January 29th, 2010 by Dr. Val Jones in Announcements, Video
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Thanks to a tip from FOX Business Network, Bill Gates has just announced that his Foundation is doubling its financial support ($10 billion over the next 10 years) to save children from vaccine-preventable illnesses on a global scale. This is very good news, and probably the best use of Gates Foundation money from an ROI perspective in healthcare.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvAxIQhQU3o
For more information, check out the GAVI Alliance (on Twitter, follow: @)
Another helpful site: Immunization Action Coalition
January 16th, 2010 by DrWes in Better Health Network, True Stories
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Recently, I’ve been recovering from some form of upper respiratory illness – of what form, I have no clue – but it was probably the dreaded H1N1 influenza virus or its equivalent (yes, I took the shots, but to no avail). Last Friday, with surprising reluctance, I conceded defeat and called in sick – something I almost never do. Somehow the thought of spreading contagion while wearing a mask while croaking, sniffling, coughing my way though conversations just didn’t seem like the best thing for me or my patients. Gratefully, I’m on the upswing and only now have a slightly hoarse voice and an occasional cough that’s improving, but it is interesting to reflect on why, despite knowing better, I felt so inclined to keep seeing patients despite my illness. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes*
January 8th, 2010 by Bongi in Better Health Network, True Stories
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Shaking hands is not really such a good idea, especially in a hospital where there are all sorts of nasty bugs floating around, seeking whom they may devour. So generally I do not shake hands unless the patient absolutely insists and I think the cultural slight may be more than he can bear. But one incident highlighted to me the reason you generally don’t want to shake hands so well it could just have well been written all over the hospital in bright neon lights.
I was on call that night so it fell to me to evaluate and treat the patient in casualties which the casualty officer said had a perianal abscess. I approached the bed and introduced myself, but I made a point of positioning myself in such a way that the patient wouldn’t be able to greet me with the traditional handshake. Experience had taught me that this was one case where this cultural idiosyncracy was patricularly ill-advised.
I asked what the problem was. without saying a word his hand moved to his gluteal cleft in one smooth motion. Moments later I found myself staring with morbid fascination as he pulled his butt cheeks apart and started prodding what was clearly an abscess with his finger. It had already broken open slightly so there was a thin stream of pus oozing out and following the natural pull of gravity. The patient’s grubby finger scratched, prodded and poked this poor stream of sepsis, completely disrupting its attempt to soil the bed linen. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at other things amanzi*
January 8th, 2010 by Dr. Val Jones in Audio, Expert Interviews
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Over 10,000 Americans (mostly young) have already died of H1N1 flu, and yet we’ve only vaccinated 10-20% of those who need protection. January 10-16 is National Influenza Awareness Week, and the American College of Physicians is doing its part to raise awareness of the ongoing need to protect Americans from the next wave of influenza.
I interviewed ACP President, Dr. Joseph Stubbs, about the current influenza season and Americans’ vulnerabilities to the virus. Please enjoy the audio of our conversation or read the transcript below.
[audio:https://getbetterhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/flustubbsjan.mp3]
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December 30th, 2009 by Nancy Brown, Ph.D. in Better Health Network, News, Research
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This is a very scary reality. A recent study from the Indiana University School of Medicine suggests that half of young urban women will get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) shortly after sexual debut, while screening typically begins years later.
Researchers conducting the eight -year study found that by age 15, 25 percent of the adolescents in the study had acquired an STI, half within two years, and most often Chlamydia. The results also reflect a high repeat infection rate, with 25 percent of the teens getting at least one reinfection or other STI within 4 to 6 months.
The results, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine call for health practitioners to inquire about sexual activity and screen teens, preferably every 3 to 4 months.
This post, Half Of Teens Contract A Sexually Transmitted Disease Within 2 Years Of First Having Sex, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Nancy Brown, Ph.D..
