healthcare
A blog about healthcare.
29 Nov
Healthcare Sector – Top 4 Tips to Succeed in the Industry
These days, more and more eager entrepreneurs are starting a business within the healthcare sector. And for a good reason: the demand for both products and services in the system are always high, making it a highly lucrative industry of …
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1 Nov
Flu – the new vaccine that’s good news for older people
Boots starts offering their vaccinations this week. This year there is an improved flu vaccine (which also boosts the immune system for older people) and this is the one we are being offered in the UK this coming winter. This …
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27 Sep
How to overcome autumn anxiety
This week marked the official start to autumn and for many of us, the change in season brings lots of new changes and challenges. The days get shorter, which means less sunlight and vitamin D, and the weather gets colder …
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17 Sep
Advocacy at the doctors
“Do something your future self will be thankful for,” -unknown Imagine, two individuals, experiencing similar chronic health issues go to the doctor’s office. The first one roughly explains their symptoms, doesn’t feel prepared, is in a deep desire for relief, …
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4 Sep
Anaphylaxis and adrenaline auto-injectors a comprehensive guide
Anaphylaxis is an extremely severe allergic reaction. Reactions usually begin within minutes and progress rapidly, however, they can occur up to 2-3 hours after exposure and exercise can also initiate symptoms a while after exposure to an allergen. Common allergens …
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29 Aug
How much does the UK spend on healthcare compared to other countries?
The Office for National Statistics has released figures today that show how much the UK spends on healthcare in relation to its international peers. In 2017, the UK spent £197 billion, which works out £2,989 per person on healthcare, the …
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5 Aug
What does abundance mean to you? ???✨??
To me it means knowing we are totally in control of our own health & happiness. ? A mindset that always sees the best in every situation, whether it brings an abundance of joy or teaching us to grow through …
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2 Aug
Birth rates, what food to eat to avoid heart attacks, breast cancer breakthrough & more
If you’ve missed the latest health news from the week beginning 29th July, catch up now in our roundup. Butter, red meat & cheese increase heart attack & stroke risks Too much butter, red meat and cheese are actually bad …
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31 Jul
Vaccinations for travellers, a guide to keeping you well when travelling abroad
Vaccinations are viewed as a necessity of childhood. However, there are many jabs to consider in order to keep us healthy as adults, especially when travelling. The vaccines you need when travelling depend on factors such as your age and …
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26 Jul
Supermarkets & obesity, baby health visits, MS scans & more
We hope you enjoyed the hot weather this week and managed to stay safe in the sun. Here are our top health stories for this week. Are supermarkets designed to make us fat? The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) …
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19 Jul
NHS Texting Results, Skin Cancer Rates, Child Mental Health & More
Have you missed out on the health news this week? Catch up now. In other news, we’ve heard the weather is set to turn this weekend so have your umbrellas at the ready! NHS plans to text patients results The …
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18 Jul
Tips to begin reducing stress, anxiety, and pain, naturally
Did you know? ???????? ———————————- Did you know Magnesium is one of the most important nutrients we require to function? . Magnesium is responsible for over 300 enzyme systems that regulate important biochemical reactions in the body. Its most important …
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12 Jul
Alexa health advice, joggers & air pollution, fizzy drinks & cancer & more
In case you’ve missed all the latest health news this week, check out our highlights! Amazon Alexa now offers NHS health advice That’s right, people will soon be able to receive expert health advice from their Amazon Alexa, following a …
Continue ReadingPosted in cancer, general health, healthcare, men's health, weight, women's health
28 May
Support for Carers
Unpaid carers are a lifeline to those they look after and are of huge benefit to society as a whole. A staggering 7 million of us in the UK are carers and so the relief to NHS services is truly …
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28 May
Low-FODMAP
“Mindful eating is eating with intention while paying attention.” – Katie Konersman RD, CDE If you are present in the digestive health community or simply into diets, you might have heard of something called the Low-FODMAP Diet. The diets abbreviation …
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15 May
Healthy Fasting for Ramadan 2019
There are 2.8 million Muslims in Britain and many will be following Ramadan, a month-long fast. To ensure you remain healthy when fasting, it is sensible to plan ahead and understand how fasting can affect your health. Read on for …
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7 May
Teenagers and First Aid
Teenagers are risk takers! Teach them first aid Teenagers and young people are the most likely to push boundaries and take risks. Rather than restricting their freedom, why not equip them with the skills and confidence to help each other …
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3 May
Coffee & Cancer, Blood Pressure Checks, Dementia Research & More
If you’ve missed out on all the latest health news this week (29th April) then take a look at our round-up of this week’s top stories! Diet rich in coffee, fruit & vegetables could cut cancer risk A new study …
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28 Mar
Apple Watch ECG, Tampon Tax Fund, Wine Cancer Risks & More
Have you not had time to catch up on all the latest health news this week, 29th March? Don’t worry! We’ve summarised some of the key stories for you. Drinking one bottle of wine causes the same cancer risks as …
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11 Jan
Should prescriptions for eczema treatments be cut by the NHS?
