When you step into a hospital, you expect to get better. That doesn’t always happen.
So, here are some ways you can protect yourself or your loved one.
HealthGrades, an independent healthcare ratings organization, just released the 7th annual “Patients Safety in American Hospitals” study. It used this study to look at patient safety in the 5,000 nonfederal hospitals across the country between 2006 and 2009. Researchers found, in addition to the number of daily medical mistakes, around 40,000, that 99,000 patients died after suffering from one or more of these medical mistakes over this time period.
What's not clear is how often the hospital is to blame. The confusion comes about because oftentimes the patients involved are the sickest patients hospitals end up taking care of. The American Hospital Association doesn't agree with all the findings but does say: "we are continually mindful of the need to get better at safer care. This is a critically important issue."
So what does this mean for you? Basically, the same things it’s meant for years. You need to maintain control over your health. Whether you go to visit your doctor or get admitted to the hospital, be sure to keep a close eye on what is done and what is recommended. Since this can be a stressful time, it might be hard to remember everything that’s said. Bringing a loved one or friend along can help keep things straight. Also, when you’re given a prescription or advised to get a certain procedure, make sure you ask both the reason and what alternatives are available. The important thing to remember out of all of this is that your health is like a team sport. And on this team you’re the captain who needs to make sure it all goes well.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Addicted To Junk Food
Junk food and cocaine might not seem connected but they do have one thing in common.
They can both be equally addictive, and affect the same part of our brains, which is one reason we might eat more of these foods than we want.
Everyone loves some type of junk food or another. And like I frequently say, "everything in moderation", so eating them once in a while isn't that big of a deal. But we've all eaten way more than we've wanted from time to time and for some, it's almost impossible to stop the junk food binge.
For years scientists have known these so called "reward foods" can be addictive but have now figured out why. It turns out they affect the brain much like cocaine or cigarettes, two very hard things to quit.
After feeding mice high sugar junk food, and finding out they will continue to eat even if they got electric shocks to try and stop them, researchers looked at their brains. They found a reduction in certain receptors inside their brains that help tell us enough is enough. This same thing happens with other addictions.
When the brain changes this way, it's very hard to change back, but according to the researchers, it can be done. They recommend what's probably obvious but not always easy to do---diet for a long period of time and avoid the junk food. Not starting in the first place is probably easier --- so getting back to my favorite phrase---"everything in moderation"---is your best bet when it comes to the sweet and fatty foods you might sometimes crave.
They can both be equally addictive, and affect the same part of our brains, which is one reason we might eat more of these foods than we want.
Everyone loves some type of junk food or another. And like I frequently say, "everything in moderation", so eating them once in a while isn't that big of a deal. But we've all eaten way more than we've wanted from time to time and for some, it's almost impossible to stop the junk food binge.
For years scientists have known these so called "reward foods" can be addictive but have now figured out why. It turns out they affect the brain much like cocaine or cigarettes, two very hard things to quit.
After feeding mice high sugar junk food, and finding out they will continue to eat even if they got electric shocks to try and stop them, researchers looked at their brains. They found a reduction in certain receptors inside their brains that help tell us enough is enough. This same thing happens with other addictions.
When the brain changes this way, it's very hard to change back, but according to the researchers, it can be done. They recommend what's probably obvious but not always easy to do---diet for a long period of time and avoid the junk food. Not starting in the first place is probably easier --- so getting back to my favorite phrase---"everything in moderation"---is your best bet when it comes to the sweet and fatty foods you might sometimes crave.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Social Networking & Medical Advice
Social networking is everywhere these days, but is it a good source of medical information?
Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace are everywhere these days. These sites allow us to keep in touch with the world all day long. For the most part that can be fun and informative. However, when it comes to your own health, you might want to take a step back. Relying on information you get from a social network site might not be the best step.
As a matter of fact, a new study in the American Journal of Infection Control shows that over a 4-month period in 2009, hundreds of Twitter users posted casual misinformation about antibiotics -- which, in turn, reached more than a million people who followed them.
The problem is when experts looked at this information, they found some of the advice was wrong and could potentially lead to more health problems.
Not all the advice is wrong, but since it's hard to tell the good from the bad, experts have tips on what to do with the information you get from any web site.
1. (& most important) Verify the site with a reputable Website and talk to your doctor. You wouldn't take a pill someone off the street offered you, yet that's essentially what's happening with a tweet.
2. Know the source. If they are trying to sell something, be extra cautious.
Again, not all the information is wrong, but you need to do a little homework to figure out which ones are OK.
Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace are everywhere these days. These sites allow us to keep in touch with the world all day long. For the most part that can be fun and informative. However, when it comes to your own health, you might want to take a step back. Relying on information you get from a social network site might not be the best step.
As a matter of fact, a new study in the American Journal of Infection Control shows that over a 4-month period in 2009, hundreds of Twitter users posted casual misinformation about antibiotics -- which, in turn, reached more than a million people who followed them.
The problem is when experts looked at this information, they found some of the advice was wrong and could potentially lead to more health problems.
Not all the advice is wrong, but since it's hard to tell the good from the bad, experts have tips on what to do with the information you get from any web site.
1. (& most important) Verify the site with a reputable Website and talk to your doctor. You wouldn't take a pill someone off the street offered you, yet that's essentially what's happening with a tweet.
2. Know the source. If they are trying to sell something, be extra cautious.
Again, not all the information is wrong, but you need to do a little homework to figure out which ones are OK.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Older Women & Exercise
There is new information out about how much women need to exercise as they get older in order to fight the flab... and it's probably more than you think.
This new study shows, that for women, as they get up into their late 40s and early 50s, one-hour per day is what's needed to keep the weight off.
In the past, we've talked about a whole bunch of studies showing exercising 30-minutes a day, five or more times a week, can help keep you fit. However, no one really took into consideration what happens as we get older.
Although our metabolism slows down, the truth of the matter is we also get more sedentary, yet keep eating the same as we age, and that helps add those creeping pounds you notice every year.
The researchers of this new study looked at over 34,000 women whose average age was 54, and followed them for 13 years. Those that gained little or no weight in those 13 years also ended up being the ones who consistently exercised one-hour per day.
These researchers acknowledge that not everyone can do that and say that less exercise will help keep you healthy, although it may not help you shed the unwanted weight.
This new study shows, that for women, as they get up into their late 40s and early 50s, one-hour per day is what's needed to keep the weight off.
In the past, we've talked about a whole bunch of studies showing exercising 30-minutes a day, five or more times a week, can help keep you fit. However, no one really took into consideration what happens as we get older.
Although our metabolism slows down, the truth of the matter is we also get more sedentary, yet keep eating the same as we age, and that helps add those creeping pounds you notice every year.
The researchers of this new study looked at over 34,000 women whose average age was 54, and followed them for 13 years. Those that gained little or no weight in those 13 years also ended up being the ones who consistently exercised one-hour per day.
These researchers acknowledge that not everyone can do that and say that less exercise will help keep you healthy, although it may not help you shed the unwanted weight.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tips To Fight Spring Allergies
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, Spring in Colorado can be rough. So, here are some tips that could help keep the sneezing and itching to a minimum.
It’s definitely that time of the year. Although the temperature is all over the place right now, pollen is starting to float around. That means it’s probably starting to be a bad time for your allergies.
But itchy eyes, runny nose and constant sneezing can be helped out by making your house an allergy friendly one.
One recommendation for allergy suffers is to stay indoors during the morning, especially before 10 am. And to head inside if the pollen count is going to be high on a particular day. But the problem is, our indoor environment might not be too allergy friendly either.
But by taking a few simple steps, you can fix that, and make your home---your allergy sanctuary.
By some estimates, a house can have 2 to 5 times the pollution as the outside air. And some of the problems can be found right in your bedroom. Dust mites, those microscopic, alien looking bugs that wreck havoc on your allergies, love soft furnishings---like you bedding material. You can help by covering your mattresses and box springs with a zippered mite-proof case. Do the same for pillows, even those that are hypo-allergenic, or at least wash them in hot water once a week. Before you go to bed, wash your hair, otherwise all the day’s pollen that got in it will be spread to your pillow.
And never allow pets in your bedroom, or for that matter stuffed animals---unless they are the kind that can be washed.
These steps should help keep your house your allergy free zone.
It’s definitely that time of the year. Although the temperature is all over the place right now, pollen is starting to float around. That means it’s probably starting to be a bad time for your allergies.
But itchy eyes, runny nose and constant sneezing can be helped out by making your house an allergy friendly one.
One recommendation for allergy suffers is to stay indoors during the morning, especially before 10 am. And to head inside if the pollen count is going to be high on a particular day. But the problem is, our indoor environment might not be too allergy friendly either.
But by taking a few simple steps, you can fix that, and make your home---your allergy sanctuary.
