From the Patient’s Perspective
All I Want For Christmas…
I treasure this season as we gather together and celebrate with our families and … [Read More...]
Thanksgiving Thanks
As many gather with their family over this Thanksgiving, it may be more difficult … [Read More...]
A Great Quote
“To most physicians, my illness is a routine incident in their rounds, while for … [Read More...]
From the Practitioner’s Perspective
Welcome to Medical Perspective!
This is a health commentary written in the hopes of providing more insight and understanding into our medical community by looking through the eyes of both the patient … [Read More...]
The Secret of Patient Care
The notion that most healthcare providers go into the field of medicine for the pure desire to help people is correct, yet sometimes it is the simplest of care, … [Read More...]
Medical Tips
Another Superbug On The Rise
A deadly, new multi-drug resistant bacteria called carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, or CRKP, is on the rise. A strain of the common, gram-negative bacteria that usually doesn't cause disease in its natural habitat, has developed resistance to almost all antibiotics, including carbapenem antibiotics, making it more dangerous than MRSA. This growing antibiotic resistance of CRKP … [Read More...]
Why Flaxseed Is Good For You
Flaxseed has been around for centuries and contains many healthy components such as Omega-3 fatty acids, Lignans, Soluble and Insoluble Fibers. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are also found in fish, can help prevent the buildup of cholesterol that can clog the arteries and leave you at risk of a heart attack and/or a stroke. It also has other protective cardiovascular properties that help keep … [Read More...]
Is The Flu Near You?
Flu activity remains elevated in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control. The outpatient visits with influenza like illness was above the national baseline for this time of year. An interactive map below, courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control, allows you to see the most recent seasonal influenza activity for the entire country. … [Read More...]
Healthy Habits
Healthy Habit # 4. Be active. Schedule 30 minutes a day, five days a week for exercise. It will help you feel better and live longer. Habits are certain behaviors that we perform on a routine basis. They can be good and they can be bad. If we try to increase certain healthy habits into our daily routines, we can become much happier and healthier. It takes conscious effort at first but … [Read More...]
What Is A Heart Attack?
A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is when blood flow to a portion of the heart becomes blocked. The heart tissue is damaged or begins to die due to a lack of oxygen as a result from the blockage. While heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States of both men and women, a wide range of outcomes are seen. There are many life-style changes that can reduce … [Read More...]
Causes Of A Sore Throat
A sore throat is a symptom of inflammation of the pharynx, larynx and/or tonsils. The discomfort can range from mild, with a feeling of scratchiness, to more painful, with difficulty swallowing. Most sore throats are the result of viruses that cause the common cold and flu (influenza). Other viral infections that cause sore throats are Mononucleosis, also known as the “kissing disease” … [Read More...]
What Is MRSA?
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that causes a variety of infections, yet most of the time it can be treated with regular antibiotics. However, some staph infections are harder to treat because the strain causing the infection has become methicillin-resistant through mutations over time, and they are known as MRSA. These strains of Staphylococcus aureus are also resistant to beta-lactam … [Read More...]
Avoid Giving Honey To Infants
Honey is sweet, and often not thought of, as a source for food poisoning. It is, however, a potential source of Clostridium botulinum, a spore-forming bacteria that may cause a life-threatening illness in infants. After ingested, this spore-forming bacteria grows within the gastrointestinal tract of the baby, producing toxins that can cause infant botulism. Symptoms of infantile botulism … [Read More...]
Snow Shoveling Injury Prevention Tips
For many of us living in a cold winter climate, snow shoveling is a necessary evil and will unfortunately claim many unintentional injuries and lives this winter. With a little precaution, you can reduce your risk of injury. First, dress properly. Dress in layers, wear a hat and gloves. Sensible winter footware with good traction is essential. Second, keep in mind that snow shoveling is … [Read More...]
Flu IQ
What is your Flu IQ? Take this fun and interactive Flu I.Q. quiz from the Center of Disease Control to learn what's true about the flu and spread the knowledge to your friends. Flu IQ Thank you to the Center of Disease Control for putting this quiz together to help educate more people regarding the flu. For more information visit www.cdc.gov . For more … [Read More...]
Healthy Habits
Healthy Habit # 3. Steam your vegetables instead of boiling or frying them. You retain more nutrients this way, but if you want to take it one step further, the healthiest way to eat most vegetables, is to eat them raw. Habits are certain behaviors that we perform on a routine basis. They can be good and they can be bad. If we try to increase certain healthy habits into … [Read More...]
Blood Test For Cancer
A partnership between Massachusetts General Hospital and Veridex, a diagnostics company owned by Johnson & Johnson, is creating much excitement as they are combining efforts to streamline a simple blood test that may be able detect one single cancer cell among billions of normal circulating cells. A microfluidics chip have been designed to accomplish this with just a simple blood test. … [Read More...]
Medical Myths
Don't believe everything you hear! "If you handle frogs you will develop warts" or "chocolate causes acne," are a few examples of common medical myths and are not true. Please enjoy this segment courtesy of ABC NEWS discussing some additional medical myths. … [Read More...]
Quit Smoking and Improve your Health
Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Smoking does not only affect and damage your lungs, it poisons all parts of your body. The tobacco smoke that you inhale increases your risk for cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, emphysema , chronic bronchitis, fertility problems, birth defects and much more. Quitting smoking … [Read More...]