Are you aware the NHS might stop prescribing certain treatments for eczema and other chronic conditions? We are interested to understand what you think about the proposed changes and the impact this could have on you, as either a patient …
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4 Jan
This week in health – 4 January 2019
Each week, talkhealth summarises the key health stories of the week. This week it’s all about wasted GP appointments, sugar and children, children and screen time, how the NHS is coping better this winter and the challenges the NHS will …
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21 Dec
This week in health – 21 December 2018
It’s only four days until Christmas Day, but that hasn’t slowed the flow of health news. Instead, it seems to have spurred a number of health professionals to call for stronger actions to dissuade people from eating unhealthy foods. This …
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16 Nov
This week in health – 16 November 2018
There’s been a plethora of health stories published this week and, thankfully, some is good news. In this round-up we have… NHS promises flu vaccine shortage will be resolved soon Although the government has advised older people to get the …
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12 Nov
Choosing Self Care for Life
It’s Self Care Week in the UK – probably the single national awareness week that best matches talkhealth’s raison d’être. The Self Care Forum, which organises it and is targeted more than 22 million people around the country, says the …
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2 Oct
Happy 18th Birthday to talkhealth!
On 1st October 2000, the talkhealth website was launched. Back then, when websites and the world wide web were barely toddlers, who would have guessed that 18 years later we’re celebrating a major milestone in the company’s history. Our aim …
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20 Jul
No News Isn’t Always Good News
Struggling to find a diagnosis in a health system that doesn’t care as much as it should… It’s been exactly six months and three days since I first visited my Rheumatologist with hands that were sore and unable to do …
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22 Jun
This week in health – 22/06/2018
Welcome to talkhealth’s weekly round-up of all the top news stories in the world of health. This week we’ll be covering a wide range of topics, including the current debate around medicinal cannabis, the expected rise in the number of …
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14 Jun
What a Good Relationship With Your Doctor Looks Like
Have you ever walked out of an appointment with your GP and wondered what you paid all that money for? Have you ever felt like they didn’t really listen, palmed you off, even scoffed at your symptoms? Getting good medical …
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8 Jun
This week in health – 08/06/2018
We’ve come to the end of another week and, as such, talkhealth will be looking through all the top news stories from the world of health. This week’s roundup includes new treatments and research, and overview of the summer months …
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30 Apr
Denialism on veganism: a systemic blind spot among doctors regarding the health benefits of plant-based diets
“So, where do you get your protein?” A fellow doctor asked this question after finding out I became a vegan. Imagine my surprise, considering that doctors should know that a person’s daily protein requirement was less than one gram per …
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23 Apr
Work”Out” or Work”In” ?
I talk rather alot about working “In”as well as” Out” in my sessions but how do you know when to work “in” and not work “out”? It’s really simple protocol but as ever you need to be accurate and …
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12 Apr
Sodium healthy or unhealthy?
Salt has been valued highly for as long as mankind can remember, to the point in which people used to use it for trading with others around the globe. Salt was a significant factor as to why early humans settled …
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1 Apr
#ThinkHand campaign could be a game-changer
I feel like Thursday 22nd February 2018 is going to be one of those days when in years to come I’ll look back and know that I was part of what will hopefully be a game-changer in the world of …
Continue ReadingPosted in bladder, bowel, disability, healthcare, men's health, Multiple sclerosis, women's health
6 Feb
Superset training – how to implement them and when is best to do so
I am going to give my views on how best to implement agonist-antagonist paired set training and their benefits over traditional set training based on my own experience of training myself and others as well as a recent review was …
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2 Feb
Excuses NOT to go to Therapy – Reality Check
I wish I could watch as you click off this page when the reality of what you are about to read hits home with you and begins to sink in. It is a horrible feeling; I know I’ve been there! …
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25 Jan
Top 5 recovery methods for active individuals
Here are my 5 tips to recovery for active individuals who wish to get back to the sport of training that they enjoy so much at the best level possible for them. Recovery according to sports physiology literature is a …
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3 Nov
talkhealth Allergy and Eczema research published in Mail On Sunday
In September we ran a survey to see if patients suffering with eczema are more likely to also have allergies or sensitivity to foods such as eggs, nuts, diary and wheat. The aim of the research was to find out …
Continue ReadingPosted in allergy, eczema, general health, healthcare, men's health, women's health
27 Oct
Record low sales of antibiotics for use in animals
There’s much in the press about antibiotic resistance and rightly so. Antibiotic resistance is a major threat to modern medicine with estimates suggesting it could be responsible for ten million deaths per year by 2050 and cost the global economy …
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15 Oct
Global Handwashing Day – A Guide to washing your hands
To mark Global Handwashing Day here is our guide for washing your hands the right way. Handwashing is the easiest way to prevent the spread of germs and infections, such as the common cold, meningitis, diarrhoea and hepatitis A. It …
Continue ReadingPosted in general health, healthcare, men's health, talkhealth, women's health
27 Sep
Do you need private medical insurance?
