Pain comes to us allI’ve reached that age when everything hurts.
Age, overuse, less-than-perfect posture and a family history of arthritis have resulted in a variety of aches and pains: stiff neck, sore knees, carpal tunnel, stiff shoulders, foot pain, headaches, and so on.
These are the common miseries to which we all fall victim at one time or another. Occasional use of over-the-counter pain remedies such as acetaminophen, … read on
A new vaccine for shinglesI’m scheduled for an annual exam later this month. As I was perusing the long list of preventive health recommendations for adults, I noticed the shingles vaccine is being recommended for anyone age 50 or older.
I posted about the shingles vaccine a few years ago, and at that time it wasn’t considered worthwhile before 60. What changed?
Well, a new vaccine—Shingrix—appears to be … read on
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness MonthThere are several screening tools for colon cancer: colonoscopy, fecal occult blood test (FOBT), fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and the new kid on the block, Cologuard.
You may be interested: How to prevent colon cancer
Like FOBT and FIT, Cologuard uses a stool sample to find evidence of colon cancer. It was approved by the FDA in 2014, and its marketing on TV and … read on
Yesterday a well-known celebrity died following a stroke at the pretty young age of 52. I’m re-publishing this post to remind everyone how to spot a stroke and get help FAST! FN
What is a stroke?A stroke occurs when blood (oxygen) cannot get to the brain tissue, and the brain cells die. A stroke can be caused by a clot (called an ischemic stroke) or a ruptured blood vessel … read on
Modern life is stressfulI don’t know about you, but this has been a long and stressful winter for me.
On top of a very cold and snowy month, there have been family issues, health issues, car and home issues, etc., that have piled on, and I haven’t done a very good job taking care of myself.
I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Again and again I read articles … read on
Noise and sleep—help!A friend recently asked me about white noise machines, and if I knew whether they helped with sleep or not.
I’ve never used one, and honestly didn’t know anything about them.
In theory, white noise masks more irritating noises, such as traffic, airplanes, barking dogs, talking, television and random household sounds.
For sensitive individuals, or shift workers or partners of snorers, noise can be a major sleep … read on
Teladoc worked for meI’ve posted before about Teladoc and the other telemedicine providers. In our highly-technical age, telemedicine, I think, fills a useful niche for providing quick, inexpensive care for minor ailments.
Last weekend I finally got a chance to use it myself to see how it worked.
On Friday I suspected I might be coming down with a UTI (bladder infection). I decided to drink a lot … read on
Hospital safety and medical mistakesIt’s been a while since I posted about staying safe in the hospital, so it’s time for an updated post.
Because the problem really isn’t getting any better.
Although there’s been much effort over the last decade to increase patient safety and reduce medication errors, medical mistakes still contribute to approximately 250,000 deaths every year.
Different sources rate medical error as the second or third … read on
Vomiting? Diarrhea? Stay hydratedThere are so many causes of nausea. Many of them cause vomiting and diarrhea, too.
But whether it’s a virus infection (gastroenteritis), a bacteria (food poisoning), hormones (pregnancy), medications (chemotherapy) or another medical condition (such as vertigo), the most important step is to stay hydrated.
Tips to stay hydrated:
aka Single Payer healthcareJudging from the early noise around the 2020 presidential election, I think healthcare will again be a big issue.
And it should be! Our system is still outrageously expensive and unfair.
There is a growing demand for some sort of universal healthcare coverage, a Medicare-for-all or single payer system like other countries have.
But before we vote to upend the healthcare system (again), let’s take time … read on