Holiday Gastric Distress

At hospitals, gastric distress is a part of the holiday tradition." Indeed, "in the early hours of Thanksgiving...emergency rooms are typically empty," but certain turkey-cooking practices "can easily strike a blow" to diners. Typically, a frozen turkey is left on a counter top for 12 hours, while a roasted bird may sit "for two or three hours before" reaching the table. "During that time, a virus or bacterium can land on the food and start growing," causing gastroenteritis. "Although bacteria will die" once the bird is reheated, "the toxins made by the bacteria that cause illness can survive even in a hot oven." Bones have also been known to trigger "trips to the hospital," and those "with heart conditions should avoid too much salt, which can trigger an accumulation of fluid in the lungs."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

10 Tips on Constipation and Incontinence of Stool

1.Despite widespread belief, constipation is not necessarily a part of growing older.

2.Bowel habits are similar in both younger and older healthy people.

3.Constipation is defined as stools that are:
Too small
Too hard
Too difficult to pass
Infrequent (less than 3 per week)

4.Constipation is caused by:
Not enough dietary fiber or fluids
Medication side effects
Emotional or physical stress
Misconception about normal bowel habits
Lack of activity
Medical problems

5.How to manage mild-to-moderate constipation:
Gradually add dietary fiber from variou sources
Increase fluids (water, soup, broth, juices)
Eat meals on a regular schedule
Chew your food well
Gradually increase daily exercise
Respond to urges to move your bowels
Avoid straining
See your doctor if these measures don't work

6.Dietary therapy (increased fiber and fluids) and fiber supplements are the preferred treatment for chronic constipation.

7.In some cases, your doctor may recommend the use of stool softeners.

8.Use of mineral oil or stimulant laxatives regularly, consult your doctor to make sure what you are using is right for you.

9.Incontinence of stool or fecal soiling is most often due to leakage around a fecal impaction. Removing the impaction will usually restore continence.

10.Incontinence of stool in healthy older people deserves full education and treatment. Treatment options include:

Adjustment in dietary fiber to reduce amount of stool
Medications to decrease stool frequency
Prescribed use of enemas (not soap enemas)
Biofeedback training
Surgery to restore anal function

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Gastric distress-related ED visits may increase during the holidays

At hospitals, gastric distress is a part of the holiday tradition." Indeed, "in the early hours of Thanksgiving...emergency rooms are typically empty," but certain turkey-cooking practices "can easily strike a blow" to diners. Typically, a frozen turkey is left on a countertop for 12 hours, while a roasted bird may sit "for two or three hours before" reaching the table. "During that time, a virus or bacterium can land on the food and start growing," causing gastroenteritis. "Although bacteria will die" once the bird is reheated, "the toxins made by the bacteria that cause illness can survive even in a hot oven." Bones have also been known to trigger "trips to the hospital," and those "with heart conditions should avoid too much salt, which can trigger an accumulation of fluid in the lungs."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Small study indicates paroxetine may damage men's sperm, impair their fertility

Add anti-depressants to the list of substances that can damage men’s sperm and potentially impair their fertility.

According to a study published online in the journal Fertility & Sterility, antidepressants may "damage men's sperm and potentially impair their fertility." For the study, researchers from the Weill Cornell Medical College "followed 35 healthy men who took paroxetine for five weeks." The investigators then performed tests "to examine DNA fragmentation, which occurs when sperm DNA is missing pieces of the genetic code. The results showed that 50 percent of men had signs of abnormal DNA fragmentation while taking the drug, compared with less than 10 percent at the start of the trial." Following discontinuation of the drug, "the men's sperm returned to normal." The authors theorized that the "antidepressant caused men's sperm to slow down as it makes its way through the male reproductive tract," thereby "allowing it to age and become damaged."

“It’s fairly well known that SSRI anti-depressants negatively impact erectile function and ejaculation. This study goes on step further, demonstrating that they can cause a major increase in genetic damage to sperm,” said Dr. Peter Schlegel, the study’s senior author and professor of reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

“Although this study doesn’t look directly at fertility, we can infer that as many as half of men taking SSRIs have a reduced ability to conceive. The amount, concentration and motility of sperm were not significantly changed by the medication.
Though men may not know it, sperm can be damaged by various substances, including smoking, alcohol, heat, anabolic steroids, drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and some environmental exposures.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Study indicates top medical journals published significant number of ghostwritten articles

"Six of the top medical journals published a significant number of articles in 2008 that were written by ghostwriters financed by drug companies," according to a study in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The findings are of "concern" because "the work of industry-sponsored writers has the potential to introduce bias, affecting treatment decisions by doctors and, ultimately, patient care," the researchers said. The study included "authors of 630 articles who responded anonymously to an online questionnaire." Researchers found that "7.8 percent acknowledged contributions to their articles by people whose work should have qualified them to be named as authors on the papers but who were not listed."
       
The New England Journal of Medicine had "the highest rate of ghostwritten articles" at 10.9 percent, while "Nature Medicine had the lowest rate of unnamed writers, at two percent." Annette Flanagin, managing deputy editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, said that with ghostwriters, "you lose transparency and potential accountability." She added, "Why would they be ghosted if they didn't have an agenda?"

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Survey suggests fatigued, stressed hospital residents report making more major medical errors.

"Internal medicine residents who report higher levels of fatigue, sleepiness, and distress are at greater risk for reporting major medical errors," according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers issued questionnaires to residents who had enrolled in a "Mayo Internal Medicine Well-being Study between July 2003 and February 2009."

Among the "356 participants, 139 (39 percent) reported making at least one major medical error." Of those who reported an error, "68.7 percent screened positive for depression at some point during the study." The researchers also found that "one-point increases on the fatigue and sleepiness scales were associated with 14-percent and 10-percent increased likelihoods of an error being reported during the subsequent three months."

Other factors associated with subsequent error were "burnout, depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, lower personal accomplishment, a positive depression screen," and overall quality of life. The study authors concluded that "in addition to the national efforts to reduce fatigue and sleepiness, well-designed interventions to prevent, identify, and treat distress among physicians are needed." Still, they stressed that "additional research is necessary to determine the most effective strategies for accomplishing these goals."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

CT scans may diagnose heart attacks faster than standard tests.

A rapid CT scan of the heart may provide doctors with a more efficient way to diagnose blocked arteries in people complaining of chest pain," according to research reported at the American Heart Association meeting. In "a study of 701 patients," researchers found that CT angiography "cuts in half the time it usually takes for a doctor to detect a blockage in an artery supplying the heart."
       
The procedure also provides a "cheaper way to diagnose a heart attack when someone goes to the" emergency department (ED) with chest pains. The study showed that CT scan patients' testing cost "$2,137 on average versus $3,458 for standard screening."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Survey suggests more adults searching Internet for health information.

The number of adults who turn to the Internet for health information has nearly doubled in the past two years, from 31 percent to 60 percent," according to a study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Researchers surveyed "2,253 people by landline phone and 502 by cellphone." Ranking highest "as the source adults most often turn to for health information" was healthcare professionals at 86 percent, followed by "family and friends" at 68 percent. Notably, "about half of all online health searches are on behalf of someone else, and...59 percent of users who go to the Internet for health information have read blogs or online comments made by others." Yahoo's Web life editor, speculates that "many adults may turn to the Internet for health advice," because "unlike the doctor's office, the Web is open 24/7, and it's increasingly accessible."