With hundreds of health insurance plans to choose from it is never easy to find the right one that suits you best. Many people’s thoughts on private medical insurance are….”not for me too expensive”, “I have a condition already so I …
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30 Aug
Online Doctor v Patient-to-patient Support
Do people seek information from HCPs online or do they prefer online support from fellow patients? Over recent years there has been a steady increase in the availability of patient-focused websites offering health information and support across a wide range …
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31 May
UK expats could cost NHS £500million report says
A report, published today, by the Nuffield Trust, suggests that when reciprocal health arrangements within Europe end, post Brexit, the cost to the NHS could be as much as an extra £500m each year as expats return to the UK for …
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5 Apr
GLUTEN FREE PRESCRIPTIONS – Action Against Allergy
AAA support for coeliacs Action Against Allergy is giving its support to the campaign being co-ordinated by Coeliac UK to persuade the NHS to seek an alternative to their proposed withdrawal of prescriptions for the gluten free foods needed by …
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14 Feb
Introducing Action Against Allergy – our latest charity forum partnership
talkhealth are excited to announce that we are now hosting the forums for the charity ‘Action Against Allergy’. Log on to the AAA forums to join the general discussion, view charity news and individual to talkhealth we are especially delighted to announce a forum …
Continue ReadingPosted in 50+ & life, allergy, eczema, general health, healthcare, men's health, women's health
31 Jan
Can a robot really help the elderly?
You may have seen in the news that researchers from Middlesex University and the University of Bedfordshire are using £2m of EU and Japanese funding to develop robots that will be culturally and socially aware, in order to help the …
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19 Dec
How secured emails protect Healthcare industry file exchange
Need to exchange files in health sector: File exchanges in the health care sector is a common affair that needs to be done with complete security. There is a constant need to exchange medical data and records about a patient, …
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15 Dec
talkhealth backs the new sepsis awareness campaign
Today (15th December 2016) a new campaign has been launched by Public Health England (PHE) to help raise awareness of Sepsis – a condition which has been blamed for approximately 37,000 deaths a year and arises as a complication of …
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11 Nov
Alcohol awareness week
Did you know that next week (14-20 November) sees the start of alcohol awareness week? An initiative run by Alcohol Concern (you know them- the founders of Dry January!) which aims to raise awareness of the risks of alcohol to …
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19 Sep
3 Things You Need to Know About Finding Home Care for Your Parents
As children, we want nothing but the best for our parents. Sometimes, that means letting them live at home instead of an assisted care facility. Your parents will have a better time spending their days with the family – including …
Continue ReadingDifferent Headache Types Require Different Treatment
Headaches aren’t unusual; we all get them from time to time. But almost 10 percent of U.S. adults will have at least one headache each year so bad that they will end up to the doctor. As many as 6 …
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6 Jul
The week in health: Health Information Week
For the average busy person, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the time to visit a healthcare professional in person. Many struggle to find the time to visit the doctor, while others find it almost impossible to book appointments …
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21 Jun
The EU Referendum: what does this mean for our NHS?
This Thursday, the entire nation will have the opportunity to cast their vote in arguably the most important referendum of our lifetime. On the 23rd June, millions will be deciding whether the UK should REMAIN or LEAVE the EU. …
Continue ReadingPosted in general health, healthcare, men's health, talkhealth, women's health
17 May
This Week in Health News: The First Penis Transplant in the USA, and Should Men Over 40 Avoid Having Children?
