Neurological Disorders
Spinal Cord Disorders
Many Find Need for American Health Care Reform - [08/07/08]
Summary: In a recent study researchers found that about 82% of Americans believe that the health care system in America needs to be reformed. 90% believed that the presidential candidates need to develop health care reform plans to improve the quality and coverage of health care. 90% also believe that it is important to have one doctor responsible for their primary care and for coordinating care with specialists. 90% also reported believing that having access to their medical records, and doctors having the same access was important.
Comment: Spinal cord disorders require the best medical care possible, and many people in America do not believe that they are getting the level of care that they need. People with spinal cord disorders, and all other people in America, can affect their health care system by contacting their representatives and voicing their concerns and thoughts about the current health care system.
Read article - Medical News TODAY August 7, 2008
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Rise in Deaths from Home Prescription Use - [07/29/08]
Summary: Researchers examined the death rates from the incorrect use of prescriptions in the home, called FMEs. There are four types of FMEs as classified by the researchers. Type one is the domestic use of prescriptions with street drugs or alcohol, which has increased by 3,196% between 1983 and 2004. Type 2 is the domestic use of prescriptions without drugs or alcohol, which has increased 5%. Type 3 is the non-domestic use of prescriptions with drugs or alcohol, and has increased 564%, and type 4 is the non-domestic use of prescriptions without drugs or alcohol, and has increased by 555%.
Comment: While many of the medications involved were safe in a clinical setting is has been suggested that they are more dangerous when used at home, since an incorrect dose or use with drugs or alcohol are more likely. It is suggested that more research is done about the safety of medications at home or work and that patients are especially careful when taking prescriptions at home.
Read article - Medical News TODAY. July 29, 2008.
High Costs of Surgical Errors - [07/28/08]
Summary: Medical errors occurring during or after surgery may result in 1.5 billion dollars in costs annually, and these errors could be preventable. Among the highest causes of these costs is acute respiratory failure, which costs an average of 28,218 dollars, and post operative infections which cost an average of 19,480 dollars extra. It was also found that one out of ten patients who died within 90 days of a surgery died because of a preventable error, and that one third of these deaths occurred after the patient was discharged from the hospital.
Comment: Surgery is often involved in treating spinal cord disorders, and this information shows that patients and doctors need to be careful before, during, and after surgery to avoid preventable and costly errors. Patients also must be careful after being discharged from the hospital to follow the instructions given by their medical team carefully.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com July 28, 2008
Doctor Instructions Often Misunderstood - [07/18/08]
Summary: A new study shows that most people, about 78%, do not completely understand their doctor's instructions upon leaving the emergency room. Many of these people, about 80%, also are not aware that they do not comprehend all of the instructions given. 34% of the comprehension deficits were in the category of post emergency department care, meaning that one-third of the people in the study did not completely know what to do when the got home from the hospital.
Comment: Follow-up care after leaving the emergency room is very important to the recovery of the patient. If they do not fully understand their instructions they could encounter complications. People should always be careful to completely understand their doctor’s instructions, whether leaving the emergency room or just a normal checkup, to be sure that they will receive the best care possible.
Read article - Medical News TODAY July 18, 2008
Ten Health Tips for a Healthier You - [07/13/08]
Summary: A healthy lifestyle is the key to treating, preventing, or lessening the effects of almost every disease and condition. These ten tips are designed to help build a healthier body and lifestyle.
Comment: Tips include: walking 20 to 30 minutes a day, for weight loss, eating "black" foods, such as black mushrooms or licorice, to prevent cancer, heart disease, and slow aging, and preventing dimensia by treating hypertension.
Read article - Health News Digest. July 13, 2008.
Workout Equipment for People in Wheelchairs - [07/08/08]
Summary: A workout set has been designed for people in wheelchairs. This kit allows people in wheelchairs to complete a total body workout without the help of caregivers, nurses, or therapists. The person working out can stay seated in their wheelchair during the entire workout. The exerciser can secure to any wheelchair under 26 inches wide. The wheelchair kit allows the person working out to use a band to do 20 different exercises. It targets the neck, back, shoulders, arms, chest, abs, obliques, hamstrings, and calves.
Comment: Being able to remain seated during the workout allows a person in a wheelchair to gain some independence about their physical activity. Being able to workout while in a wheelchair can help people remain healthier and maintain muscle strength. The kit is also completely portable and easy to set up for complete convenience.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com July 8, 2008
Tongue-Driven Device Allows More Mobility - [07/03/08]
Summary: A tongue driven system has been developed that allows people with severe disabilities to be able to better operate powered wheelchairs. The tongue driven system works by having a small magnet, about the size of a grain of rice, implanted to the patients tongue. The movement of the magnet could be tracked by outside devices, and then interpreted to move their powered wheelchairs.
Comment: This technology could allow many more people to be free in their movements. Many people, especially those with severe spinal cord injuries, have trouble moving even enough to control a wheelchair with their hand, and this device would allow them to move much more easily. Tongue movements are quick, accurate, and easy to use. The device can learn to recognize many commands, so a person could operate a wheelchair just by moving their tongue to touch one of their teeth.
Read article - healthfinder.gov July 3, 2008
Save Money on Prescriptions - [06/21/08]
Summary: When the economy goes into a recession money for prescription drugs can be cut. This is dangerous for your health, so tips are provided to spend less on your prescriptions. The tips include choosing generics, checking online, using a discount program, mail-order medications, and shopping around.
Comment: Spinal cord disorder medications can be expensive, yet they are very important to your health. Using half of the prescribed amount, or skipping doses, can be very dangerous and even ineffective towards treating the condition. Taking dangerous steps to save money, such as sharing a prescription, can be avoided if the patients follow the tips and are smart about their prescriptions.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com June 21, 2008
Should Volunteers in Studies Receive the Study Results - [06/06/08]
Summary: Many Americans voluntarily participate in clinical trials, from taking health surveys, to allowing analysis of their DNA, or even testing new medicines. Now some researchers are questioning whether they should share the results of the test with the volunteers, and if they should share the overall results, or just the results of the single volunteer.
Comment: There are many sides to the issue, including the ethics, privacy issues, and the financial problems of preparing the results for each individual person. Researchers are unsure, but may possibly study the outcomes of sharing results. They believe that there is a possibility for the NIH and local Institutional Review Boards to require communication plans as a part of each study.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com June 6, 2008
New Online Pharmacy Verification Program May Be Misleading - [05/29/08]
Summary: In a list published by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy five low-cost online pharmacies have been labeled "Not Recommended". However, PharmacyChecker.com, the internet's largest independent verification service of online pharmacies, advises consumers that these pharmacies are ethical and meet all verification requirements. It has been suggested that the NABP, which works with the FDA and is sponsored by Pfizer, a drug company, is attempting to scare consumers away from these low-cost pharmacies.
Comment: The NABP's list of verified pharmacy sites only includes 15 members, which consist largely of US based pharmacy chains and benefits managers. It does not even include lower-cost US sites such as Costco.com, while Canadian and other foreign pharmacies are barred entirely from inclusion. Meanwhile PharmacyChecker.com is dedicated to certifying online, low-cost pharmacy options for consumers.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com. May 29, 2008.