Most of us are urged by our doctors to take a multiple vitamin everyday or some other supplement, such as a B vitamin or a calcium pill. There hasn’t been a lot of evidence, however, that a multiple vitamin has a beneficial effect on our health. That may be changing…
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death among Americans. Hospitalization and medical care immediately following a stroke are very costly, as is the rehabilitative care. So the question is how best to prevent a stoke or to help patients recover following a stroke. The National Institutes of Health is…
The American Medical Association reports that a growing number of physicians are choosing to be “hospitalists.” These doctors work in the hospital full time, while their colleagues provide care in local offices. The advantage for the patient is that care is not disrupted when the doctor has to rush off…
A new study shows that shoulder dislocation in older patients is more likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed than among younger patients. The study warned that older patients whose shoulder injuries are not treated can face years of persistent pain and disability. Published in the October 2012 issue of the…
The Obama administration wants consumers to be able to report medical mistakes and unsafe practices by doctors, hospitals, pharmacists and others who provide treatment. Some hospital spokesmen say they are receptive to the idea, although they have concerns about malpractice liability, Federal officials say medical mistakes often go unreported, and…
Most elderly people will tell you they’d rather remain in their homes as they age rather than going to live in a care facility. Now a new study shows that those who live at home are MORE likely to die in a hospital. That’s because the elderly who live in…
Most of us can remember a time when our doctors scribbled notes on paper inside a folder while talking to us. Now most of us see only our doctor’s back while he or she types information into a computer whenever we visit. The change is due to the introduction of…
A new study by the Institute of Medicine has found that over treatment is costing the nation’s health care system $210 billion each year. More important, too many treatments — x-rays, CAT scans, blood checks and procedures — are harming patients. “What people are not realizing is that sometimes the…
Hip fractures are a significant risk for the elderly, often forcing a victim into a wheelchair and even a nursing home. A new study has found that the elderly who have eye surgery to remove cataracts and improve their vision also significantly reduce their risk of breaking a hip in…
Good news for people who have suffered cardiac arrest: Your chances of survival are higher than they were ten years ago. That is the conclusion reached in a recent study and reported in the journal Circulation. Researchers who completed the study theorized that the survival rate is higher now because…