A prominent health news story over the last few days has been the reporting on the first penis transplant in the USA. The story may make many readers wince, but as the doctors who performed the operation have pointed out, …
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9 May
This Week in Health News: Sun Awareness Week 2016
With the temperature hitting upwards of 26°C across the country this weekend, thousandsof us were outside enjoying the weather. But while you were out in the sun, how much attention did you pay to the protection of your skin? In …
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6 May
5 Healthy Foods That May Be Damaging For Your Teeth
We try to remain as fit and healthy as possible for a variety of reasons. It could be that we want to be around as long as possible to watch our loved ones grow and craft their own lives. It …
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19 Apr
This Week in Health News: Treatment for Skin Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease; The Junior Doctors Dispute Wares On
Over the last few weeks, we’ve covered a number of positive health stories about potential breakthroughs in the treatment of deadly diseases including cancer. The potential good news continues this week, with the announcement of a new combination of drugs …
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15 Apr
The Top Benefits of Vitrification or Egg Freezing – and Why More Women are Safely Doing it Today
Egg freezing has become increasingly popular, not only for medical reasons, but simply because a woman has only so many cycles in her life when she can successfully produce eggs – after the age of 35, fertility rates drop, even …
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12 Apr
This Week in Health News: Revelations about the Quality of Mental Health Care for Young People and a Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment
Two stories that have dominated the health news over the last few days share a common theme: that young people with mental health problems are being let down by the medical establishment in the UK. An edition of the BBC’s …
Continue ReadingPosted in cancer, children's health, general health, healthcare, mental health, weight
6 Apr
This Week in Health News: More Strikes, The Oldest Ever Mother of Triplets, and Singing’s Effect on Cancer
Today (Wednesday 6th April), junior doctors in England began their fourth strike over the new contracts that are to be ‘imposed’ on them by the government. The walkout began at 08:00am and will last for 48 hours. With these latest …
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22 Mar
Transgender Health
Like a huge and unwieldy behemoth, the NHS is finally trying to get its act together and negotiate its way around the plight of transgender patients. However, services are already stretched to the limit, with waiting lists getting longer and …
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18 Mar
Treloar Talks
At talkhealth, we believe strongly in the importance of talking about health issues. Last week, then, we were delighted to attend the inaugural Treloar Talks event – an evening of fascinating presentations from an eclectic group of speakers in support …
Continue ReadingPosted in children's health, disability, general health, healthcare, talkhealth
7 Mar
Zika virus – so now we have Guillain Barre syndrome to contend with too!
Newspaper articles over the last couple of days, have been highlighting the observed increase in the numbers of patients with Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) seen in some Latin American countries over the last few weeks and in particular, Brazil. Zika …
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3 Mar
Everything You Need to Know About Physician Incentive Plans
In healthcare, there are a wide number of options that offer monetary incentives to healthcare providers. These are known as Physician Incentives Plans, or PIP for short. There are currently around 40 different PIP available across the United States, …
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25 Feb
This Week in Health News: A Radical New Cancer Treatment and More
You may have noticed a number of cancer-related stories in the news this week. For one thing, data released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre has shown a significant recent drop in the number of women in England …
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19 Feb
Processed Foods: What’s OK, What to Avoid
There’s a lot of talk about food in the media. Health experts are warning us of an imminent obesity epidemic, with numbers of Type 2 diabetes increasing rapidly. Food-related illnesses are beginning to put real pressure on the NHS. One of …
Continue ReadingPosted in diabetes, fitness & exercise, general health, healthcare, nutrition
17 Feb
Why You Need Your Travel Insurance in Europe This Year
If you’re going on holiday you would never forget to pack your passport, EHIC card, or tickets so there is no reason to forget travel insurance. Delays In the world of public transport and travelling there will always be delays, …
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17 Feb
Seven Benefits of Technology in the Healthcare Industry
There is no doubt that healthcare is one of the main industries which has been significantly impacted by advancements and developments in technology, science and IT. From advanced medical research made possible by technology to the opportunity for patients to …
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16 Feb
This Week in Health News: Printing Body Parts, Mental Health, and the ‘War’ over Junior Doctors’ Contracts
In the last few weeks, the NHS has been going through one of the most turbulent periods in its recent history. As you will probably have already seen, the struggles continued last week even as the crisis over junior doctors’ …
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11 Feb
Is there no safe way to get a suntan?
This week, actor Hugh Jackman revealed on social media that he has recently undergone treatment for basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. He’s been treated for the condition a number of times before, and has this …
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9 Feb
This Week in Health News: Children’s Mental Health, and How Much do You Cost the NHS?
After weeks of debate and strikes, the NHS continues to dominate the news this week. For a start, junior doctors are due to strike again tomorrow (Wednesday 10th February), over the ongoing dispute about proposed changes to their contracts. A …
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8 Feb
PM Awards 2016 – 30 years of pharmaceutical marketing excellence
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the PM Awards (Pharmaceutical Marketing Awards) at the Grosvenor Hotel in London. The PM Awards is in its 30th year and to help with the celebrations, the accompanying music was some of …
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8 Feb
Meningitis Now: 30 Years of Achievement
Our friends at Meningitis Now are entering their 30th year. Having founded the meningitis movement all those decades ago, they remain the only charity dedicated to fighting meningitis in the UK, and are doing so on all fronts – by …
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2 Feb
This week in health news: Terry Wogan, the Zika virus, and more
Some very sad news hit us at talkhealth along with the rest of the UK on Sunday: that Sir Terry Wogan had died of cancer at the age of 77. The legendary broadcaster had a short battle with cancer and …
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28 Jan
Cleanmarine for Women
Most women experience uncomfortable symptoms associated with their menstrual cycle, such as mood changes, physical discomfort, and cravings. Many of these symptoms may be alleviated by taking a natural supplement containing Krill Oil. An independent study has shown that Cleanmarine® …
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27 Jan
Parenting Stress: Aren’t You Fed Up?
