Archive: News

“Patients Will Demand Nothing Less from Their Providers”
Cheree Cleghorn | July 13, 2010

Whenever possible, it is good to go to the original source if something is important to your health.
One of the most important—one which you don’t have any control over—is the introduction of electronic medical records (EMRs).
The goals are simple. Implementation is not.
This article should be understandable to those who read a lot about health care. [...]

Topics: News

On Monday, Vets Will Have Simpler Way to See if They Qualify for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Cheree Cleghorn | July 7, 2010

A new rule will benefit veterans of all wars who can show evidence they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The New York Times
“The government is preparing to issue new rules that will make it substantially easier for veterans who have been found to have post-traumatic stress disorder to receive disability benefits, a change that [...]

Topics: In Brief, News

Health Literacy Make Be Key to Managing Chronic Low Back Pain
Cheree Cleghorn | July 7, 2010

Can you find, understand and use health information about a problem which is important to you?
If yes, that is what the experts call “health literacy.” However, how literate a patient can be depends on what knowledge is available. Patients with heart disease can influence the progress of their disease by taking steps proven to slow [...]

Topics: News

Gentlemen…If You Take Viagra, You Also Need to Practice Safe Sex
Cheree Cleghorn | July 6, 2010

A doctor friend of mine believes it never is too soon to start talking about sex and safe sex. Her doctor husband agrees.
She said she found herself one night saying at dinner, “…and that’s why you should always wear a condom.”
Her daughter said, “Mom! I’m only 10 years old!”
“It’s never too soon to discuss this,” [...]

Topics: News

Even Most Sophisticated Patients May Be Like Fifth Graders When It Comes to Understanding Medical Information, CDC Says
Cheree Cleghorn | July 6, 2010

The Informed Patient, a Wall Street Journal column by Laura Llandro, explains why patients don’t understand what care-givers just explained to them. The words often are incomprehensible.
The Centers for Disease Control has said, this column reports, even the “most sophisticated patient may not be smarter than a fifth grader.” There are efforts being made to [...]

Topics: News

The Long View…Why the Gores Break-Up Could Be Positive…Not a Failure
Cheree Cleghorn | July 6, 2010

Washington Post’s My Time columnist Abigail Trafford says, for long-married couples, breaking up may not be that hard to do.
It also does not mean that the marriage was a failure.
Even people who pay no attention to famous people gossip—yes, there are some—were startled by the Al and Tipper Gore break-up. No rumors. They always seemed [...]

Topics: Commentary, News

Fat But Fit…Cardiologist Says a Person Can Be Both
Cheree Cleghorn | July 5, 2010

When assessing fitness, doctors and others who have a reason to do so use calipers to measure Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI is the basis for judging who is overweight or obese and who is not. It is assumed that one can’t be fat and fit.
The cardiologist who conducted this study, C. Noel Bairey-Merz, [...]

Topics: News

Study Shows Link Between Depression and Dementia Risk
Cheree Cleghorn | July 5, 2010

Dementia disorders, of which Alzheimer’s is one, are among the least understood diseases. This study is “probably the best” in following patients long term to determine the association between Alzheimer’s and depression, says one expert, who was not involved in the study.

Topics: News

Fireworks for the Fourth Are Best Left to the Pros, Specialists Say
Cheree Cleghorn | July 3, 2010

A family Fourth can be scarred for life if fireworks injuries seriously injure anyone.
Emergency room doctors, eye and hand surgeons are braced for tomorrow and the many injuries bought or, even worse, home-made fireworks can cause. The experts interviewed by Medpage Today say that even sparklers are not safe. Leave the show to the pros.

Topics: News

“How Did She Live to Be 100?” “What’s His Secret?”
Cheree Cleghorn | July 2, 2010

Genes appear to be the key to who lives to be 100, says a new study from the largest study of centenarians in the world, the New England Centenarian Study.

Topics: News