Saturated Fat and Heart Disease
While Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, of both men and women, a wide range of outcomes are seen. One great step in reducing your risk of Heart Disease is to limit your intake of saturated fat. Please refer to The American Heart Association's Fat Guidelines below: "The American Heart Association's Nutrition Committee strongly advises these fat guidelines … [Read More...]
Breaking News-Gene Clue to 130 Brain Diseases Found
Scientists reported on 12/19/10, in the journal, Nature Neuroscience, that they have discovered a number of proteins that play a critical role in the development of more than 130 brain diseases. The Scottish scientists from Edinburgh University and the Wellome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire discovered a collection of 1461 proteins that may be at the core of diseases such … [Read More...]
The 12 STIs of Christmas
(Click on the title image to watch) A Christmas favorite posted, courtesy of the British National Health Service (BNHS): sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) set to a Christmas tune in order to raise public awareness and to provide important health information regarding STDs (sexually-transmitted diseases). Protect yourself and your partner. Practice safer sex … [Read More...]
Who Should Not Get The Flu Vaccine
Center for Disease Control is recommending Flu Vaccines to everyone who is 6 months or older, with the exceptions of: People who have an allergy to any component of the vaccine. The Influenza virus is grown in eggs and people with a life-threatening allergy to eggs, should not receive the vaccine. Also, people who have had a serious allergy to a prior Influenza … [Read More...]
Healthy Habits
Healthy Habit #2 Eat smaller portions. Most of us, especially in the United States, consume too many daily calories. This can be easily achieved if done gradually. Habits are certain behaviors that we perform on a routine basis. They can be good and they can be bad. If we try to increase certain healthy habits into our daily routines, we can become much happier and healthier. … [Read More...]
New and Easier Guidelines for Food Allergies
The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) released new and easier guidelines to diagnose and treat Food Allergies in Children on December 6, 2010. A diagnosis of a Food Allergy is not easily achieved and is believed to be overdiagnosed, leaving some children on unnecessary restricted diets. These new guidelines are to help practitioners distinguish the children … [Read More...]
Asprin Harmful to Children and Teenagers
As we enter the cold and flu season, it is important to know that Asprin (Salicylate) or Aspirin-like derivatives should never be given to children under the age of 19. A very serious condition known as Reye's Syndrome seem to occur most often in children and teenagers who have recently been infected with the flu (Influenza) or chicken pox (Varicella), and who are treated with Asprin (Salicylate) … [Read More...]
Candle Safety
More home fires occur during the cold winter months. As the First Advent is here and the Christmas Season is upon us, more of us are lighting candles to celebrate the holiday and stay warm. Here are a few safety tips to prevent any tragedies resulting from burning candles: Never leave a candle burning unattended. Candle wicks should be trimmed to ¼ inch in length. Place … [Read More...]
How much is one drink of alcohol?
One drink is usually defined as: One glass of wine (5 fluid ounces or 148mL) or One beer or wine cooler (12 fluid ounces or 355mL) or One mixed drink with 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof liquor (such as vodka, bourbon, brandy, gin, scotch or rum). The blood alcohol content, BAC, is the concentration of alcohol in your blood at a given time and will depend on numerous factors including … [Read More...]
Avoid Getting The Flu
With the Influenza season upon us, there are things you can do to minimize your risk of getting the flu. Get Vaccinated. The CDC is recommending everyone, 6 months or older, to get the flu vaccine except for people with contraindications. Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating. Hand sanitizers also work. Turn away if someone is coughing in your direction. Politely ask … [Read More...]
Healthy Habits
Healthy Habit #1 Smile! Force yourself to smile even if you don't feel very happy. Not only is it a sign of happiness, it is a way to get there. Habits are certain behaviors that we perform on a routine basis. They can be good and they can be bad. If we try to increase certain healthy habits into our daily routines, we can become much happier and healthier. It takes conscious … [Read More...]
Why Yogurt Is Good For You
Yogurt tastes good and is good for you. It is a good source of Calcium, Vitamin D, Potassium and Probiotics. CALCIUM: is a mineral that is important for strong bones and teeth. It is also needed in other body functions such as keeping your muscles and nerves working properly, blood clotting, and in the maintenance of your cell membranes. VITAMIN D: helps you absorb the Calcium into … [Read More...]
Different Types of Diabetes?
Did you know that there are different types of Diabetes? In light of November 14 being National Diabetes Day, a short description of this life-threatening disorder and it's different types is summarized below. The body requires energy to function and we receive this energy through what we eat. Once food is digested, a sugar called glucose enters into the bloodstream, and in order … [Read More...]
What are the differences between medical students, interns, residents and attendings?
Medical students are what they sound, students who are studying medicine to become doctors. They are not finished with their schooling which consists of both classroom and clinical instruction. They are exposed to the clinical aspect of medicine by actively participating in patient care within hospitals and clinics. The do so only under close supervision of a medical team, that most often … [Read More...]
A Runny Nose
Did you know that the color of your nasal discharge may give you a hint as to it's cause? If the color of the discharge is clear, it most likely caused by a virus, allergies, or vasomotor rhinorrhea. The common cold is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. While there exist over a hundred cold viruses, rhinoviruses and coronaviruses are the usual culprits. Antibiotics will not treat … [Read More...]
What is Cholera?
Cholera is an acute infection of the small bowel caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, and if left untreated, can kill within hours. This infection causes symptoms such as profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, muscle cramps, rapid dehydration and shock. It is transmitted by the fecal-oral route which means that the pathogen, in this case the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is passed through the … [Read More...]
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