Being a parent is a terrible full-time job. And if you meet people who say it isn’t – believe me, they are either on meds, or still pregnant and have never been ‘in the field’ for real-life parenting. Of course, …
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27 Jan
This week in health news: Strikes, Sugar Tax, and more
Welcome to our second weekly round-up of health news! Last week, we talked about the ongoing dispute about junior doctors’ contract renegotiations and the strikes that had broken out the week before, as well as the proposed ‘sugar tax’ in …
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19 Jan
This week in health news: Strikes, Sugar Tax, and more
At talkhealth we like to keep up to date with what’s going on in the world of health so that we can keep you updated and keep the health conversation going. This week’s brought a number of high-profile health stories …
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13 Jan
R.I.P. David Bowie – and what do we know about liver cancer?
The world experienced a palpable and seismic tremor of sadness at the death of David Bowie this week, who had fought an 18 month battle with cancer. As further details emerge it seems that the underlying diagnosis was of liver …
Continue ReadingAll You Need to Know About High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is a disease that plagues worldwide (WHO, 2015). Every now and then, a new patient is diagnosed with high cholesterol, and asked to make major changes in life if he wants to live longer. Cholesterol: The Basics Cholesterol …
Continue ReadingEffective Treatment of Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is one of the most common yet silent sexually transmitted diseases (Gerbase, et al., 1998). With effective treatment, the disease can be nipped in the bud before it spreads in the body and becomes serious. Genital Herpes Genital …
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8 Dec
Your Immune System – The First Line of Defence against Infections
On 6th December 2015, there was some disturbing news in the Daily Mail. The headline ran thus: “Superbug that beats antibiotics heading our way” Basically, superbugs have breached the last line of antibiotic defences for the first time. A drug, Colistin, …
Continue ReadingPosted in cancer, diabetes, general health, healthcare, psoriasis, vitiligo
19 Oct
But Who Will Heal The Healers?
What went wrong? When I was at school in the 70s the ultimate vocations were considered to be law and medicine. Law for the ‘arts’ students and medicine for the ‘scientists’ and if you were clever and worked really hard …
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8 Oct
What does ‘abnormal’ white cell count mean?
This is something your GP may talk to you about after reviewing your blood tests. It sounds very scary but the vast majority of times there is usually a very simple and non-worrying reason. White cells are blood cells that …
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21 Sep
Jamie’s sugar tax – no way……..
Did anyone see Jamie’s Sugar Rush on Channel 4 a few weeks ago? Jamie Oliver’s new campaign to tackle childhood obesity by reducing sugar intake through a sugar tax on soft drinks. It was an excellent programme and showed, among …
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2 Sep
Changing Places – Changing Lives
Part of everyday life is popping down to the shops, taking a trip into town, or visiting somewhere special for the day – or rather, it is if you are able. If you need a carer to help you do …
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24 Aug
Electrosensitivity update – EHS recognised as a handicap in France!
Electrosensitivity (being made ill by the man-made electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones and phone masts, wifi, smart meters, fluorescent lights etc etc) has been recognised as a ‘functional impairment’ in Sweden for some years. But in the rest of Europe …
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20 Aug
Hormone Hell
It’s been a while since I posted and the reason for this is that around a year after my surgery all my symptoms came back with a vengeance and I am fighting hard to regain control of them. Sometimes, on …
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28 Jul
The NHS – Still a Great British Asset, or Struggling Under Pressure?