"Unlike the doctor's office, the Web is open 24/7, and it's increasingly accessible in all of the spaces where we live and work," she says.

"People are becoming advocates for themselves as patients by researching illnesses and health care information through the vast resources of the Web."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

THE TWO OTHER INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES (IBD)

Most people know about the two most common idiopathic [cause not known] inflammatory bowel disorders—Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. There are also two other inflammatory bowel diseases that most people don’t know about.
That is collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. The diagnosis is made by biopsy through a colonoscope. The treatment is a type of steroid called Budesonide.
Results of studies show that Histologic remission was observed in 73% of patients given budesonide compared with 31% given placebo (P = .030). During a mean follow-up period of 14 months, 15 patients (44.1%) experienced a clinical relapse (after a mean of 2 months); 8 of the relapsing patients were retreated with and responded again to budesonide. Budesonide effectively induces clinical remission in patients with lymphocytic colitis and significantly improves histology results after 6 weeks.
Clinical relapses occur but can be treated again successfully with budesonide.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY DUE TO METFORMIN

Vitamin B12 deficiency due to metformin is a less common, but potentially severe complication that is often overlooked. Patients at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency include those taking more than 1,000 mg daily of metformin for three years or longer. Patients receiving metformin therapy should be monitored for signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency such as megaloblastic anemia or peripheral neuropathies.

Also, advise patients on metformin to take a multivitamin with B12 and encourage them to get their recommended daily amount of calcium, although there's no proof this will prevent B12 deficiency.
While neuropathy can be related to hyperglycemia, vitamin B12 deficiency should be ruled out as a cause, especially in those patients with diabetes who are taking metformin.

In patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, supplemental oral vitamin B12 should be administered. Calcium supplementation to assure that the recommended daily allowance is being met can also be considered

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Clinically Significant Statin Drug Interactions

Perhaps the most serious consequence of statin interactions is rhabdomyolysis. The risk of myopathy is increased when statins are coadministered with medications that inhibit their metabolism. Atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor) are CYP3A4 substrates and when coadministered with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors the incidence of myopathy is increased by about five fold.
The extent of interaction between atorvastatin and CYP3A4 inhibitors is less than that with lovastatin and simvastatin. Lovastatin and simvastatin are termed "sensitive substrates" because their levels may be increased five-fold or higher by CYP3A4 inhibitors.

Fluvastatin (Lescol) is primarily metabolized by CYP2C9 and to a lesser extent by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. Pravastatin (Pravachol) is not significantly metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system and does not interact with other CYP substrates. Rosuvastatin (Crestor) is also not extensively metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system. Statins are substrates for P-glycoprotein; therefore, drugs that inhibit p-glycoprotein (e.g., cyclosporine, diltiazem, etc) may increase statin levels.
The increased risk of myopathy is well recognized when statins and fibric acid derivatives are coadministered since both classes of drugs have the potential for inducing myopathy. However, the risk is less with fenofibrate than gemfibrozil. This may be because gemfibrozil inhibits hepatic glucuronidation of statins, thereby interfering with statin elimination.

In managing statin interactions, choosing a non-interacting medication or switching to a non-interacting statin (i.e., for chronic therapy) may be the safest or easiest option. For certain statin interactions, reducing the statin dose may be an acceptable management technique.

Interactions between lovastatin or simvastatin and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, itraconazole) are managed by stopping the statin as soon as the interacting drug is started. Recommendations vary, but some experts suggest restarting the statin three days or so after the interacting drug has been discontinued. The cardiovascular risk of stopping a statin must be considered when managing drug interactions. Stopping a statin for up to six weeks in a stable patient appears safe. The cardiovascular risk of stopping a statin is higher in unstable patients. Morbidity and mortality is increased in acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients whose statins are discontinued.The results of statin discontinuation in high risk patients may be seen quickly. In one study there was increased risk of in-hospital death in patients with non-ST segment elevation MI whose statin was discontinued. In addition, stopping statin therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients resulted in early neurologic deterioration and poorer outcomes in an unpublished study. Therefore, statins should only be discontinued in acute MI or stroke when indicated (e.g., rhabdomyolysis).

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

10 Tips on Hemorrhoids

1.Hemorrhoids are masses of swollen veins in the lower rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or at the anus (external hemorrhoids).

2.Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids include:
Bright red rectal bleeding
Staining of undergarments with mucus

3.Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include:
Pain and itching when irritated by constipation or diarrhea
Difficulty with hygiene

4.Hemorrhoids are caused by:
Straining
Work strain (lifting, etc.)
Straining while defecating
Chronic constipation
Passing hard, dry, small stools
Laxative abuse

5.Do not assume rectal bleeding is from hemorrhoids. See your doctor to rule out cancer or other disease.

6.To prevent or manage hemorrhoids, increase your fiber and fluid intake. Consider adding a fiber supplement.

7.Avoid straining at stool or sitting on the toilet for a long time.

8.Clean the external rectal area gently with soap and water following stool evacuation.

9.Try a topical cream or sitz baths to reduce inflammation.

10.See your doctor if you don't improve.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Safe Biopsy: Validated Method for Staging Liver Fibrosis in Hep C

Study results in Hepatology indicate that safe biopsy is a rational and validated method for staging liver fibrosis in hepatitis C with a marked reduction in the need for liver biopsy. It is an attractive tool for large-scale screening of hepatitis C virus carriers.

The staging of liver fibrosis is pivotal for defining the prognosis and indications for therapy in hepatitis C. Although liver biopsy remains the gold standard, several noninvasive methods are under evaluation for clinical use. Researchers validated the recently described sequential algorithm for fibrosis evaluation biopsy. The safe biopsy detects significant fibrosis and cirrhosis by combining the AST-to-platelet ratio index and Fibrotest-Fibrosure, thereby limiting liver biopsy to cases not adequately classifiable by noninvasive markers.

The researchers enrolled hepatitis C virus patients in nine locations in Europe and the U.S. The diagnostic accuracy of safe biopsy versus histology, which is the gold standard, was investigated. The reduction in the need for liver biopsies achieved with safe biopsy was also assessed. Safe biopsy identified significant fibrosis with 90 percent accuracy, and reduced the number of liver biopsies needed by 47 percent. Safe biopsy had 93 percent accuracy for the detection of cirrhosis, obviating 82 percent of liver biopsies. A third algorithm identified significant fibrosis and cirrhosis simultaneously with high accuracy and a 36 percent reduction in the need for liver biopsy. The patient's age and body mass index influenced the performance of safe biopsy, which was improved with adjusted Fibrotest-Fibrosure cutoffs.
The team found that 10 percent of cases had discordant results for significant fibrosis with safe biopsy versus histology, whereas 8 percent of cases were discordant for cirrhosis detection. The research team also found that 71 of the former cases and 56 of the latter cases had a Fibroscan measurement within two months of histological evaluation. Fibroscan confirmed safe biopsy findings in 83 percent and 75 percent, respectively.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Gastric distress-related ED visits may increase during the holidays.

