Lung Diseases
COPD
Patients Misunderstand Written Screening Tests - [10/14/08]
Summary: The majority of physicians require patients to answer written questions while in the waiting room to visit the doctor. However, a new survey has revealed the gap between doctors and patients in the process of answering the written questions. Because of the difference in literacy between patients and physicians, most patients are confused, or don't understand most of the questions. According to Dr. Master, one of the authors of this survey, the predominant reason for this is illiteracy.
Comment: Illiteracy is becoming more common in American which is causing great problems to physicians. Not only is there a problem with illiteracy but also with patients who are innumerate. By answering the surveys to the best of your abilities, you will receive better diagnosis or treatment of COPD.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 14, 2008
Internet Consulted More Often Than Doctors - [10/12/08]
Summary: New market research shows that over the past year more adults went to the internet to get health information than consulted a doctor. This trend may likely be the product of an increasing consumer comfort in using the web to find reliable medical information. In addition, rising costs of healthcare coverage and visits to the doctor may be adding to the preference for first looking for information online.
Comment: The impacts of this trend, as well as others, will be discussed in an online seminar entitled "Is TV Dead? How the New New Media Changes Pharmaceutical DTC Advertising". The event is scheduled for October 14th at 11am EST and October 16th at 3pm EST.
Read article - Medical News Today. October 12, 2008.
Read article - Register for the Seminar
Respiratory UPLIFT Trial Improves Lung Function - [10/10/08]
Summary: A recently conducted trial title the UPLIFT trial showed healthy sustained lung health in those with respiratory diseases for up to four years. The drug tiotropium was administered to these patients. This study proved the safety of the drug tiotropium and reduced the risk of exacerbations which declined the number of hospitalizations each year.
Comment: This new study has discovered the safety of a new drug that may lead to a cure for lung diseases. This trial that was conducted has been the largest COPD study done so far, and has proved very successful. Because most lung diseases are permanent, this trial will help improve survival rates because of the sustained lung health that was found.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 10, 2008
Vitamin D Linked to Overall Health - [10/10/08]
Summary: Vitamin D has been linked to improved overall health. This vitamin affects 36 organ tissues in the body including bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and uterus tissues. It has also been linked to improving immune systems, insulin secretion, heart health, blood pressure, muscle strength, brain activity, and decreased risk of cancer. For most adults 200-600 IU of daily vitamin D is recommended, but some experts recommend up to 2000 IU daily.
Comment: Vitamin D has previously been thought to improve bone health, but this study shows that it can affect all areas of health. By increased intake of vitamin D people with COPD can experience improved health.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 10, 2008
Washing Hands More Effective than Vitamins in Cold Season - [10/09/08]
Summary: Research has shown that taking vitamins and antioxidants are not as effective as washing your hands when it comes to preventing colds. Many have thought that taking vitamin C will protect against respiratory infections and even cancer. Antioxidants have been proved to not prevent cancer, and maybe even cause death earlier. Ways to prevent colds include frequent hand washing and not touching your face with your hands.
Comment: Common colds can sometimes take a prolonged period of time to recover from, making it important to know what can and can't prevent it. Vitamin c was thought to prevent the common cold for a while but has been recently proved very harmful in high doses. Washing hands is the most effective way to prevent the common cold.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 9, 2008
Medicare Eliminates Coverage for 10 "Reasonably Preventable" Errors - [10/02/08]
Summary: New regulations, which will take effect next Wednesday, have Medicare halting payment for 10 errors which they have deemed "conditions that could reasonably have been prevented." Expected to affect hundreds of thousands, the new rules will mostly likely not result in a major reduction in expenses.
Comment: This new decision comes on the heels of announcements by four state Medicaid organizations last year in which they eliminated 28 "never events", preventable errors, from coverage. The trend seems to be growing and could have negative ramifications for millions of Americans. Among others, healthcare professionals have begun expressing concern about the decision.
Read article - Medical News Today. October 2, 2008.
Sleep Study in Teens - [09/29/08]
Summary: Angeles Sanchez-Armengol (Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Seville, Spain) and colleagues recently conducted a study on sleep related breathing disorders and other conditions. The concluding results were that 20 percent of 267 teenagers snored frequently or often. Those who snored were more obese than the non-snorers. They also found that sleep-related breathing conditions were often related to obesity. Those who are obese have a fat deposit on their neck, causing breathing conditions.
Comment: Well known disorders such as sleep apnoea, snoring, and sleep related breathing disorders have been very poorly researched thus far. Because conditions that are connected to obesity and poor sleeping often affect a teenager's education, it is important to diagnose and treat any sleep related conditions that are found.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 25, 2008
Efforts to Reduce Ethnic and Racial Disparities - [09/29/08]
Summary: This article outlines current efforts are being made to reduce racial and ethnic health care disparities. These include the Respira program, which focuses on providing asthma education and outreach to Hispanic communities. Another program is a lecture that seeks to improve knowledge of blood pressure management and diabetes. Other efforts involve grants to increase levels of minority students in medical programs, and campaigns to increase medical literacy in minority communities.
Comment: Racial and ethnic disparities exist in most areas of medical care including COPD. These disparities can often be dangerous to the health of minority people. These programs are aiming to close the gaps in health care, which can result in better care for people with COPD.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 29, 2008
COPD Drugs Connected to Cardiovascular Risk - [09/24/08]
Summary: Anticholinergics ipratropium bromide and tiotropium bromide COPD medications which are marketed as Atrovent and Spiriva, have been linked to a significantly increased risk of heart attacks, cardiovascular death, and strokes. These drugs increased the risk of heart attack by 53% and the risk of cardiovascular death by 80%.
Comment: Many people suffer from COPD, and many of these people use drugs such as Atrovent and Spiriva. Patients with COPD should consult their doctor to determine the best medications for them to use based on their risks. People with existing cardiovascular risk should be cautious when taking these drugs and be aware of their increased risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions.
Read article - Medical News TODAY September 24, 2008
Safety Gaps During Sign Out - [09/22/08]
Summary: Patients may experienced lower quality of care during sign outs, which is the transfer of a patients during a shift change. Researchers used oral sign-outs and written sign-outs to compare to reports of subsequent errors. It was found that doctors are often more confused about the patient information rather than factual details. Examples of such problems are doctors not fully understanding the clinical condition, or doctors not knowing the reasoning behind a test.
Comment: It is suggested that sign-out procedures become a part of medical school curriculum to raise the quality of patient care. Patients should also be aware that after and during a sign-out their doctors may not be fully informed about their conditions and test. Being able to close these safety gaps at sign-out can allow patients to receive the best care possible.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com September 22, 2008