General
Endometriosis
Lifestyle Latest News
Vitamin D May Provide Pain Relief - [06/20/08]
Summary: A recent study has found that a lack of vitamin D can cause or worsen chronic pain from a variety of sources. When vitamin D supplements were taken many of the painful problems were eliminated or at least significantly improved. Vitamin D is a very safe supplement, and has very few negative impacts. Vitamin D supplements are very inexpensive and easy to use.
Comment: Endometiosis involves a lot of chronic pain, and vitamin D could help to avoid or alleviate some of the pain. Taking a vitamin D supplement is a smart move because there are few risks, a low cost, and easy convenience to take a daily pill. Vitamin D can also be generated by you body from sun exposure. The majority of people in the United States do not get the recommended amount of vitamin D, which could greatly help with chronic pain.
Read article - Medical News TODAY June 20, 2008
Optimists Enjoy Better Health - [05/09/08]
Summary: According to a series of studies, optimists enjoy better health than pessimists. But people who are healthy are likely to have a brighter outlook than people who are ill. So scientists adjusted their analyses to account for pre-existing medical conditions and found that existing illnesses do not tarnish the benefits of optimism.
Comment: One explanation may be that optimists lead healthier lifestyles. Or it could be that optimism has biological benefits.
Read article - Harvard Health Publication. May 9. 2008.
Four Tips for Understanding Medical News - [03/29/08]
Summary: The April 2008 issue of Harvard Men's Health Watch explains how to understand medical advice that seems to change from day to day: 1) Know the differences between types of research. 2) Focus on results published in respected medical journals. 3) Don't get frustrated by contradicting research. 4) Fit each piece of information into the larger puzzle.
Comment: Given the variety of sources for medical information and the amount of research data released every data, it can be overwhelming to try to understand what the latest news really means. The practical philosophy suggested by Harvard medical staffers may be conservative, but it is also the safest and most reliable approach to adopting new medical ideas.
Read article - Medical News Today. March 29, 2008.
Read article - Harvard Health Publications. April 1, 2008.
Patient Privacy Versus Healthcare Quality - [03/22/08]
Summary: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just awarded $38.1 million to develop systems to exchange patient data between healthcare providers and payers, including the government. A recent statement from the Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC) condemned this as a violation of a patient's Fourth Amendment privacy rights, accusing the government of "surreptitiously conducting research and 'sentinel surveillance'" amounting to what CCHC president Twila Brase calls "unreasonable search and seizure."
Comment: Ms. Brase's concerns about patient privacy are reasonable, but her accusations inflate and skew the real value and intent of exchanging patient records. Regional health information exchanges have been proposed in many states for the purpose of improving the quality and efficiency of health care, making it possible for healthcare providers to make more accurate treatment decisions and deliver more affordable services. The benefits to patients include better-coordinated treatments among diverse healthcare providers, including less wait time. The second and third links below describe such an initiative underway in Maine.
Read article - Medical News Today. March 22, 2008.
Read article - Boston.com. January 16, 2008.
Read article - 3M News. March 27, 2007.
Blogs Spark Questions About Patient Privacy - [03/13/08]
Summary: A recent story on National Public Radio notes the attraction of blogs written by healthcare workers, including physicians. These blogs allow readers to find out about the latest medical gadgets, read physicians' views on health care issues, and view insider photos of surgery and scans. These blogs have also raised concerns about patient trust, confidentiality, and legal consequences, since there is some possibility that personal medical information could be traced to or discovered by a patient.
Comment: Blogs can give patients useful insight into health conditions and treatments. And, they can provide a supportive forum as a patient endures on-going treatment. However, no patient should have to worry about coming across their own personal information in someone else's blog. To find out about how to discuss privacy concerns with your doctor and safeguard your patient privacy, see the Patient Privacy Toolkit at PatientPrivacyRights.org. (You do not have to become a member to access the links listed in the toolkit.)
Read article - National Public Radio. March 13, 2008.
Read article - PatientPrivacyRights.org.
News Stories Expose Pricey Drugs - [03/04/08]
Summary: A diagnosis of endometriosis is worrisome enough in consideration of the prognosis and complications. Now there is one more thing to worry about--the rising cost of prescription medications. Two recent news stories detail how the extraordinary inflation of prescription drugs makes effective treatment more expensive for some and unavailable to others.
Comment: The separate news stories are based on data from the AARP and the Harvard School of Public Health. They offer two perspectives on what has been called an "unreasonable" increase in the prices of prescriptions medications and its effect on patients who cannot afford them. See the stories at the links below.
Read article - WebMD. March 4, 2008.
Read article - msnbc.com. March 4, 2008.
"Bill of Rights" Outlines Patient Expectations, Responsibilities - [02/01/08]
Summary: Many agencies and companies involved in health care have versions of a patient's "bill of rights" that articulate what type of care patients should expect and receive. In "The Patient Care Partnership," the American Hospital Association explains what patients should expect during a hospital stay, in particular their right to health care and responsibilities as a consumer.
Comment: In this election year, health care is a distinguishing issue among presidential candidates. This brochure provides an industry perspective on the current state of health care as it directly affects patients, taxpayers, and consumers. It does not necessarily represent how hospital care should operate ideally, but how the current system operates most efficiently. As such it serves as a fair comparison to the alternative solutions proposed by many political candidates.
Read article - American Hospital Association.