At hospitals, gastric distress is a part of the holiday tradition." Indeed, "in the early hours of Thanksgiving...emergency rooms are typically empty," but certain turkey-cooking practices "can easily strike a blow" to diners. Typically, a frozen turkey is left on a countertop for 12 hours, while a roasted bird may sit "for two or three hours before" reaching the table. "During that time, a virus or bacterium can land on the food and start growing," causing gastroenteritis. "Although bacteria will die" once the bird is reheated, "the toxins made by the bacteria that cause illness can survive even in a hot oven." Bones have also been known to trigger "trips to the hospital," and those "with heart conditions should avoid too much salt, which can trigger an accumulation of fluid in the lungs."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Safe Biopsy: Validated Method for Staging Liver Fibrosis in Hep C

Study results in Hepatology indicate that safe biopsy is a rational and validated method for staging liver fibrosis in hepatitis C with a marked reduction in the need for liver biopsy. It is an attractive tool for large-scale screening of hepatitis C virus carriers.

The staging of liver fibrosis is pivotal for defining the prognosis and indications for therapy in hepatitis C. Although liver biopsy remains the gold standard, several noninvasive methods are under evaluation for clinical use. Researchers validated the recently described sequential algorithm for fibrosis evaluation biopsy. The safe biopsy detects significant fibrosis and cirrhosis by combining the AST-to-platelet ratio index and Fibrotest-Fibrosure, thereby limiting liver biopsy to cases not adequately classifiable by noninvasive markers.

The researchers enrolled hepatitis C virus patients in nine locations in Europe and the U.S. The diagnostic accuracy of safe biopsy versus histology, which is the gold standard, was investigated. The reduction in the need for liver biopsies achieved with safe biopsy was also assessed. Safe biopsy identified significant fibrosis with 90 percent accuracy, and reduced the number of liver biopsies needed by 47 percent. Safe biopsy had 93 percent accuracy for the detection of cirrhosis, obviating 82 percent of liver biopsies. A third algorithm identified significant fibrosis and cirrhosis simultaneously with high accuracy and a 36 percent reduction in the need for liver biopsy. The patient's age and body mass index influenced the performance of safe biopsy, which was improved with adjusted Fibrotest-Fibrosure cutoffs.

The team found that 10 percent of cases had discordant results for significant fibrosis with safe biopsy versus histology, whereas 8 percent of cases were discordant for cirrhosis detection. The research team also found that 71 of the former cases and 56 of the latter cases had a Fibroscan measurement within two months of histological evaluation. Fibroscan confirmed safe biopsy findings in 83 percent and 75 percent, respectively.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

10 Tips on Belching, Bloating, and Flatulence

1.Belching is caused by swallowed air from:
Eating or drinking too fast
Poorly fitting dentures; not chewing food completely
Carbonated beverages
Chewing gum or sucking on hard candies
Excessive swallowing due to nervous tension or postnasal drip
Forced belching to relieve abdominal discomfort

2.To prevent excessive belching, avoid:
Carbonated beverages
Chewing gum
Hard candies
Simethicone may be helpful

3.Abdominal bloating and discomfort may be due to intestinal sensitivity or symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. To relieve symptoms, avoid:
Broccoli
Baked beans
Cabbage
Carbonated drinks
Cauliflower
Chewing gum
Hard candy

4.Abdominal distention resulting from weak abdominal muscles:
Is better in the morning
Gets worse as the day progresses
Is relieved by lying down

5.To prevent Abdominal distention:
Tighten abdominal muscles by pulling in your stomach several times during the day
So sit-up exercises if possible
Wear an abdominal support garment if exercise is too difficult

6.Flatulence is gas created through bacterial action in the bowel and passed rectally. Keep in mind that:
10-18 passages per day are normal
Primary gases are harmless and odorless
Noticeable smells are trace gases related to food intake

7.Foods that are likely to form gas include:
Milk, dairy products, and medications that contain lactose--If your body doesn't produce the enzyme (lactase) to break it down.
Certain vegetables--baked beans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage
Certain starches--wheat, oats, corn, potatoes. Rice is a good substitute.

8.If flatulence is a concern, see your doctor to determine if you are lactose intolerant.

9.Identify offending foods. Reduce or eliminate these gas-forming foods from your diet.

10.Activated Charcoal may provide some benefit.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

8 Tips on Peptic Ulcer Disease

1.Ulcers are "sores" that frequently affect the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum).

2.Bacterial infection is the most common cause of duodenal ulcers.

3.Stomach ulcers are often a side effect of pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs used primarily to treat arthritis.

4.Alcohol ingestion, cigarette smoking, and emotional stress may also influence the development of an ulcer or interfere with its healing.

5.Upper abdominal pain is the most common symptom of ulcers, but many ulcers cause no symptoms at all.

6.Ulcers may hemorrhage (bleeding) into the gastrointestinal tract; this results in the passage of black ("tarry") stool. Very serious ulcer disease may also cause a blockage between the stomach and small intestine and this complication results in persistent vomiting. Severe pain results from the most urgent complication of ulcers - peritonitis caused by a tear through the wall of the stomach or duodenum.

7.Almost all ulcers can be treated successfully, usually without surgery. Many ulcers can be prevented.

Ulcer treatments include antibiotics, agents that neutralize gastric acid or reduce its secretion, and drugs that strengthen the resistance of the stomach and duodenum

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

6 Tips on Hepatitis

1.Five different hepatitis viruses have been identified: type A; type B; type C; type D, or delta virus; and type E. Type A is probably the most prevalent type of viral hepatitis worldwide, followed by types B, E, C, and D.

2.Hepatitis A and E are transmitted through fecally contaminated food or water. Other modes of transmission include needle sharing among intravenous drug abusers; sexual contact; maternal transmission; and transmission by blood transfusion.

3.A simple blood test is used to determine that a person has one or more of the different types of hepatitis.

4.Acute hepatitis is typically characterized by flu-like symptoms (including fever, headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting) and jaundice. Chronic hepatitis is often asymptomatic.

5.Vaccines are available to protect against hepatitis A and B. Additionally, immune globulin for hepatitis A or hepatitis B is recommended when someone has been exposed to an infected person.

6.Among the ways to care for your liver are: limiting alcohol consumption; avoiding liver- damaging drugs; practicing safe sex; avoiding use of illegal drugs; avoiding high doses of vitamins unless prescribed; avoiding tattoos and the sharing of razors; not eating raw shellfish from questionable sources; and carefully following directions for use of toxic substances (e.g., cleaning products).

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

5 Tips on Use of Medications

1.Use of medications increases with age: 80% of older Americans who live independently receive 20 or more prescriptions per year Residents of nursing homes receive an average of 8-10 drugs per day

2.It is important to take medications as prescribed. Reasons for not following directions include:
Too many drugs
Error due to visual or mental impairment
Sharing drugs
Changing doctors
Use of over-the-counter drugs
Sparing expense
Drug side effects
Symptoms not improving

3.See your doctor regularly to check on medications and their effect (bring your medications with you for an office visit or to an emergency room): Drug effect changes with aging There is decreased absorption of drugs through the intestinal tract Decreased kidney function slows drug elimination Metabolism of drugs changes with age

4.The effect medications have on your body will change with aging. For example: Drug action may last longer Drugs may produce toxicity at a lower dose in mature adults than in younger adults

5.Remember that all changes you experience are not necessarily due to aging. For example, decrease in salivary flow is: Due to disease or medication not due to aging

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

5 Tips on Swallowing and Heartburn

1.Abnormal swallowing is commonly perceived as food "sticking on the way down." If this complaint persists, it is sometimes due to a serious condition and should always prompt medical attention.

