When Benefits Outweigh Risks Show Perfect Time for New Hip Joint
A hip replacement surgery is an elective procedure. It is the removal of a damaged hip joint and putting in a new one, medical experts say. Your doctor may suggest it, however, you should weigh first the risks and benefits of it especially that complications do arise from this type of operation. Moreover, lawsuits have been filed by those affected, for instance, Stryker hip recall lawsuit.
Some of these complications are inflammation, loosening of the hip implant, pain, and metallosis. Metallosis is a rare condition in which metal ions may seep into the bloodstream causing damage to other body organs.
In any case, to help you decide whether to undergo a hip replacement try to evaluate yourself with these signs — there is too much pain on a daily basis, it is hard for you to do your everyday routines, the pain can no longer be comforted by medications, lab results show severe osteoarthritis, and less invasive procedures are not likely to help as well.
A hip replacement is designed to last for about 10 to 15 years. On the other hand, there is no assurance, and five to 10 percent may not last that long. You might need a hip revision surgery then.
Sources:
nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002975.htm
niams.nih.gov/health_info/joint_replacement/default.asp
Zoloft Linked to Birth Defects, Studies Show
Many of us turn to drugs to achieve total well-being, but drugs like Zoloft, which failed to disclose its harmful effects to the public, left a distressing effect to its users. From the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of drug, Zoloft is used for the treatment of major depression. Be aware of the upsetting effects that Zoloft may bring to your baby if you are taking it during pregnancy. Zoloft birth defects are common to children of women who took the drug in the course of their pregnancy.
The following are considered the most common birth defects associated with Zoloft:
- Atrial septal defects (ASD)
- Club Feet
- Congenital heart defects
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
- Omphalocele (an abdominal defect)
- Craniosynotostosis (skull defects)
- Tetralogy of fallot (TOF) with pulmonary atresia
- Transposition of the great arteries
- Ventricular septal defects (VSD)
The list above shows that its effects are serious and may lead to death. To those mothers whose child succumbed to one of these illnesses, it is likely that they are suffering as well.To top it all, paying for the medical expenses of their child is a big problem as well.
Reference: rxlist.com/zoloft-drug.htm
Boston Conference Foreshadowed Fresenius Medical Care North America Controversy
At an April 23-26, 2009 medical conference in Boston titled “ESRD: State of the Art and Charting the Challenges for the Future” the long-due improvement on patient survival in dialysis care was addressed.In the conference, delegates pointed out that cardiac arrest was the prime reason of fatality among dialysis patients – accounting 59% of cardiovascular-related deaths.
The conference concluded that such cardiovascular-related deaths were caused by uremic cardiomyopathy (left ventricular hypertrophy or LVH, LV dysfunction, and LV dilatation). The conclusions enabled many leading nephrologists to recognize the need to lower the sodium levels in dialysate, end sodium profiling, improve body water volume control, and among other dialysis care improvements.
Raymond Hakim, MD, PhD, one of the members in the steering committee of the conference, was then Chief Medical Officer of Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMC). The conclusions arrived at the conference most likely contributed in the move for an FMC investigation. This has recently resulted to product recalls initiated by the company. The controversial move of the company is reflected in the 6-page November 4, 2011 FMC internal memo, disseminated to FMC medical directors, facilities and physicians. It bears the subject “RE: Dialysate Bicarbonate, Alkalosis, and Patient Safety.” Although Dr. Hakim was head of the FMC at that time, the memo does not carry his name. This is part of the intriguing facts that circulates in the hemodialysis industry where the interest of the medical practitioner, the medical manufacturer and the safety of the patients are being put on the table.
According to a summary appearing in RenalWEB, speakers raised the question as”…for whom the medical director is an advocate: the patient or the clinic or even himself? Is patient advocacy best served by regulation or the professionals’ culture? Another speaker stressed that we should view monopolies circumspectly.” These are legitimate questions as the FMC internal memo presented a controversy of which the industry, both medical and legal, is abuzz. One observer believes that such controversy sees the rise of lawsuits that may even culminate to a GranuFlo class action lawsuit.
Source:
renalweb.com/writings/BostonESRDConference2009.htm
First Aid for Babies
Giving first aid to an individual is no easy task. It requires steadfastness and alertness. There is no room for panic in these kinds of emergencies. However, it is relatively easier to give first aid to an ordinary individual because he is able to articulate what he feels and
can locate his pain. For a baby and a pet, on the other hand, the absence of communication tools inhibits the ability of the giver to give proper aid.
BBC Health has published an article containing various first aid techniques is for a baby under the age of one who is unresponsive and is not breathing. The article cautions that if you are on your own resuscitating for more than one minute, then call an ambulance or if there is another person present ask them to call an ambulance straight away. BBC Health says that in giving chest compressions and rescue breaths, you are giving the baby the best chance of survival by acting as their heart and lungs, buying vital time until the ambulance service arrives.
