: Aug 13, 2013 (Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content)
Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content - August 13, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Source Type: blogs
Lack of Sleep and Alzheimer's
I am acquainted with many people who have trouble sleeping because of physical pain, mental and emotional stress, sleep apnea
and other issues. Many of these health problems can be improved with
proper medical care. However, among many of my friends and most of my
readers, one of the most significant issues interfering with quality
sleep is that they are family caregivers. (Source: Minding Our Elders)
Source: Minding Our Elders - August 10, 2013 Category: Caregivers Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Anesthesiology and obstructive sleep apnea: A patient safety challenge
A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been diagnosed in more than 18 million American adults, but there are likely millions of others who suffer with OSA, but are undiagnosed. While OSA is frustrating to the patient and the patient’s family, it is crucial to remember OSA is a significant disease that can affect the patient’s safety during and after medical and surgical procedures. The involvement of a physician anesthesiologist is critical to a successful outcome before, during and after a procedure. While the care of these patients ma...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - August 1, 2013 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Conditions Pulmonology Surgery Source Type: blogs