By some estimates, a house can have 2 to 5 times the pollution as the outside air. And some of the problems can be found right in your bedroom. Dust mites, those microscopic, alien looking bugs that wreck havoc on your allergies, love soft furnishings---like you bedding material. You can help by covering your mattresses and box springs with a zippered mite-proof case. Do the same for pillows, even those that are hypo-allergenic, or at least wash them in hot water once a week. Before you go to bed, wash your hair, otherwise all the day’s pollen that got in it will be spread to your pillow.
And never allow pets in your bedroom, or for that matter stuffed animals---unless they are the kind that can be washed.
These steps should help keep your house your allergy free zone.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Pine Mouth Syndrome
If you get a funny taste in your mouth after eating a salad, it could be the pine nuts.
Americans are using more pine nuts than ever before. Whether cooking, using them as part of a salad or to make a pesto sauce, pine nuts have become more popular. But with this popularity more people are also noticing what doctors call the “pine mouth syndrome”.
Although it's still considered a rare syndrome, last year 51 people reported to the FDA complaints of “taste disturbances” related to pine nuts. Basically, something in these nuts causes a metallic taste in the mouth that can last up to two weeks. Usually the taste change comes about a day or two after eating the nuts or something made with them.
Doctors haven't studied this affect yet. But according to a report just published in the journal of Medical Toxicology by Dr Marc-David Munk, from the University of New Mexico Department of Emergency Medicine, more examples of it are cropping up every year. And although the exact cause isn't known, Dr Munk thinks something in the pine nut affects the signal between taste buds and the brain.
This condition isn't dangerous, and again usually only lasts a week or two. One solution might be as simple as switching to a different bag of pine nuts. Meanwhile, doctors continue to study the issue and hopefully can find the exact cause soon.
Americans are using more pine nuts than ever before. Whether cooking, using them as part of a salad or to make a pesto sauce, pine nuts have become more popular. But with this popularity more people are also noticing what doctors call the “pine mouth syndrome”.
Although it's still considered a rare syndrome, last year 51 people reported to the FDA complaints of “taste disturbances” related to pine nuts. Basically, something in these nuts causes a metallic taste in the mouth that can last up to two weeks. Usually the taste change comes about a day or two after eating the nuts or something made with them.
Doctors haven't studied this affect yet. But according to a report just published in the journal of Medical Toxicology by Dr Marc-David Munk, from the University of New Mexico Department of Emergency Medicine, more examples of it are cropping up every year. And although the exact cause isn't known, Dr Munk thinks something in the pine nut affects the signal between taste buds and the brain.
This condition isn't dangerous, and again usually only lasts a week or two. One solution might be as simple as switching to a different bag of pine nuts. Meanwhile, doctors continue to study the issue and hopefully can find the exact cause soon.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Going Bald & Prostate Cancer
Going bald early on might not be all bad news, especially when it comes to prostate cancer.
It looks like men that go bald early are also less likely to get prostate cancer.
Now, going bald early isn't something most guys look forward to. It's usually a result of genes and based on your family history it can mean a shiny dome earlier than most other guys.
But researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine have found a silver lining to this. They studied over two thousand men, aged 40 to 46, and looked at their baldness, testosterone levels and how many ended up developing prostate cancer.
It turns out those whose hair started thinning before they turned 30 had up to a 45% reduction in their risk of getting prostate cancer. More importantly, these researchers think they might have found a big clue as to why this was happening, something that could help in the fight against this type of cancer.
The clue came about because men who have higher levels of testosterone also end up losing more hair follicles early on. So now researchers are looking to see if high testosterone levels, and the early baldness--lower the chance of prostate cancer which can combine into a more effective treatment for this type of cancer. A great silver lining to any cloud.
It looks like men that go bald early are also less likely to get prostate cancer.
Now, going bald early isn't something most guys look forward to. It's usually a result of genes and based on your family history it can mean a shiny dome earlier than most other guys.
But researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine have found a silver lining to this. They studied over two thousand men, aged 40 to 46, and looked at their baldness, testosterone levels and how many ended up developing prostate cancer.
It turns out those whose hair started thinning before they turned 30 had up to a 45% reduction in their risk of getting prostate cancer. More importantly, these researchers think they might have found a big clue as to why this was happening, something that could help in the fight against this type of cancer.
The clue came about because men who have higher levels of testosterone also end up losing more hair follicles early on. So now researchers are looking to see if high testosterone levels, and the early baldness--lower the chance of prostate cancer which can combine into a more effective treatment for this type of cancer. A great silver lining to any cloud.
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