When patients undergo surgery, they do so with the hope of becoming better, of recovery from some condition that requires physical repair or removal. No one, however, expects to leave the hospital with a little something extra–especially if that something is a sponge, forceps, or other surgical instrument left behind inside the body. This problem …
Making Sure Surgeons Leave Less Behind…Inside Patients Read More »
Ah, the joy of summer grilling. Just make sure that when your enjoy your burgers and kebabs, you don’t unintentionally end up needing surgery. This is one of those freaky stories that makes a person say, “Seriously?” According to an article on ScienceDaily, doctors at Rhode Island Hospital have identified six cases involving people who …
April is National Youth Sports Safety Month, and with the mild spring weather, this seems like a good time to listen to what experts are saying about preventing and treating kids’ sports injuries. Sports injuries can be acute (meaning they happen immediately, as from a fall or a blow)… or they can develop over time… …
This is an absolute first: The town of Chapel Hill is the first in the nation to pass a law making it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving—and that includes hands-free phones. According to an article in the News & Observer, the city council voted 5-4 to pass the ban. The deciding …
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued safety information about popular antidepressant medication Celexa (generic name: citalopram hydrobromide). Celexa is in the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which make more of the brain chemical serotonin available to brain cells. In August 2011, the FDA issued a Drug Safety …
If you experience a serious injury as the result of a drug, you can only sue the pharmaceutical company if you took the brand name drug. If you took a generic version, the courts say no one is responsible for your injury. Did you know that? It was shocking news to me. An article in …
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs: Another Consideration Read More »
SafeKids USA is always slightly ahead of the curve–in a good way. They want to remind everyone that even though spring has just begun, the weather here in North Carolina has already topped 70 degrees. But with these glorious days comes the opportunity for tragic news: reports of children left unattended in a vehicle, dying …
"It Couldn't Happen to Me"–Heat Deaths in Children Read More »
For most people, massage is a guilty pleasure to be enjoyed only rarely. But athletes know better…they understand that receiving a massage after a strenuous workout or game can help their bodies recover more quickly. Now, science has proved the health-promoting benefits of massage. According to an article in ScienceDaily, there’s no reason to feel …
Massage Proved to Help Control Pain and Improve Healing Read More »
A new article in the journal Pediatrics, in a 10-year period, about 932,000 children under the age of 5 were taken to hospitals for injuries they sustained on a staircase, usually at home. According to an article in The New York Times: “What that tells us is that we have much more that we need …
Research Reveals Details About Stair-Related Injuries in Young Children Read More »
There are two new and wonderful resources about concussion. You know we write a lot about mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), and it takes a lot to impress us, but these resources are truly special: One is a physician-developed smart phone app designed to help coaches, parents, and athletes recognize and assess concussion; the other …