Archive for October, 2010

Asthma: Viral Exposure and Triggers (sciencedirect)

Care Resource Guide: This Study from Northwestern University, Chicago,  concludes that  Asthma exacerbations are precipitated primarily by respiratory virus infection.  However, our understanding of the mechanism invoved is limited.

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Efficacy of Internet Peer Support for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities (ScienceDirect)

Care Resource Guide: So many boards and support groups… This study from Temple U. Pennn. examines their efficacy of such internet groups for mental illness:  Three hundred individuals resident in the USA diagnosed with a Schizophrenia Spectrum or an Affective Disorder.

Care Resource Guide: Results are mixed for unguided groups, professional leadership seems to be needed for the group to be useful.

Care Resource Guide: This study does not evaluate internet groups for primarily non-mental illnesses, where results could be quite different.

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Low Back Pain: Exercise and Alternative Treatments (sciencedirect)

Care resource Guide:Lower Back pain interventions  are often painful themselves, so the patient needs to be convinced of the prospective treatment efficacy. Complementary and alternative (CAM) treatments tend to be less aggressive, But do they work?

 Care resource Guide: Here is link to a background article on CAM treatments  

Quoting Conclusions:“…Based on the current literature, it appears that yoga is the most effective nonphysician-directed active treatment approach to nonspecific low back pain when comparing other CAM treatments. Acupuncture… has been shown to be a good adjunct treatment…”

  Care resource Guide Notes: Yoga when you having lower back pain sounds challenging, but it still worth investigating.

Talk to your health practitioner

Where it's at....

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When the Family Needs Mediation between the Caregiver and the Care Recipient (NYT)

CareResourceGuide:  This is an interesting article in the New York Times  on a “new” caregiving field : Elder care mediation.

CareResourceGuide:  Not an easy field as sometimes stress will heighten tensions. Sometimes changing the Home Care Aid is appropriate, but when several have come through the door, the problem ca become acute. Things are probably compounded when there is already bagage such as when the  caregiver is a spouse or a relative…

The NYT gives a plug for two such mediation organizations

•  Elder care mediatiors
• Mediate.com

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Health Advocates, The Care Resource Guide, and the Healthcare System (AHRQ)

Care Resource Guide: AHRQ (Agency For Health Care Quality) Director Carolyn Clancy, M.D, has written a column recommending that patients arm themselves  with a health care advocate.

What does a  Health Care Advocate do?

Quoting her: “…A health advocate is a family member, friend, trusted coworker, or a hired professional who can ask questions, write down information, and speak up for you so you can better understand your illness and get the care and resources you need…”

Care Resource Guide: Well, guess what..This is precisely what we are trying to accomplish at the Care Resource Guide.  While we cannot accompany you to the doctor, we can provide background helping you understand your options, and inform you so you can better formulate your questions to the health professionals….

Please contact us through the “Contact Us”  form for providing with Health Advocacy on your health issues!

Remember we do not give medical advice.  Rather, we provide you with research background on your health issue to empower you in your discussions  with your health practitioner or care manager.

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Medicare Plans: comparison and changes window November 15 – December 31

Care Resource Guide:

From Disability.Gov:

“..You can compare and change your Medicare plan from November 15 – December 31. New benefits in 2011 include free wellness check-ups, cancer screenings and better ways to protect you from fraud. There’ll also be lower drug costs for people who reach the Part D donut hole in 2011.  For more information about Medicare coverage read the new publication Medicare & You 2011.

Here is the main link for these choices at Medicare.gov

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FDA Warning: Saquinavir has heart rhythm risks

CareResourceGuide: the FDA has issued a warning on Saquinavir and  heart rhythm risks

quoting the FDA:

“…potential change in the electrical activity of the heart when Invirase is used with another antiviral medication, Norvir (ritonavir)…Invirase and Norvir are given together to treat HIV infection…”

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Acid reflux: Acid control might not be the only treatment

CareResourceGuide: Some doctors look at  Reflux disease as a motility disorder and offer treatment alternatives to acid suppression.

CareResourceGuide:  Follow this link to about.com and a post by  Sharon Gillson for background on GI motility disorders. Boils down to

• Treat the movement of GI acid not to travel upward
• and/or make the fluid going up less acid 

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Diabetics and Compromised Immune System: Could Cupron Anti-Microbial Cloth Material be Beneficial?

CareResourceGuide: Anti Microbial Cupron socks were sent to the Chilean trapped miners (Wall Street Journal)

Anti Bacterial Socks from Cupron

 CareResourceGuide:   Could they help you? Ask your doctor if such socks would protect diabetics from infections. Check out roughness too.

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The failed back surgery syndrome (sciencedirect)

Care Resource Guide: Contemplating back surgery ?

Here are your odds of success/failure according to this study from the European Journal of Pain Supplements:

“….Approximately 30% of patients experience persistent or recurrent low back and/or pain projecting into the legs following technically adequate lumbosacral surgery…”

Your back..

The articles proceeds with an anlysis of the causes and remedies. Note the accent on spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Here is the link to Wikipedia  for background on SCS.  Note current clinical trial on SCS at Boston Scientific (prnews)

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