2.Swallowing difficulty may be caused by a number of different problems including:
* Poor or incomplete chewing (possibly the result of dental problems, poorly fitted dentures, or eating too quickly)
* Abnormal muscle contraction
* Scar tissue from chronic inflammation
* Infection
* Cancer

3.Heartburn is a very common problem caused by regurgitation or reflux of gastric acid into the esophagus, which connects the mouth and the stomach.

4.Heartburn can often be eliminated by avoiding:
* Smoking
* Fatty food in the diet
* Caffeine
* Chocolate
* Peppermint
* Overeating
* Bed-time snacks
* Tight-fitting clothes that constrict the abdomen
* Certain medications
* Heavy lifting, straining

5.It is important to consider the possibility of heart disease before attributing any kind of chest pain to gastroesophageal reflux.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

4 Tips on Circulatory Disorders of the GI Tract

1.The small intestine and the colon have a relatively restricted blood supply and are frequently affected by circulatory disorders, whereas the esophagus, stomach, and rectum are well supplied with blood and are only occasionally involved in circulatory disturbances.

2.The colon is commonly affected by ischemia (reduction of blood flow to a level not permitting normal function). In most cases, symptoms subside within days and healing is seen within 2 weeks. Antibiotics and bowel rest usually suffice. In complicated disease, damaged parts of the colon must be removed surgically.

3.Acute mesenteric ischemia results from inadequate circulation of blood to the small intestine. Treatment is aimed at dilating (opening) the blood vessels with drugs and/or surgery to restore intestinal blood flow and to remove any irreversibly damaged bowel.

4.Chronic mesenteric ischemia results when blood flow to the small intestine is reduced to an insufficient level. It causes pain associated with eating. Surgery is often warranted to correct the problem.


Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

People who suffer chronic pain may be at higher risk for falls.

According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "people who suffer chronic pain may be at higher risk for falls." Researchers "followed more than 700 people over age 70" in the Boston area. "After 18 months," the investigators "found that people who said they felt pain in two or more joints in one month were 50 percent more likely to fall in the following month than people who did not report joint pain."

       "Severe pain and pain that affected participants' ability to do daily activities also made falls more likely, the researchers found." Moreover, "having pain in one month made falling in the next month likely. People who reported severe pain in one month had a 77 percent increased risk of falling the next month," but "even people reporting very mild pain were more likely to fall the following month, the group found."

        "Pain contributes to functional decline and muscle weakness, the researchers said, and it has been associated with mobility limitations that could predispose patients to falls." The study authors suggested that "paying closer attention to pain and falls 'could result in better health and help people to continue living actively and independently in the community.'"

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

NHS decides not to make sorafenib, bevacizumab available

"In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) has decided not to make two more cancer drugs available because of cost." According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, [NICE] the use of "sorafenib (Nexavar) for liver cancer and...bevacizumab (Avastin) for metastatic colorectal cancer" is "not cost-effective." But, the decision on bevacizumab "is preliminary, and the manufacturer, Roche, has said that it will continue to work with NICE on making the drug available." The moves "have sparked headlines about cancer patients being denied life-prolonging drugs" as well as criticism from some oncologists. Karol Sikora, MD, medical director of Cancer Patterns UK, noted that "the British decision about sorafenib puts it 'hopelessly out of step with the rest of Europe,' because every other country within the European Union makes the drug available."
Commentary-Disseminate to those people who want us to emulate the British system of Healthcare-such as Roger Moore of “Sicko”

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Seniors taking psychotropic medications may be at increased risk for falls

According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, seniors who take certain "psychotropic medications may be at increased risk for falls." After analyzing "22 published studies" including "79,081 participants older than 60," University of British Columbia researchers "concluded that there was a significant association between the use of sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines and the risk of falls in older adults."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Gastric distress-related ED visits may increase during the holidays.

At hospitals, gastric distress is a part of the holiday tradition." Indeed, "in the early hours of Thanksgiving...emergency rooms are typically empty," but certain turkey-cooking practices "can easily strike a blow" to diners. Typically, a frozen turkey is left on a countertop for 12 hours, while a roasted bird may sit "for two or three hours before" reaching the table. "During that time, a virus or bacterium can land on the food and start growing," causing gastroenteritis. "Although bacteria will die" once the bird is reheated, "the toxins made by the bacteria that cause illness can survive even in a hot oven." Bones have also been known to trigger "trips to the hospital," and those "with heart conditions should avoid too much salt, which can trigger an accumulation of fluid in the lungs."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Cigarettes "widely contaminated" with hundreds of bacteria

"DNA examination of four cigarette brands shows, for the first time, that cigarettes are 'widely contaminated' with hundreds of different types of bacteria. In fact, there appears to be as many bacteria in cigarettes as there are chemicals." According to the University of Maryland study in Environmental Health Perspectives, the bacteria "are linked to lung, blood, and food-borne-related infections." For example, investigators found "acinetobacter -- associated with certain blood and lung infections" -- and "bacillus -- some types are associated with anthrax and food poisoning." And, if those "organisms can survive the smoking process," the study authors said, "they could possibly go on to contribute to both infectious and chronic illnesses in both smokers and individuals who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

The Latest Opinions In Preventing Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs)

The US is contending with a growing "problem that cost billions of" dollars: hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Some "100,000 people die with hospital transmitted infections every year." Now, two new studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine "demonstrate that simple measures could dramatically reduce the number of hospital-acquired infections."
        Indeed, many hospitals throughout the nation have already launched campaigns against HAIs, including programs that encourage "stepped-up hand-washing by doctors and nurses. The new studies looked at the bacteria patients may be carrying before entering the hospital, especially...Staphylococcus aureus. The lead author of the first study explained that "about one-third of people at any one time carry this bacterium in their nose or on their skin," and "it does not give them any problem." But, if "they go to a hospital and the skin is somehow breached, they are really prone to invasion or infection by their own bacteria."
        With that in mind, a team at the Erasmus University Medical Center set about identifying which patients scheduled for surgery carried the bacteria in their nostrils. Once identified, using a rapid test, patients either received placebo treatment or Bactroban (mupirocin), an antibiotic nose gel, and daily baths with chlorhexidine.
        Over the course of six weeks, "about 3% of the treated group had staph infections, compared to about 8% in the dummy treatment group.. The "treatment also cut average hospital stays by two days." Meanwhile, researchers in the US aimed to find an alternative to "the reddish-brown iodine solution that's been used for decades to swab the skin before an operation."
        In the second study, a team at Baylor College "randomly assigned 849 surgical patients, scheduled for clean-contaminated surgery in six hospitals, to have either a chlorhexidine/alcohol scrub or a scrub and paint with povidone-iodine.. In short, the former "reduced infections by 41% compared with povidone-iodine."
        What's more, the method used by the Texas team is "'much more effective, very simple, and very inexpensive,' compared to that reported by the Dutch group," according to an accompanying editorial. There is, however, "no barrier to both methods being used in people at high risk of infection after surgery, such as those with compromised immune systems.".

