Deaths from ischemic heart disease and hypertensive diseases in the United States increased during the COVID-19 pandemic over the prior year, while globally, COVID-19 was associated with significant disruptions in cardiovascular disease testing. These findings are from two papers publishing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that examined the indirect effects of… Continue reading Heart Disease Patients and COVID-19
Tag: care
COVID-19: Caring for a Patient at Home
Most people who get sick with COVID-19 will have only mild illness and should recover at home, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Care at home can help stop the spread of COVID-19 and help protect people who are at risk for getting seriously ill from the virus. However, adults and people… Continue reading COVID-19: Caring for a Patient at Home
Long-Term Acute Care Facilities Not Always the Best Choice
For older adults recovering from hospitalization for a severe, complex illness, there may be other, less expensive options besides long-term acute care (LTAC) facilities, researchers say. Only about half of older adults are transferred to LTACs for reasons related to the severity or complexity of their illnesses. For the other half, hospital preferences and regional… Continue reading Long-Term Acute Care Facilities Not Always the Best Choice
CDC: Progress in Preventing Stroke Deaths Has Slowed
Some sobering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about stroke, a frequently fatal condition in which blood flow to the brain is interrupted, depriving the brain of essential oxygen. After more than four decades of decline, progress has slowed in preventing stroke deaths, according to the latest Vital Signs report by… Continue reading CDC: Progress in Preventing Stroke Deaths Has Slowed
5 Ways to Protect Your Eyes
Are you paying enough attention to your vision health? Think About Your Eyes, a national public awareness campaign presented by The Vision Council and the American Optometric Association, has some suggestions for essential eye care: “Watch” What You Eat: Certain foods can help keep eyes healthy. The antioxidants in coffee are beneficial to eye health,… Continue reading 5 Ways to Protect Your Eyes
Ear Care 101
Imagine not being able to hear the sound of your child laughing, your favorite song on the radio, or even the person on the other end of the phone. Your ears are responsible for sending sound and balance information to your brain, so it is important that you keep them clean and healthy. The health… Continue reading Ear Care 101
Healing Relationships at The End of Life
Often, the end of a life leaves us filled with mixed emotions: sadness, yes, but also, deep regret about things that were never said and about thorny relationship rifts that remain forever unresolved. Bereavement care specialist Dr. Virginia A. Simpson, author of the memoir The Space Between: A Memoir Of Mother-Daughter Love At The End… Continue reading Healing Relationships at The End of Life
What You Should Know About Corns and Calluses
Ever wonder what causes corns and calluses? According to dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), these hard, thickened areas of skin form as a result of friction or pressure on the skin. In fact, they say, corns and calluses develop naturally to help protect the skin underneath them. “Calluses can develop anywhere on… Continue reading What You Should Know About Corns and Calluses
Geriatric Care for a Diverse Population
New guidance from the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is designed to changes approaches to geriatric health care for an increasingly diverse population. Developed by a committee of experts in ethnogeriatrics (the study of how ethnicity and culture impact the health and well-being of older people), “Achieving High-Quality Multicultural Geriatric Care” outlines present health disparities and… Continue reading Geriatric Care for a Diverse Population
Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves, Too
When a major illness or injury leaves someone in need of long-term, nearly round-the-clock care, it’s often up to a family member to step in and provide it. But research shows that the role of caregiving can lead to its own health issues, creating a significant amount of stress and strain for the caregiver. “That… Continue reading Caregivers Need to Care for Themselves, Too
A Healthier Picture for Medicare Patients
The health picture is brighter for older Medicare patients: In a 15-year study, Yale School of Medicine researchers saw an estimated 20% drop in mortality, about 30% fewer hospitalizations, and 40% reduction in deaths after hospitalization. The findings were published In JAMA’s theme issue on Medicare and Medicaid at 50. In the study, researchers took… Continue reading A Healthier Picture for Medicare Patients
End-of-Life Care Often Inadequate
People whose loved ones are dying appear to be significantly dissatisfied with the care the patients are getting, according to a new survey published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine. “People are less satisfied with care at the close of life, and I think it’s now urgent for us to start thinking about what interventions… Continue reading End-of-Life Care Often Inadequate
Four Lessons Hospitals Could Learn from Disney World
Recently, I returned from a trip to Disney with my family. It was my third time at the parks, but this trip was different. My wife and I were thrilled to have brought our three children, son in law, and, most importantly, our two grandchildren. Seeing my three and a half year old grandson, Erez,… Continue reading Four Lessons Hospitals Could Learn from Disney World
The Most Important Relationship in Your Life
By Terry Barnett-Martin, LMFT The most important relationship of your life is the one you have with yourself. When you were born, you were already perfectly you, ready to unfold. To the extent that you were encouraged to be you and not just the reflection of those around you, you came to know and love… Continue reading The Most Important Relationship in Your Life
Handling Paranoia and Delusions in Alzheimer’s Patients
From the National Institute on Aging As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, the person with the disease may have hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia. During a hallucination, the person sees, hears, smells, tastes, or feels something that isn’t there. He or she also may have delusions—false beliefs that the person thinks are real. Paranoia is a type of… Continue reading Handling Paranoia and Delusions in Alzheimer’s Patients
Congress and A Failure to Address Health-Care Costs
Although the U.S. Senate has killed a bill that would have changed the way Medicare pays doctors, that issue remains just as crucial, according to a commentary in the journal JAMA Surgery. The bill, the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act, was supported by physicians’ organizations as well as both… Continue reading Congress and A Failure to Address Health-Care Costs
Some Doctors Not Up to Date on Genetic Testing
Although genetic testing is becoming increasingly important, many primary care providers face challenges in making that part of a patient’s basic care, according to a new study published in Genetics in Medicine. Researchers from the University of Michigan reported that the most common reason given by primary care physicians (PCPs) was that they had insufficient… Continue reading Some Doctors Not Up to Date on Genetic Testing
Too Many Patients Are Delaying Hospice Care
Although hospice can benefit terminally ill patients over a period of time, one in six cancer patients enroll it in only during the last three days of life, according to a new study. The findings, by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, also revealed a profile of the kind of patient… Continue reading Too Many Patients Are Delaying Hospice Care