September 3rd, 2011 by Linda Burke-Galloway, M.D. in Health Tips
Tags: Bishop Score, C-Section, Cervical Ripening, Cervix, Consistency, Dilation, Edward Bishop, Effacement, Fetal Station, Induction, Labor, Mother, Newborn Complications, OB/GYN, Obstetrics And Gynecology, Pregnancy, Station, Vaginal Delivery
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At some point during a pregnancy, the topic of labor induction might emerge. Inducing labor means that contractions are being started before a patient begins labor naturally or without any external influence. Elective inductions of labor has doubled in the past 20 years according to medical literature. Early term inductions of labor that begin between 37 and 38 weeks have quadrupled from 2 to 8% within the U.S. Inductions are usually done when the risk of maintaining the pregnancy poses a threat to the mother or fetus. However, more and more patients have requested to have an induction of labor based on personal preference. Early elective inductions have recently been criticized because of an association with an increase in fetal and newborn complications as well as an increase in the C. Section rate.
The Bishop Score was developed in the 1960’s by Dr. Edward Bishop as a means of evaluating the cervix to determine if the patient would successfully have a vaginal delivery. Based on Bishop’s research, he determined that women who were pregnant for the first time and women who had an “unfavorable” cervix were Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway*
September 2nd, 2011 by MuinKhouryMDPhD in Health Tips, Research
Tags: Cancer, CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Diabetes, DNA Testing, Effectiveness, Family Health History, Gene-Environment Interaction, Genetic Testing, Genetics, Genomics, Government Accountability Office, Healthy Choices, Healthy Lifestyle, Heart Disease, Kari Stefansson, Personal Genomic Tests, Spit
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Campaigns against public spitting in the 19th century were largely driven by concerns about the spread of tuberculosis. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, spitting seems to be making a comeback. Over the past few years, several companies have begun offering personal genomic tests online to the public. There have been famous images of “spit parties”, where celebrities are seen filling tubes with saliva to ship for DNA testing. Getting information on one’s genes has been promoted as fun, as part of social networking, and as a basis for improving health and preventing disease.
When it comes to spitting to improve one’s health, we say: think before you spit. Our knowledge of the potential benefits and harms of these tests is incomplete at best. Despite exciting research advances in genomics of common diseases, there is still much to learn about what this information means and how to use it to prevent disease. A little bit of incomplete or inaccurate information may even be harmful.
There are at least 2 key questions to consider when deciding whether personal genomic tests are worth your spit. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Genomics and Health Impact Blog*
September 1st, 2011 by EvanFalchukJD in Health Tips
Tags: Ask Questions, Best Doctors, Best Technology, Billionaire, Brain Cancer, Diagnosis, Doctor Patient Relationship, Family History, Jerome Groopman, Low-tech test, Meningitis, Quality Care, Second Opinion, Teddy Forstmann
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Billionaire Teddy Forstmann has apparently been diagnosed with a serious form of brain cancer. There’s a tragic twist to the story: according to Fox Business News, Forstmann believes that for more than a year, he had been misdiagnosed with meningitis.
ABC News wonders:
How could such a misfortune befall a billionaire —- a man able to afford the best doctors, best technology and the most sophisticated diagnostic tests?
They’re missing the point. Misdiagnosis happens with shocking regularity – as much as Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at BestDoctors.com: See First Blog*
August 31st, 2011 by John Mandrola, M.D. in Health Tips, Research
Tags: Activity, ADHD, Anthracyclines, Apoptosis, Arthritis, Cancer, Cancer Patients, Cardiac injury, Cardiac Toxicity, Concentration, doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury, Endurance, Exercise, Healthy Living, Heart Disease, Hippocampus, Intelligence, Memory, NSAIDs
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It’s Wednesday, so I would like to tell you about some cool things I learned this past week about the science of how exercise can be used as a treatment for three common ailments.
First, some background about exercise: The great thing about exercising every day that you eat is that this magic potion is not a shot or a pill. It does not involve a doctor burning or squishing anything in your body. There are no HIPAA forms, no insurance pre-certifications, and not even a co-pay. It’s as we say, easy and free. And drum roll please…exercise is active—not passive.
Here’s the Mandrola take on how exercise might treat three specific medical conditions: Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Dr John M*
August 28th, 2011 by GarySchwitzer in Health Tips, News
Tags: Brian Williams, Cardiology, Coronary Heart Disease, CRP, Heart Disease-Related Death, Howard Brody, John Abramson, Lacking Evidence, Life Saving, Medical History, Merrill Goozner, Nancy Snyderman, NBC, Nieman Reports, Paul Ridker, Risk Factors, Screening, Simple Blood Test, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Women over 40
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After seeing the NBC Nightly News last night, a physician urged me to write about what he saw: a story about a “simple blood test that could save women’s lives.”
Readers – and maybe especially TV viewers – beware whenever you hear a story about “a simple blood test.”
And this is a good case in point.
Brian Williams led into the story stating:
“Two of three women who die suddenly of cardiac heart disease have no previous symptoms which is all the more reason women may want to ask their doctors about a blood test that can be a lifesaver.”
Then NBC News chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman said:
“It’s not a new test, it’s not an experimental test but nonetheless it’s a test not a lot of people know about and that’s a problem because this simple blood test could save your life.”
The test in question is Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog*
At some point during a pregnancy, the topic of labor induction might emerge. Inducing labor means that contractions are being started before a patient begins labor naturally or without any external influence. Elective inductions of labor has doubled in the past 20 years according to medical literature. Early term inductions of labor that begin between 37 and 38 weeks have quadrupled from 2 to 8% within the U.S. Inductions are usually done when the risk of maintaining the pregnancy poses a threat to the mother or fetus. However, more and more patients have requested to have an induction of labor based on personal preference. Early elective inductions have recently been criticized because of an association with an increase in fetal and newborn complications as well as an increase in the C. Section rate.