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

IOM releases updated pregnancy weight gain guidelines.

for the first time "in nearly two decades," officials at the Institute of Medicine "have issued...new guidelines" regarding weight gain during pregnancy. This is of great importance to many mothers-to-be, because the "health of the newborn depends a lot on the mom's weight."
        In fact, "excessive weight gain during pregnancy has short-term and long-term adverse effects, such as a greater risk of having a C-section and retaining those extra pounds for the mother," There is also an increased risk "of being born prematurely or large with extra fat for the baby. Women who are overweight to begin with also have a greater risk of developing pregnancy-related high blood pressure and diabetes." These are problems that may be hard to avoid, considering that "half of all pregnancies are unplanned, so many women weigh too much when they conceive."
        More than 60 percent of US women of childbearing age are overweight or obese -- a significant increase from 20 years ago." Figures like those, alongside pregnancy complications and the "growing rates of obesity in children," put "pressure on the" IOM "to revise a set of 1990 guidelines that were written primarily to prevent excessively low infant birth weights." But, "with few exceptions, such as putting a limit on how much weight obese women should gain, the new guidelines are the old guidelines wrapped up in a lecture."
        For the majority of women, "including those who are underweight, normal weight, or even overweight at conception," the unchanged guidelines still suggest that "women with a healthy body mass index, or BMI...of 18 to 25 are advised to gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy," while "overweight women with a BMI of 25 to 29.5 should gain less, up to 25 pounds; underweight women, with BMIs below 18.5, should gain more, up to 40 pounds."
        In regards to obese women,"obese moms-to-be should limit their weight gain during pregnancy to between 11 and 20 pounds," whereas the 1990 guidelines "recommended that obese mothers-to-be gain at least 15 pounds during pregnancy." The IOM committee is also urging clinicians to "provide diet and exercise counseling to women before conception so that women can achieve a normal BMI before becoming pregnant."
        Michael Katz, MD, senior vice president for research at the March of Dimes, a co-sponsor of the study, "said the aims of the report are laudable, but 'the effects are very difficult to achieve'" through a "concerted effort".While Dr. Katz said the new guidelines are more conservative than those past, others say they are not conservative enough." Nonetheless, the report's authors are calling "for further study of pregnancy in obese women, as well as the impacts of gestational weight gain on maternal and child outcomes."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

GREAT SITES ON THE INTERNET FOR USE BY PATIENTS AND DOCTORS

The Internet has become a critical medium for clinicians, public health practitioners, and laypeople seeking health information. Data about diseases and outbreaks are disseminated not only through online announcements by government agencies but also through informal channels, ranging from press reports to blogs to chat rooms to analyses of Web searches (see Digital Resources for Disease Detection). Collectively, these sources provide a view of global health that is fundamentally different from that yielded by the disease reporting of the traditional public health infrastructure.

Broader Web-based networks are also proving useful for surveillance. Social-networking sites for clinicians, patients, and the general public hold potential for harnessing the collective wisdom of the masses for disease detection. Given the continued deployment of personally controlled electronic health records, we expect that patients' contributions to disease surveillance will increase. Eventually, mobile-phone technology, enabled by global positioning systems and coupled with short-message-service messaging (texting) and "microblogging" (with Twitter), might also come into play. For instance, an organization called Innovative Support to Emergencies, Diseases, and Disasters (InSTEDD) has developed open-source technology to permit seamless cross-border communication between mobile devices for early warning and response in resource-constrained settings.

Digital Resources for Disease Detection.
Sample Web-based data sources for flu and other infectious diseases worldwide.
ProMED-mail, www.promedmail.org
Global Public Health Intelligence Network (GPHIN),www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/media/nr-rp/2004/2004_gphin-rmispbk-eng.php
HealthMap, www.healthmap.org
MediSys, http://medusa.jrc.it
EpiSPIDER, www.epispider.org
BioCaster, http://biocaster.nii.ac.jp
Wildlife Disease Information Node, http://wildlifedisease.nbii.gov
H5N1 Google Earth mashup, www.nature.com/avianflu/google-earth
Avian Influenza Daily Digest and blog, www.aidailydigest.blogspot.com
Google Flu Trends, www.google.org/flutrends
Google Insights for Search, www.google.com/insights/search
DiSTRIBuTE, www.syndromic.org/projects/DiSTRIBuTE.htm
GeoSentinel, www.istm.org/geosentinel/main.html
Emerging Infections Network, http://ein.idsociety.org
Argus, http://biodefense.georgetown.edu
Sample health-related social-networking sites
Physicians, www.sermo.com
Patients, www.patientslikeme.com
Everyone, www.healthysocial.org

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Researchers say novel cleaning methods reduce hospital-room bacteria by nearly 90 percent.

Two "studies on new cleaning methods show that they can reduce bacteria, including hard-to-remove Clostridium difficile spores, by almost 90 percent," according to research presented at the 49th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in San Francisco. In the first study, cleaning with "ultramicrofiber mops and cloths plus copper biocide removed 80...to 85 percent of bacteria," and the "antibacterial effect of the copper biocide persisted for 23 hours after cleaning." In the second study, researchers used an "automated UV radiation device," the Tru-D, to "decontaminate hospital rooms. ... Tru-D reduced methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus bacteria by 89 percent and C. difficile spores by 83 percent" in 40 hospital rooms

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

PHYSICIAN URGES RETURN TO MORE PERSONAL CARE

In an op-ed for the New York Times Dr. Dena Rifkin, a physician at the University of California-San Diego, writes that since the Institute of Medicine's report on deaths caused by medical errors, "there has been tremendous focus on how many mistakes physicians and hospitals make, how much they cost and how to prevent them." She says that many hospitals reacted with a "brisk and multifaceted" response, but that "none of these interventions, however well meant, address a fundamental problem that is emerging in modern medicine: a change in focus from treating the patient toward satisfying the system."

A close family member was recently hospitalized after nearly collapsing at home. He was promptly checked in, and an electrocardiogram was done within 15 minutes. He was given a bar-coded armband, his pain level was assessed, blood was drawn, X-rays and stress tests were performed, and he was discharged 24 hours later with a revised medication list after being offered a pneumonia vaccine and an opportunity to fill out a living will.The only problem was an utter lack of human attention. An emergency room physician admitted him to a hospital service that rapidly evaluates patients for potential heart attacks. No one noted the blood tests that suggested severe dehydration or took enough history to figure out why he might be fatigued.
A doctor was present for a few minutes at the beginning of his stay, and fewer the next day. Even my presence, as a family member and physician, did not change the cursory attitude of the doctors and nurses we met.Yet his hospitalization met all the current standards for quality care.

It has been 10 years since the Institute of Medicine’s seminal report on deaths caused by medical errors (numbering at least 44,000 a year). Since then, there has been tremendous focus on how many mistakes physicians and hospitals make, how much they cost and how to prevent them.

The response at most hospitals has been brisk and multifaceted. Hospital accreditation committees now audit charts for outdated abbreviations and proper signing of notes. Electronic prescription systems are rapidly becoming the norm. Pay-for-performance interventions by insurers promise to reward those who make the grade and to refuse payment to those whose treatments cause complications like hospital-acquired infections.

But as we bustle from one well-documented chart to the next, no one is counting whether we are still paying attention to the human beings. No one is counting whether we admit that the best source of information, the best protection from medical error, the best opportunity to make a difference — that all of these things have been here all along. The answers are with the patients, and we must remember the unquantifiable value of asking the right questions.