I have always been a great believer in the NHS. I was what I would term an old fashioned family doctor – the patients advocate. Recently my elderly father, who lives alone, became seriously ill and we thought we were …
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24 Jul
Reduce the Risk of Denied Claims by Avoiding Common Mistakes
Whether you are a provider or a patient, little is more frustrating than a denied insurance claim. For patients, a denied claim usually means either a large, unexpected bill or many hours spent on the phone trying to appeal the …
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13 Jul
The online private GP
I wasn’t very well last week. This was really rather annoying as we were just back from a lovely holiday in Wales and I had plenty of work to catch up on. So when I woke up on Sunday morning …
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16 Feb
Ask the pharmacist…
Ask the Pharmacist… is our newest forum. Whether you need advice about your medicines, have a question you’d rather not ask face to face or simply want advice- You can now- Ask our Pharmacists. The forum is always open. You can either …
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19 Jan
I’m not seeing eye to Eye with a landmark
The blog entry was originally posted on the British Dental Health Foundation Blog Section It attracts more than three and a half million tourists every year, can carry a maximum of 800 people at a time and it lies within …
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30 Dec
The FEELS
When I started writing about my weight loss journey I imagined myself sitting at my laptop being witty and wise and hopefully inspirational. Whats happened is Ive opened a can of worms where my feelings about my metamorphasis have bubbled …
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8 Dec
Dream a little dream.
Lets talk about inspiration. Specifically inspiration to lose weight. Why are you putting yourself through the upheaval of making all these changes? Lets face it, its a right pain in the arse so whats your motivation? Are you doing it …
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13 Oct
Word of Mouth, Issue 23 – September 2014
The blog was released on the British Dental Health Foundation Blog section. Hello, and welcome to the very latest edition of Word of Mouth. I’m delighted to announce to registration process for Mouth Cancer Action Month is now open. Running …
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2 Oct
WE SURVIVED!
The blog was released on the British Dental Health Foundation Blog section. We ran, clambered, and swam our way through some of the most beautiful parts of Cardiff. We surfed the white water rapids, were faxed through rolls of car …
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1 Oct
Personalised GP care for everyone
For the first time in a decade, every patient in England will get a named, accountable GP, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced. Under changes to their contract with the NHS, GPs will ensure all 53.9 million people in England …
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30 Sep
Oral health report encouraging, charity claims
The news was released on the British Dental Health Foundation News section The first national survey examining the oral health of three year old children has revealed more than one in 10 have signs of visible tooth decay. The report, …
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26 Sep
Five things about Boundaries for Life
The blog was released on the British Dental Health Foundation Blog section Last Saturday, I spent the day with Boundaries for Life at Lords Cricket Ground for the Royal London One-Day Cup Final. The group, who tours cricket grounds all …
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18 Sep
How to join the 10% of Brits who think they’re good sleepers
At the end of each day, we Brits love nothing more than to sink into our mattresses and enjoy a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, this is only a reality for a relatively small amount of the population with following research …
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20 Aug
Statins ‘help prevent tooth loss’
The article was released on the British Dental Health Foundation News section New research has discovered that people taking statins for general health problems were almost three times less likely to suffer from tooth loss compared to those not on …
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14 Aug
Mediterranean diet reduces mouth cancer risk
The article was released on the British Dental Health Foundation News section A Mediterranean diet can halve the risk of developing mouth cancer, according to a new study. The results, published in the British Journal of Cancer1, discovered that patients who …
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7 Jul
NHS Accident and Emergency Update
It has been some time since I last posted on Talk Health, the delay has simply been down to pressure of work and also I suppose partly a dearth of decent topics on which to expound. However I ended up …
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24 Jun
Care at home
I have recently lost my husband and cared for him at home until he died. The help I had from my GP and the District Nurses was wonderful and could not be faulted, the NHS staff are a credit to …
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9 Apr
European study reveals new causes of mouth and throat cancer
Poor oral health and failure to have regular dental checks could increase the risk of mouth and throat cancer, according to a pan-European study. The research also suggests – based on a small number of tumour patients – that excessive …
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28 Mar
Cutting-Edge Drugs To Be Fast-Tracked To Patients
State-of-the-art medicines will be fast-tracked to patients thanks to the Early Access to Medicines Scheme. The scheme will make the UK one of the best countries in the world to capitalise on breakthroughs in medical care. The Government is determined …
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21 Mar
NHS Charges From April 2014
NHS prescription charge in England will increase by 20 pence from £7.85 to £8.05 for each quantity of a drug or appliance from 1 April 2014. It is also intended that the single charge will increase by 20 pence to …
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20 Feb
A Skeptical Approach to Medicine – Part Three – What’s the harm ?
It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to post on Talk Health Partnership. This is despite a range of subjects interesting and moving me to want to comment. As ever, time is one of a select few commodities …
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29 Jan
New group to tackle obesity is sweet as sugar
A new group formed to tackle and reverse the growing obesity epidemic has been welcomed by the British Dental Health Foundation. Action on Sugar, formed of a number of leading worldwide experts, hopes to educate the public on the dangers …
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29 Nov
Vitamin C Supplements – Should We?
