Healthwise Today » Clinical Findings

Prescription Drug Poisoning Common

bjmdjd — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:42:12 +0000

An article published in the May 2010 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reported that researchers at the West Virginia University School of Medicine have found that hospitalizations due to poisoning from opioids, sedatives, and tranquilizers is on the rise. Data studied from 1999 to 2006 revealed that those hospitalizations had risen 65% during that period of time.

This increase was double the increase in the number of hospitalizations from poisonings due to other drugs and substances. While most of these poisonings were noted to be unintentional there was still a large increase in intentional events. Benzodiazepines (drugs like diazepam = Valium, alprazolam = Xanax, and lorazepam = Ativan) showed the greatest increase in the number of cases over the time period studied.

The researchers noted that the increase in hospitalizations mirrored the increase in mortality from prescription drugs during this same period of time. The increase in the availability of these useful but dangerous drugs is concerning. The fact that these drugs were ingested unintentionally in most cases is more worrisome than their availability for intentional ingestion. bjmdjd

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Vitamin D Update

bjmdjd — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:40:34 +0000

Anyone who keeps up with health news is aware that there has been a bru hah hah over vitamin D deficiency and its relationship to cardiovascular disease.

A study was reported this week at the American College of Cardiology 2010 Scientific Sessions that found that folks with low levels of vitamin D who were able to normalize them were less likely to suffer a cardiovascular event in up to six years of followup. The ways the people used to normalize their vitamin D levels were not listed.

I guess maybe it is worth it to have your vitamin D levels checked and if they’re low to grab some supplements or a prescription and put on the bikini or Speedo and head out into the sun. Don’t forget the sunscreen or you’ll have another problem to deal with! bjmdjd

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Interesting News Blurbs

bjmdjd — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:41:51 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved the use of Botox for the treatment of increased stiffness and tightness in certain muscles of the upper extremities in patients with conditions like traumatic brain injury, stroke, and progressive multiple sclerosis.

They also reiterated that the treatment is not meant to be a substitute for physical therapy and rehabilitation and that there are many possible serious side effects with its use. bjmdjd

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It looks like Medicare patients and the physicians that see them may be safe again for a while. The Senate today voted to delay the 21.2% Medicare physician pay cut until October 1, 2010. It will take effect if the House approves it and President Obama signs it. Both which will probably occur.

This is the same bill with extending unemployment benefits attached to it and extension of premium subsidies for those who are out of work under the COBRA program. Most Democrats voted for it in the Senate and most Republicans voted against it under the guise of not wanting to increase the deficit.

As I wrote earlier, I understand and agree with the deficit problem but the unemployed need some money to exist and Medicare patients need to be able to get an appointment to see their doctors. Hopefully Congress will finally create a permanent fix for the Medicare physician reimbursement problem that they have had to frequently cover with a band aid. bjmdjd

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The results of two different studies that were scheduled to be presented today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons detail the high rate of severe injuries to children who ride all terrain vehicles (ATVs). These injuries include spinal injuries, amputations, and even death.

A pediatric emergency medicine specialist at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital who was not involved in the studies said that ATV associated deaths increased almost 60% from 2000 to 2005 and non fatal accidents increased 48%. People, kids and adults, love them but these studies only reiterate what those of us in medicine already knew. bjmdjd

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A1c As A Diabetes Diagnostic Test

bjmdjd — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:37:32 +0000

Many of you folks know that the hemoglobin A1c test has long been used to monitor glucose control in diabetics. It’s the test that averages what your blood sugar has been doing over the last 3 months. Since a fasting glucose has been the main test used to diagnose diabetes it has long been desirable to come up with a non fasting test since most patients have eaten when they go to their doctors appointment. The American Diabetes Assoc. now recommends that the A1c be used for diagnosis! An A1c of approximately 5% is non diabetic, 5.7% – 6.4% = prediabetic, and 6.5% and above = diabetic. Screening for diabetes will be much easier now with a non fasting test available. Be sure to ask your doctor about this. bjmdjd

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Atherosclerosis Is Not New!

bjmdjd — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:58:04 +0000

The American Heart Assoc. Scientific Sessions 2009 met last week and heard some interesting information. Modern CT scans were performed on 22 mummies with the oldest being 3500 years old. Results revealed that a significant number of these mummies had evidence of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) when they died. It has long been felt that this was a modern disease process resulting from diets consisting of fast food, smoking, and lack of exercise. The only thought as to why this may have occurred is that because these mummies were of a higher class of citizens they would have been meat eaters which had to be heavily salted for preservation purposes. This salt could have led to hypertension (high blood pressure). If nothing else these findings show that modern medicine may need to further study the causes of this deadly disease process beyond those we usually blame. Who knows…I may smoke a cigarette with my next quarter pounder with cheese! bjmdjd

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