She adds that medical professionals "are paying attention to the details of medical errors," yet "no one is counting whether we are still paying attention to the human beings."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

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Illinois consumers can view hospital quality data on state-sponsored website.

Six years after Illinois passed "legislation in 2003" calling "for a Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide" to "document hospital-acquired infections and the adequacy of nursing staffs," as well as "to compare hospitals' performance on 30 leading medical procedures with wide variation in outcomes and costs," the "report card and consumer guide are" now "a reality" for "11 conditions," with "more data" to "be added in the months ahead."

For the first time, consumers can pore over abundant data -- much of it previously unpublished -- about Illinois hospitals and surgery centers on a state-sponsored website." These "data include information about what these medical providers charge, how many procedures they perform, how often they deliver recommended care, and how consumers rate their care." The Tribune adds that "some of the information comes from Medicare Compare, published by the federal government, but it is presented on the state website in a much more accessible form."

But Public report cards ranking performance may not encourage hospitals to improve.
One might assume that public report cards ranking their performance would encourage hospitals to improve, but a new...study " published in the Journal of the American Medical Association "finds that isn't the case." Investigators "examined medical records from 86 hospitals in Ontario that admitted patients with heart attack or heart failure." The researchers found that "even after report cards were released, the hospitals, in general, didn't show improvement.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

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MEDICATION EXPIRATION DATES

Is the expiration date a marketing ploy by drug manufacturers, to keep you restocking your medicine cabinet and their pockets regularly? You can look at it that way. Or you can also look at it this way: The expiration dates are very conservative to ensure you get everything you paid for. And, really, if a drug manufacturer had to do expiration-date testing for longer periods it would slow their ability to bring you new and improved formulations.

One of the largest studies ever conducted that supports the above points about "expired drug" labeling was done by the US military 15 years ago, according to a feature story in the Wall Street Journal (March 29, 2000), reported by Laurie P. Cohen. The military was sitting on a $1 billion stockpile of drugs and facing the daunting process of destroying and replacing its supply every 2 to 3 years, so it began a testing program to see if it could extend the life of its inventory. The testing, conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ultimately covered more than 100 drugs, prescription and over-the-counter. The results showed that about 90% of them were safe and effective as far as 15 years past their original expiration date.

In light of these results, a former director of the testing program, Francis Flaherty, said he concluded that expiration dates put on by manufacturers typically have no bearing on whether a drug is usable for longer. Mr. Flaherty noted that a drug maker is required to prove only that a drug is still good on whatever expiration date the company chooses to set. The expiration date doesn't mean, or even suggest, that the drug will stop being effective after that, nor that it will become harmful. "Manufacturers put expiration dates on for marketing, rather than scientific, reasons," said Mr. Flaherty, a pharmacist at the FDA until his retirement in 1999. "It's not profitable for them to have products on a shelf for 10 years. They want turnover."

If the expiration date passed a few years ago and it's important that your drug is absolutely 100% effective, you might want to consider buying a new bottle. And if you have any questions about the safety or effectiveness of any drug, ask your pharmacist. He or she is a great resource when it comes to getting more information about your medications.

First, the expiration date, required by law in the United States, beginning in 1979, specifies only the date the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of the drug -- it does not mean how long the drug is actually "good" or safe to use. Second, medical authorities uniformly say it is safe to take drugs past their expiration date -- no matter how "expired" the drugs purportedly are. Except for possibly the rarest of exceptions, you won't get hurt and you certainly won't get killed.

Even 10 years after the "expiration date," most drugs have a good deal of their original potency. So wisdom dictates that if your life does depend on an expired drug, and you must have 100% or so of its original strength, you should probably toss it and get a refill, in accordance with the cliché, "better safe than sorry." If your life does not depend on an expired drug -- such as that for headache, hay fever, or menstrual cramps -- take it and see what happens.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

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Sharing hospital room may increase infection risk during stay

Sharing a hospital room increases your risk of picking up an infection during your stay, a new study shows." The work, by researchers from Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., "found that each new roommate raised a patient's risk of picking up an infection in hospital by about 10 percent." The study's senior author, Dr. Dick Zoutman, said in a statement, "That's a substantial risk, particularly for longer hospital stays when you can expect to have many different roommates."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

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A BETTER ANSWER FOR DOCTORS WORRIED ABOUT HIGH MALPRACTICE INSURANCE PREMIUMS ?

Tom Baker, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, is the author of “The Medical Malpractice Myth. Says that our medical liability system needs reform. But anyone who thinks that limiting liability would reduce health care costs is fooling himself. Preventable medical injuries, not patient compensation, are what ring up extra costs for additional treatment. This means taxpayers, employers and everyone else who buys health insurance — all of us — have a big stake in patient safety.

Eighty percent of malpractice claims involve significant disability or death, a 2006 analysis of medical malpractice claims conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health shows, and the amount of compensation patients receive strongly depends on the merits of their claims. Most people injured by medical malpractice do not bring legal claims, earlier studies by the same researchers have found.
On the other hand, risk managers, for example, and spurring anesthesiologists to improve their safety standards and practices. Even medical societies’ efforts to attack the liability system have helped, by inspiring the research that has documented the surprising extent of preventable injuries in hospitals. That research helped start the patient safety movement. When it comes to rising medical costs, liability is a symptom, not the disease. Getting rid of liability might save money for hospitals and some high-risk specialists, but it would cost society more by taking away one of the few hard-wired patient safety incentives.
Besides, there’s a better answer for doctors worried about high malpractice insurance premiums.

Critics point to defensive medicine as the hidden burden that liability imposes on health care. Yet research shows that while the fear of liability changes doctors’ behavior, that isn’t necessarily a burden. Some defensive medicine is, like defensive driving, good practice. Too often, we can’t distinguish between treatments that are necessary and those that are wasteful. Better research on what works and what doesn’t — evidence-based medicine — will help. And it will address the more general challenge of avoiding costly but unnecessary care.
Just as we need evidence-based medicine, we also need evidence-based medical liability reform. The research shows, overwhelmingly, that the real problem is too much malpractice, not too many malpractice lawsuits. So medical providers should be required to disclose injuries, provide quicker compensation to deserving patients and — here’s the answer for doctors worried about their premiums — shift the responsibility for buying malpractice insurance to hospitals and other large medical institutions. Evidence-based liability reform would give these institutions the incentive they need to cut back on the most wasteful aspect of American health care: preventable medical injuries.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Which Antiseptic Is Best To Reduce The Risk Of Staph Infection?

The chemical antiseptic chlorhexidine does a better job than povidone-iodine in reducing the risk of surgical site infections, even in carriers of Staphylococcus aureus, according to two new randomized studies.Researchers in the U.S. found that chlorhexidine and alcohol, used for preoperative skin cleansing, reduced infections by 41% compared with povidone-iodine.

And Dutch investigators found that screening and decolonizing patients who are nasal carriers of S. aureus, combined with washing with chlorhexidine soap, reduced the risk of infection by 58%.

The two prospective studies are reported in the New England Journal of Medicine and offer "valuable insights for controlling surgical-site infections. An accompanying editorial, wrote that the findings "offer remarkably safer strategies for all patients who require surgery."