I am not a fan of supplements. Instead I prefer to promote having a healthy balanced nutrition from whole food sources. Some people may benefit from food supplementation under medical supervision if they have a medical condition that requires it. …
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20 Nov
New era for patients and NHS as Government accepts recommendations of Mid Staffordshire inquiry
The Government has published its response to the Francis inquiry report. More openness, greater accountability and a relentless focus on safety will be the cornerstones of an NHS which puts compassion at its heart, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced today. …
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14 Nov
talkhealth update!
Today is the first of a new series of blogs about the latest news @talkhealth! As it is Movember this month we have all been talking about men’s health! We’ve successfully launched talkmenshealth and have opened this month’s star attraction, the Men’s Health Clinic! There …
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30 Oct
Boost for disabled people to fulfil their career aspirations
Over 2000 more disabled people got the support they needed to get or keep their job, compared with this time last year, official figures released today show. 22,760 people were being supported through Access to Work between April and June …
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28 Oct
Dr Google visited by almost half the nation online
BHF launch film series to help ease patient fears about common heart tests and treatments The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has launched a series of online videos and DVDs to help ease patients’ fears and anxieties about common heart tests …
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22 Oct
New report shows the NHS could raise up to £500 million from better charging of overseas visitors
Government appoints NHS expert to advise on cost recovery. Up to £500 million could be recovered from overseas visitors’ and migrants’ use of the NHS every year – making clear the need for changes to the current system, Health Secretary …
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30 Sep
Oklahoma dentist responsible for patient-to-patient hep C transmission
Dr W Scott Harrington stands accused of re-using dirty needles leading to the first known outbreak of the hepatitis C virus among dental patients in US history. Government officials have commented that while dental procedures are generally safe the case …
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30 Sep
Calls for needle exchange programme for gym users
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has called for needle exchanges to be established in gyms in order to battle the issue of sharing needles to inject performance-enhancing drugs and cosmetic products. Despite a decrease in new HIV and …
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30 Sep
Revolade approved for use in hepatitis C therapy
Revolade, a platelet-boosting drug marketed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has achieved EU approval. The drug treats patients whose low blood platelet count is adversely affecting the work of therapies to fight the hepatitis C virus. New comprehensive all-oral regimens would impact …
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5 Sep
Rising Healthcare Costs: Should We Be Scared?
Health is wealth. This used to be an adage that has been overused with time. But lately, its meaning has transformed as it is true not only figuratively, but also literally. Staying healthy requires money! You might think that’s not …
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21 Aug
Millions of patients to benefit from easier access to medication and fewer trips to hospitals
New legislation comes into force today which will mean that physiotherapists and podiatrists in the UK will be the first to be able to independently prescribe medication to their patients, Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb has announced. The move …
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16 Aug
Stem Cell Therapy: The (Lack of) Ethics Behind the Controversy
When an honorable physician resigns his covetable post at the Department of Health (DOH), it begs the question, “What gives?” In a public statement, DOH Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona expressed his support for doctors who charge patients for stem cell …
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24 Jul
Returning to work after cancer – what’s so important?
Returning to work after cancer – what’s so important? There are at present over 2 million people in the UK living with cancer and Macmillan Cancer Support estimates that by 2030 there will be 4 million. But the story of …
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8 Jul
Do people buy ‘go private’ because the NHS is bad ?
In the United Kingdom the historic premise behind the National Health Service (NHS) has always been medical care free to the user at the point of delivery. It should of course never be forgotten that the NHS is anything but …
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3 Jul
Lowering the odds.
