As many as three out of four surgery patients could be receiving anti-clotting medications that they do not need, according to a study led by investigators at the University of Utah School of Medicine and published on January 23rd 2017 in Annals of Surgery. A release from the university notes that the research challenges standard… Continue reading Anti-Clotting Drugs May Be Unnecessary for Most Surgery Patients
Category: Medical Care
Ultraviolet Light Helps Battle Superbugs
Ultraviolet light could help in keeping drug-resistant bacteria from lingering in patients’ rooms and causing new infections, researchers say The new tool is known as UVC. Some hospitals have already begun using UVC machines in addition to standard chemical disinfection to kill potentially dangerous bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but research on their… Continue reading Ultraviolet Light Helps Battle Superbugs
The High Cost of “Surprise” Medical Bills
The average anesthesiologist, emergency physician, pathologist and radiologist charge more than four times what Medicare pays for similar services, often leaving privately insured consumers stuck with bills that are much higher than they anticipated, new research suggests. The problem is that most patients do not actually choose these doctors with the highest markups, allowing them… Continue reading The High Cost of “Surprise” Medical Bills
10 Tips for Taking Medications Safely
Editor’s note: On January 17th 2017, we posted an article with information that caregivers for older people need to know about the medications loved ones take. Now we are offering this article with advice that everyone needs to know in order to avoid serious complications and interactions when taking medications. – Storing medications: Make sure… Continue reading 10 Tips for Taking Medications Safely
Managing the ER Visit
Most visits to the emergency room are unexpected and frightening. In circumstances like these, it’s important to keep your focus on what will help you or your loved one most. Health care workers, often overwhelmed by the number of patients they need to treat, may not ask every question they should. Here, from the experts… Continue reading Managing the ER Visit
Fat Cells Used to Heal Wounds
Doctors have found a way to help wounds heal as regenerated skin rather than scar tissue. The method involves transforming the most common type of cells found in wounds into fat cells – something that was previously thought to be impossible in humans. Researchers began this work at the Perelman School of Medicine at the… Continue reading Fat Cells Used to Heal Wounds
Home Remedies: Struggling with Stomach Flu
What some people commonly refer to as stomach flu is also known as viral gastroenteritis. It’s an intestinal infection marked by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis is through contact with an infected person or by ingesting contaminated food or water. If you’re… Continue reading Home Remedies: Struggling with Stomach Flu
The Gift of Life from Older Organ Donors
Research done in December 2016 suggests that age cut-offs for deceased organ donors prevent quality kidneys from being available to patients in need of life-saving transplants. A study appearing in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) found that even kidneys from donors 80 years of age can function for years after… Continue reading The Gift of Life from Older Organ Donors
Making ER Visits Easier
A visit to the ER can be especially stressful. The experts from NIH SeniorHealth, a division of the National Institutes of Health, suggest some strategies for making it easier: The experts suggest that you come prepared with some documents, including your health insurance card or policy number; a list of your medications; a list of… Continue reading Making ER Visits Easier
The Importance of Walking for Older Hospitalized Patients
Is walking fewer than 900 steps per day associated with functional decline in older hospitalized patients? A research letter published online in December 2016 by JAMA Internal Medicine suggests it is. A release from the publisher notes that recent research has suggested 900 steps per day were normative for frail older adults and for older… Continue reading The Importance of Walking for Older Hospitalized Patients
Electronic Prescribing of High-Risk Meds May Contribute to Falls in Elderly
Certain medications are considered high risk in elders. In a recent study of 287 people 65 years and older who experienced a fall while hospitalized at an urban academic hospital, 62 percent of falls occurred in patients for whom high risk medications had been administered within the 24 hours before the fall, according to a… Continue reading Electronic Prescribing of High-Risk Meds May Contribute to Falls in Elderly
The Long-Term Care Patients Who Are at Highest Risk for Hospitalization
Long-term services and supports are provided to 12 million people who live in nursing home and assisted living facilities, as well as their own homes. Within that group, New York University researchers found, people who have a high probability of suffering from cardiopulmonary disease are hospitalized more often than people with other kinds of conditions.… Continue reading The Long-Term Care Patients Who Are at Highest Risk for Hospitalization
1 in 4 Vacations Includes a Trip to the ER
If you’ve ever had to seek medical attention for an illness or an injury during a vacation, you’re not alone. A new national survey by Orlando Health finds one in four vacations includes a trip to the ER and doctors say many patients are simply not prepared for the situation. A release from Orlando Health… Continue reading 1 in 4 Vacations Includes a Trip to the ER
Why Wounds Heal More Slowly in Older Patients
Although it’s long been known that wounds heal more slowly in older patients, researchers have never been sure exactly why that’s the case. Now, they have found out. Recent experiments at The Rockefeller University explored this physiological puzzle by examining molecular changes in aging mouse skin. The results, described in the journal Cell, reveal a… Continue reading Why Wounds Heal More Slowly in Older Patients
Appendicitis Patients: Overnight Hospital Stay Isn’t Necessarily Healthier
Patients who undergo a laparoscopic appendectomy and are sent home the same day don’t experience higher rates of post-operative complications than those who are hospitalized overnight, according to study results published on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website ahead of print publication. Each year, more than 250,000 appendectomies are performed in the… Continue reading Appendicitis Patients: Overnight Hospital Stay Isn’t Necessarily Healthier
How to Treat a Burn
Burns can be minor medical problems or life-threatening emergencies. Many people die each year from fire-related burn injuries. Electricity and chemicals also cause severe burns. Scalding liquids are the most common cause of burns in children. Treatment of burns depends on the location and severity of the injury. Sunburns and small scalds can usually be… Continue reading How to Treat a Burn
Are Nosebleeds Just a Nuisance?
Nosebleeds, also called epistaxes (ep-ih-STAK-seez), involve bleeding from the inside of your nose. The lining of your nose contains many tiny blood vessels that lie close to the surface and are easily damaged. The two most common causes of nosebleeds are dry air — when your nasal membranes dry out, they’re more susceptible to bleeding… Continue reading Are Nosebleeds Just a Nuisance?
Surprising Uses for Botox That Have Nothing to Do with Wrinkles
When most people think of Botox the first thing that usually comes to mind is wrinkle reduction. Indeed, Botox is the world’s most popular treatment for eradicating wrinkles and fine lines. The toxin is specifically FDA approved for treating frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) and lines around the eyes (crow’s feet). However, in addition… Continue reading Surprising Uses for Botox That Have Nothing to Do with Wrinkles