Overall, the researchers found, the rate of infection was 9.5% in the chlorhexidine group, compared with 16.1% in the povidone-iodine group. The chlorhexidine/alcohol scrub proved more protective against superficial incisional infections and deep incisional infections.

The researchers concluded that better skin antisepsis could result in a "significant clinical benefit."

The study is a "landmark", according to the University of Michigan Health Systems in Ann Arbor.If the study is eventually translated into national guidelines," the impact would be huge. That would include those undergoing cardiac surgery, patients receiving an implant, and those with a compromised immune system.

In the Netherlands, researchers enrolled 808 people who were positive for S. aureus and underwent a surgical procedure that was expected to keep them in hospital for at least four days.

They found:
In the mupirocin/chlorhexidine group, 17 of 504 patients (or 3.4%) got an S. aureus infection, compared with 32 of 413 patients (or 7.7%) in the placebo group.

The benefit was greatest for deep surgical-site infections, where the relative risk was 0.21, with a 95% confidence interval from 0.07 to 0.62.

The time from admission to the onset of S. aureus infections was significantly shorter in the placebo group than in the mupirocin/chlorhexidine group, at P=0.005.
The "weight of evidence" is now firmly on the side of chlorhexidine and alcohol as a preoperative skin cleansing, rather than povidone and iodine.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

At What Age Should Mammograms Should Begin?

The Journal of the American College of Radiology urges women to begin seeking mammograms every year beginning at age 40. The suggestion is "at odds with controversial advice by the US Preventive Services Task Force that women put off mammograms until age 50 and even then just get them every two years, in most cases." A professor of radiology at Harvard, charged that the USPTF "didn't pay enough attention to the results of studies

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Are Statin Medicines Good For Everyone?

Statins like Lipitor have gotten great publicity-with some advocating putting it in the drinking water. New research,however, shows that statin drugs may negatively impact some patients with cardiac disorders. A new study presented at the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians found that statins benefit patients with systolic heart failure (SHF), but not those with diastolic heart failure (DHF). These patients experienced increased dyspnea, fatigue, and decreased exercise tolerance. “It is possible that statins would help patients with systolic heart failure more than patients with diastolic heart failure due to the cholesterol-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects of statins. US Pharm. 2009;34(12):10.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

THE ABCs Of Colon Cancer [CRC] Screening

Involved organizations promote a message for adults: get screened if you are 50 or older.

It is predicted that if all individuals aged 50 or older had regular colorectal screening tests resulting in the removal of all precancerous polyps, up to 90% of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented. The premise for the utility of cancer screening, in general, is that early diagnosis may reduce cancer mortality, result in less radical therapy, and decrease costs. Colorectal cancer screening, in particular, is capable of detecting precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum for removal and can detect early-stage cancer so that treatment may be initiated when it is more effective, often leading to a cure.

Screening for colorectal cancer begins soon after an individual turns 50 years of age, then continues at regular intervals. People at higher risk for colorectal cancer should be tested at a younger age and/or more frequently, including individuals who 1) have a personal or close family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer; 2) have inflammatory bowel disease; 3) have genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. Patients should speak to their health care provider to ascertain when they should begin screening and how often they should be tested.

A consensus guideline for colorectal cancer screening was released in March 2008 by the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology (ACS/USMSTF/ACR), while the USPSTF updated its screening recommendations in October 2008. Ongoing studies drive the constantly evolving recommended screening schedules. For the latest in cancer screening point your medical professional to these articles. Ask your medical professional where you fit in.

Levin B, Lieberman D, McFarland B, et al. Screening and surveillance for the early detection of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps, 2008: a joint guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. CA Cancer J Clin. 2008;58:130-160. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for colorectal cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2008;149:627-637.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

USE CELL PHONES TO PROTECT FROM ALZHEIMERS?

If you’re a mouse using a cell phone you’ve got it made. In mice prone to an animal form of Alzheimer's disease, long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation typical of cell phones slowed and reversed the course of the illness. Cell phone exposure, begun in early adulthood, protects the memory of mice otherwise destined to develop Alzheimer's symptoms. And the electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones actually reversed memory impairment in old Alzheimer's mice. A similar exposure in normal mice -- for two hours a day over seven to nine months -- improved their cognitive abilities compared with controls reports the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, which is the research journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Rreactions to the study ranged from "interesting" to "nonsense” because it's too early to say whether the findings have any relevance to humans. Even science published in reputable journals can turn out to be wrong, adding "extreme caution is necessary until this outcome has been confirmed independently in other laboratories. And even if the science is correct, "humans are not just big mice, and we must always be cautious in extrapolating results from mice to man."

The report comes almost exactly two years after researchers at the University of Sunderland, in England, said they had shown that infrared light could improve cognition in mice.That report led to the development of the so-called "Alzheimer's helmet," aimed at slowing or reversing the disease in humans. Whether that works has not been shown yet.


Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

DENTAL CARIES FROM GERD

Patients with gastroesophageal reflux [GERD] sometimes develop dental erosion owing to chemical dissolution of enamel. Researchers used optical coherence tomography to assess tooth demineralization and enamel loss in 30 patients receiving either placebo or esomeprazole [Nexium] acid suppression. The researchers describe significantly diminished loss of enamel thickness and reduced tissue demineralization in patients randomly assigned esomeprazole versus those given placebo

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

inverse association between coffee consumption and liver disease

Investigators who studied the coffee-drinking habits of 766 patients with chronic hepatitis C report an inverse association between coffee consumption and liver disease progression. A dose-dependent trend was observed, in which participants who consumed three or more cups a day had significantly less disease progression than coffee nondrinkers.This ought to send Starbucks stocks skyrocketing.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

WHITE FLOUR GOOD-WHOLE GRAIN BAD!

Insoluble fiber may actually aggravate IBS.

In the U.S. many patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] modify their diets, hoping to alleviate certain symptoms. Now, research from the UK "shows conclusively that eating extra bran and other fiber is likely to do more harm than good." Instead of insoluble fiber, investigators recommend that IBS patients consume "white bread, white pasta, biscuits, cakes, and cream crackers -- anything, as long as its made from refined white flour."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

HOW ACCURATE ARE NUTRITION PACKAGE LABELS?

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, "prepared foods may contain an average of 8% more calories than their package labels own up to, and restaurant meals may contain a whopping 18% more." The misleading labels are also said to be "perfectly o.k." with the Food and Drug Administration, which "plays no role in checking the calorie claims in restaurants." Without federal regulation, "it's up to the states to handle the job - with the predictable patchwork results." Susan Roberts, who conducted the study, described the unregulated menu counts as "the Wild West when it comes to this."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Hormone Replacement Drug Lawsuits

Most of the hormone lawsuits in the U.S."focus on the drug Prempro [conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone]," which was "prescribed to treat" menopausal symptoms.

On Jan. 6, 2010 the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals "reinstated more than 100 lawsuits against drug companies filed by women or their surviving relatives who claimed that hormone replacement therapy caused breast cancer." The move overturned "a 2008 district court ruling that had blocked almost all of the suits from being sent back to state court in Minnesota and dismissed most of the lawsuits that were being heard in Little Rock." The appeals court also "reversed the dismissal of dozens of cases that the lower court ruled should not have been part of the litigation because they duplicated claims pending in California."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Does Radiation Exposure From Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Full-Body Scanners Pose Health Risks For Passengers?