In this scenario you might want to check for the baby’s vital signs. If the baby fails to respond to a tap or gentle flick on the sole of foot then this is a serious indication that the baby is already in serious trouble. You might want to open their airway by gently tilting their head back and lifting their chin. Other steps to determine vital signs is to check for breathing, look for chest movement, listen for breathing, or feel for the baby’s breath on your cheek.
You may execute rescue breaths by opening their airway by placing one hand on their forehead and gently tilt their head back and lift their chin. Carefully remove any visible obstruction from the baby’s mouth and nose. Place your mouth over their mouth and nose and by blowing steadily give five initial rescue breaths. Thirty chest compressions is advised.
Chest compressions can be executed by placing two fingers in the middle of the chest then press downwards firmly a third of the depth of the chest. Do this at a rate of 100 times a minute.
Preparing for Emergencies
The nature of emergencies and natural calamities is that they are unpredictable. They do not come with a warning device that alerts their possible victims. The best way to prepare for trying is times is the act of preparation itself. There should be awareness as to what local calamities is most likely to plague your streets and have emergency kits that is to be reserved when disaster strikes.
According to an article published in Reuters, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness reports that 51 percent of families do not have an emergency preparedness plan. The article also found out that 48 percent of business owners surveyed do not have a written business continuity plan or disaster recovery document that identifies and mitigates potential threats to their business.
“Disasters can strike quickly and without warning, so it’s vital to always be prepared,” said Mathieu Nelessen, regional CEO, American Red Cross North Jersey Region, at a news conference at the organization’s office in Fairfield.
“If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to assess local disaster risks and make or update your family disaster plan.”
A similar article in Bloomberg also says that preparation starts with four important steps:
1. Information.
2. Planning.
3. Emergency Supply Kit.
4. Community Involvement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, the possibility of public health emergencies arising in the United States concerns many people in the wake of recent hurricanes, tsunamis, acts of terrorism, and the threat of pandemic influenza. Though some people feel it is impossible to be prepared for unexpected events, the truth is that taking preparedness actions helps people deal with disasters of all sorts much more effectively when they do occur. Awareness and preparation is the key for anything unpredictable. Although 100 percent safety is not assured, less damage should be foreseen.
The Importance of Donating Blood
Blood, like air and water is one of the most taken for granted things in this world. For one who is about to lose his life to a serious disease, blood is one of the most valuable things. There are so many blood drives carried out by local community groups, however, this has not been enough to fund our blood banks with clean and suitable bloods for transfusion. The importance of blood donation has shown its significance in recent times.
The Stanford School of Medicine says that blood accounts for about seven percent of a person’s weight. An average sized man has about 12 pints of blood, and an regular sized woman has about nine pints. When you give blood, your body instantaneously begins replacing the donated blood volume, so you can safely donate as often as six times a year.
According to CNN Health, each time you give blood, you eliminate some of the iron it contains. High blood iron levels, can amplify the risk of heart disease. Iron has been shown to speed the oxidation of cholesterol, a process thought to increase the damage to arteries that ultimately leads to cardiovascular disease. According to Victor Herbert, M.D., a hematologist at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, there are usually about 1,000 milligrams of iron stored in the average adult man’s body but only about 300 milligrams in a pre-menopausal women.
The American Red Cross says that donating blood is a safe process. Each donor’s blood is collected through a new, sterile needle that is used once and then discarded. Although most people feel fine after donating blood, a small number of people may feel lightheaded or dizzy, have an upset stomach or experience a bruise or pain where the needle was inserted. In extreme cases, loss of consciousness, nerve damage or artery damage rarely occur.
The Basic Simplicities of Blood Type
Blood type determines your genetics, your overall health and your physical inclinations. Blood has been very essential in determining certain facts that need verification, which extended not only to the physical health of a person but also to forensics. While young, it is important to know your blood type as it will be extremely helpful during times of emergencies especially when blood transfusion is needed.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the blood type is largely dependent on the genetics of a person, passed on by his or her parents. Blood is often grouped according to the ABO blood typing system. This method breaks blood types down into four categories:
According to an article from the New York Times, some researchers suspect that blood type can affect such risk factors as inflammation and levels of LDL, or bad, cholesterol. The International Journal of Cardiology found no difference in the frequency of blood types in heart patients, compared with the general population.
An article published by BBC News also mentioned that people from blood groups A, B and AB are more at risk of heart disease than those with the more common blood type O, as study suggests. Those with the rarest blood group, AB, are the most vulnerable – they are 23% more likely to suffer from heart disease than those with blood group O.
Not only does blood type finds a link to certain diseases, it may also help determine a cure. Many medications and treatments have been derived from studies utilizing blood. Several studies were pioneered by the US Food and Drug Administration regarding safety methods on how to reduce infectious agents in blood and identification of biomarkers of stored blood cells. These continuous studies are dynamically adapting to the needs to science and medications of serious illnesses.