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Most Popular
When Pain Never Goes Away, How Can Doctors Help?
New Study Shows "Nearly Everyone with HIV Can Be Treated Effectively"
Pandemic Flu Monitor: H1N1...The Whole World Over
One Hour of Exercise a Day Helps Teens at Genetic Risk for Obesity to Keep Weight Normal
Obese Kids 63% More Likely to Be Bullied than Average-Weight Classmates
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Most Recent
How Can a Doctor Choose Medications for Patients Without Data Comparing New Ones to Existing Ones? Half of the Time, They Don’t Have That
Sex Research Review: WSJ Columnist Tells You What’s What
Watch Out for Diet Used by Mother of Bride for Royal Wedding
Victims and Bullies Spend More Time with School Nurses, Study Says
Would You Spend All You Had to Buy Time If You Had Cancer? See Who Would or Wouldn’t
Archives: Focus
Welcome to the New, Improved Patient Report
Welcome to the new, improved Patient Report.The changes came about for several reasons. We know what stories interest our readers most. They are not about the disease du jour. They are about being an effective patient and issues related to that. The changes coincide with our introduction of How To Speak Doctor, a program provided through employers. We will be publishing on Friday. We hope you will
check on then to see what’s new. Wishing you wellness, Cheree
Topics: Focus
Where Did We Go Wrong? Good Parents Wonder
There are, perhaps, many hundreds of books on how the children of toxic parents can cope. However, there is almost no one paying attention to the issue of good parents who have toxic kids—not mentally ill, not criminal—toxic.
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How Many Health or Medical Apps Are Great? Nobody Knows
Paging Dr. Smart App? Maybe not. With thousands of health and medical apps on smart phones, doctors are starting to be worried about the quality of the information people are getting. The more important the topic is to you, the more important it is not to count on your cool phone for medical advice.
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A Good Death for the Doctor Who Invented Gerontology…Nobody Was Ready
Time Magazine offers an elegant appreciation of Robert Butler, M.D., a psychiatrist and the man considered to be the father of gerontology—the medical specialty which focuses on older people. He shaped the issue by naming it, “ageism.” He led the way in this important field until he died unexpectedly on July 4. Please read this excerpt. If you plan to live to a nice long age, Dr. Butler was your doctor, too.
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The Hospital Discharge Plan Process Is Broken…Patients Often Readmitted Because The Going-Home Advice Is Inadequate
When one in five Medicare patients is readmitted within 30 days, the system is not working.
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Medicine Cabinet Drug Abusers Went to ERs As Often As Illegal Drug Users From 2004-2008, CDC Report Says
“The number of emergency room visits for nonmedical use of prescription painkillers more than doubled between 2004 and 2008, according to a CDC estimate,” says Medpage Today.”The increase was part of a trend that saw emergency room visits for nonmedical use of all prescription and over-the-counter medications reach the same level as those for abuse of illicit drugs, the agency said in the June 18 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.”
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Talking and Texting Cause 28% of Traffic Accidents Each Year
The risks of driving while talking are equal to the risk of driving drunk. Hands-free talking does not reduce the risk. This New England Journal of Medicine Commentary article details the hazards in simple numbers. A link to a British PSA, which shows the reenactment of a wreck caused by distractions, is included.
If you have not understood the risks before, this combination of video and facts should get your undivided attention. If you live with or ride with drivers who talk or text, you may want to travel with someone else. Danger is everywhere when you combine car, driver and phone or device in use.
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How Technology Can Hurt Your Children’s Feelings, Research Shows
Children’s feelings—and their relationships with their parents—may be harmed by parental preoccupation with computers, PDAs and other tech devices. A researcher has found there are three specific points at which kids really want their parents’ full attention. For those adults who, instead, reply, “Just one more minute…” there may be lasting consequences, says a researcher. In our house, we have a Welsh Terrier who has conquered technology with her right paw and a firm sense of the need to discipline the “parent” who is a techie.
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Does One Unnoticed Bug Cause the Whole World Trouble?
Do not miss reading this full story. It is fascinating — featuring rats with “fatal feline attraction,” differences among countries in neuroticism which coincide with higher rates of toxoplasma infection in its pregnant women and much, much more.
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Is It Time to Declare National Disaster Planning Month? You’d Better Believe It.
Maybe we should declare a National Disaster Planning Month. Everyone could submit their plans at the end. Anyone not doing it would stand out.
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