Most of the scanners deployed in the US use x-rays to look for objects hidden under clothes. While "exposure to x-rays, to radiation, can increase the risk of cancer," according to "the machine's manufacturers, and an independent study...the scanners pose little risk."

The American College of Radiology has issued" an official statement that the group "is not aware of any evidence that either of the scanning technologies that the TSA is considering would present significant biological effects for passengers screened."
       
James Thrall, MD, FACR, of the American College of Radiology and chief of radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, said, "All of the concerns that we have about the medical use of X-rays really don't apply to" the two types of scanners, millimeter wavelength imaging and backscatter X-ray scanners, because "the exposure is extremely low."

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

SHOULD TIES BE BANNED FROM HOSPITALS?

In June,2009 the American Medical Association considered Resolution 720, which advocates a new dress code for doctors "due to evidence that neckties, long sleeves and other clothing items and accessories have been implicated in the spread of infections in hospitals." An AMA committee is seeking solid scientific evidence before it brings the matter to a vote.
The British Medical Association already decided the issue. It recommended in 2006 that physicians jettison "functionless" articles of clothing, including neckties, "as superbugs can be carried on them."

Neckties are rarely, if ever, cleaned. When a patient is seated on the examining table, doctors' ties often dangle perilously close to sneeze level. In recent years, a debate has emerged in the medical community over whether they harbor dangerous germs. Several hospitals have proposed banning them outright. Some veteran doctors suspect the anti-necktie campaign has more to do with younger physicians' desire to dress casually than it does with modern medicine. At least one tie maker is pushing a compromise solution: neckwear with an antimicrobial coating.

An 2004 analysis of neckties worn by 42 doctors and medical staffers at the New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens found that nearly half carried bacteria that could cause illnesses such as pneumonia and blood infections. That compared with 10% for ties worn by security guards at the hospital.

But many doctors favor ties for the air of formality they lend the profession. Professionals say neckwear conveys "respect for patients" and shouldn't be jettisoned. That has turned into an opportunity for SafeSmart Inc. The St. Augustine, Fla., company sells ties treated with a stain-resistant coating that the company says thwarts microbes.Independent lab tests, show the coating "repels bacterial contamination." Two years ago, her firm rolled out a line of ties aimed at doctors. One client is Wilson Memorial Hospital, north of Dayton, Ohio. The institution's infection-control committee recently advised physicians to keep their arms bare and scrubbed from the elbows down, and their ties tucked away. Some doctors quit wearing ties, but not everyone was willing. So the committee bought a batch of antimicrobial ties. They're black and gold and sport the caduceus, the symbol of the medical profession.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

FDA Approves New Treatment for Shingles-Related Pain

The FDA has approved Qutenza, a patch containing 8% capsaicin, to treat postherpetic neuralgia. Qutenza must be applied to the skin by a healthcare professional. It can be used for 60 minutes, as often as once every 3 months, according to the manufacturer.

Before placing a patch, providers should treat the affected area with a topical anesthetic. In addition, they should monitor patients for at least 1 hour after patch application because of the risk for increased blood pressure. Other side effects may include pain, swelling, itching, redness, and bumps at the application site.Capsaicin, a compound in chili peppers, is available in over-the-counter products in lower concentrations, but this is the first prescription-level formulation approved by the FDA.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

5 Tips on Nutrition and Aging

1. Nutrition plays a role in cardiovascular disease, some malignancies, adult-onset diabetes, osteoporosis, alcoholism, and recovery from major injury.

2. Malnutrition can weaken the immune system, impair healing following surgery or injury, lessen mobility, and reduce mental capabilities and function. It is common in older adults.

3. To maintain good health, total fat intake should be reduced to 30% or less of calories. Saturated fat intake should only account for 10% (one third of fat calories). Salt and alcohol intake also should be limited.

4. Dietary fat content composed primarily of monounsaturated fat (eg, olive oil) and polyunsaturated fat (eg, canola, corn and fish oils) may be associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease.

5. Foods to be avoided include whole milk and dairy products (ice cream, cheese, butter); commercially baked goods (cookies and crackers); hot dogs, ham, and cold cuts; and oils, gravies, and salad dressing.

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

5 Tips on Irritable Bowel Syndrome

1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive problem also known as "spastic colon" or "irritable colon."

2. IBS symptoms include:
• Abdominal pain (colicky, periodic or continuous dull pain)
• Erratic bowel activity; frequent constipation or diarrhea
• Accompanying symptoms of bloating, nausea, headache, fatigue
• Sensitivity to intestinal gas (cramping, flatulence)

3. The cause of IBS is unknown:
• No evidence of specific disease
• May be triggered by psychological factors or ingestion of food

4. IBS is a condition that:
• Is more common in women
• Usually starts at an early age (20s and 30s) and recurs from time to time
• Rarely starts past age 55

5. Treatment of IBS includes:
• Careful explanation of the syndrome, including what it is not
• Better management of key triggers: stress and diet
• Modification of diet to reduce or exclude foods that promote gas
• Drug therapy to relieve symptoms (bulk fiber products, antispasmodics, antidiarrheals)
• Occasionally, psychiatric therapy and medication

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

5 Tips on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

1. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammation of the small or large intestine that may cause these symptoms:

• Diarrhea
• Rectal bleeding
• Sharp abdominal pain or cramping
• Intestinal obstruction
• Fever
See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms

2. There are two types of IBD:
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Starts in rectum and spreads upward
• Affects men more than women
• Crohn's Disease
• More patchy inflammation
• Can start anywhere in the digestive tract
• Affects women more than men

3. The cause of IBD is unknown. What is known about IBD includes the following:
• IBD is not Contagious.
• IBD is not caused by diet.
• IBD is not a form of cancer.
• IBD affects young and old alike.
• IBD can usually be treated with medicine but sometimes requires surgery.

4. Diagnosis of IBD is based on:
• Family history, travel history, current medications
• Stool sample to rule out infection
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy and biopsy to rule out cancer and to identify
• IBD
• X-ray studies

5. Treatment of IBD may include:
• Medications to reduce or eliminate inflammation
• Special diet or elemental formula diet
• Surgery

Time is critical. If you suspect IBD, call your doctor

Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

5 Tips on Gallstone Disease

5 Tips on Gallstone Disease
1. Gallstones typically develop over many years, although they can form in months. Gallstones are present in about 20% of women and 10% of men over the age of 55.

2. There are two basic types of gallstones: cholesterol and pigment. Cholesterol gallstones are the most common type in the United States.

3. About 75% of gallstones do not cause symptoms. The most common symptom caused by gallbladder stones is episodic upper abdominal pain.

4. For healthy patients who have no symptoms, no therapy or change in diet is needed. Patients with uncomplicated symptomatic gallbladder stones should reduce dietary fat and consider surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). An alternate approach is oral bile acid therapy. For complicated disease, gallbladder removal is warranted.

5. Patients who undergo rapid weight loss are at risk for the development of small cholesterol gallstones and may benefit from bile acid therapy. Gallstones can seldom be prevented, although a low-fat diet may provide some protective benefit.

CONTACT
Web: www.Hookman.com
Phone: 561.445.0486
E-Mail: hookman@hookman.com
Book Website: www.MedMalBook.com


Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice.
For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com