Everyone knows how to lose weight. Its not rocket science! It may not be easy, but its not difficult. Like playing the lottery, the rules may be simple and the prize life changing but the odds are enormous. So, what …
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29 Jun
Health Governance Awards: Why We Need More Of These
Health is wealth. I hate starting an article with a cliché, but this adage is appropriate. In a nutshell, it spells out a sobering reality: We spend a whole lot of money when we get sick. The government spends millions …
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18 Jun
Hospitalised with Eczema Herpeticum
Sorry I’ve been rather quiet recently. I actually spent last week hospitalised with a sudden and extremely dangerous bout of Eczema Herpeticum and Periorbital Cellulitis. For those not in the know, EH is when the herpes simplex virus occurs, but …
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30 May
Lottery £40m for community health projects that increase happiness more than riches
£40m of Lottery funding is to be invested in community health schemes across England as new research reveals that taking part in these projects can make you almost three times happier than if your income were to double. 14 organisations, …
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30 May
Media misrepresentation of the National Health Service
In previous posts I’ve discussed my opinions on the NHS and regular readers of my other blog (details of my ‘Localventure’ blog are below) will know I also post regularly about media coverage of medical issues. In particular, I loathe …
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21 May
Anti Bullying Campaign – should be as easy as ABC
Bullying affects many lives and it can too often have devastating consequences. Many people are bullied for various reasons, whether it is for the clothes they wear, the way they look or whether they have a particular disability or learning …
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15 May
Crisis within the NHS Accident and Emergency Function
Part 3 of my Skeptical Approach to Medicine is planned out and en route but today I wanted to explore a slightly different topic. There is according to the media a crisis within the A & E Function of the …
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14 May
People will see health and social care fully joined-up by 2018
An end to people passed around the health and social care system thanks to uncoordinated services will follow plans unveiled by Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb today. Joined-up health and community care is not currently the norm, leaving people …
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8 May
Asthma UK warns of ‘alarming variation’ in asthma hospital admissions
Asthma UK has expressed concern at shocking differences in the numbers of people being rushed to hospital with an asthma attack, depending on where they live. Asthma UK has launched its Compare Your Care campaign today to find out why …
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2 May
First fully comprehensive free comparison website for care services goes live
New online information profiles that will help people to choose, compare and comment on care homes and other care services is being launched today by the Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb. The new profiles, part of the NHS Choices …
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1 May
GPS tagging for dementia patients
Sussex police are piloting a scheme to tag dementia patients and Chief Inspector Tanya Jones has been quoted as saying “The GPS will be very cost-effective to the police. It will reduce anxiety for the family and really reduce the …
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25 Apr
A Skeptical Approach to Medicine – Part One : Supplements, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (SCAM)
As readers of my posts here and also at my own blog (see link below) will know I am (amongst other things) a financial services professional operating in the private medical market and most decidedly not a clinician. However, I …
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17 Apr
Sir Robert Edwards : 27 September 1927 to 13 April 2013
Last week a true scientific, medical and humanitarian giant lost his long fight with a serious lung disease. Literally a genius whose advancements in fertility science defined the final third of the 20th Century and to whom millions are grateful. …
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15 Apr
Great News for coeliacs!
Great News for coeliacs! There has been announcements this year from Primary Care Trusts (PCT’s) that they are putting Gluten Free Fresh Bread back on prescription formularies. This means you can get Fresh Bread on your gluten free prescription again. …
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9 Apr
Cardiac Surgery Fiasco at the Leeds Health Trust
As a resident of Leeds, a professional in the healthcare sector and a member of the Leeds Hospitals Trust it would be a understatement to say that I am interested in the recent saga of childrens cardiac surgery at the …
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5 Apr
NHS versus Private Healthcare … a personal journey
Welcome to my first Talkhealth blog post. I deal with a range of health issues on a daily basis during my working life and regularly run through a variety of them on my business blog and my regular podcast but …
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20 Feb
Patients to get better care from healthcare assistants
A new independent review will look at how the training and support of healthcare and care assistants can be strengthened so they give better care to patients, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced today. The review will be led by Times …
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29 Dec
Lichenification
The epidermal layer of skin reacts to repetitive mechanical trauma by thickening up (hypertrophy), with an accumulation (hyperkeratosis) of dead cells (keratinocytes) sticking to the skin surface. The appearance is called lichenification by dermatologists. The similarity to the bark of …
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18 Dec
Stressful Times?
Modern life is sometimes thought of as particularly stressful, compared with life in previous times. These days seem to have more pressure, more demands, and more complexity to contend with. Modern life is hectic, while perhaps previous times were at …
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22 Sep
INSOMNIA…NOOOOOOO – SLEEP-YEEESSSSSSS
How much sleep do you get? Not getting enough sleep isn’t good.Requiring too much sleep can be just as bad…either way something could be wrong with your health. Sleep has ALWAYS been one of my favorite pastimes,as a teen, I …
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26 Aug
LOSING IT…MY HAIR
At this moment, while writing this blog post…I am doing something I don’t like to do: getting my hair done. I would rather sit in a dentist chair than spend the many many hours it takes to get my hairconstructed. …
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19 Aug
AUTOIMMUNE OLYMPIADS
Well, the Olympics are over. Thank God! Now I can get some sleep. I was so sleep deprived. I could have won a gold medal in crankiness. I am in awe when I see the super-human type feats executed by …
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21 Jul
CLEANING HOUSE
Since I’ve written a blog post about poop, I feel as though I can talk to you guys about anything. We are all family, right? OK, so, I want to discuss with y’all a word that is even more vile …
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14 Jul
MORE THYROETRY VOLUME III FROM THE CRAZY THYROID LADY
It’s been so hot…how do I deal with the dog days of summer? Barking with a vengeance, while my thyroid walks to the beat of a different drummer. How do I cope with these record highs? Fearing what will spark …
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7 Jul
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A THYROID SUFFERER
A day in the life of a thyroidian is so exciting! James Bond 007 has nothing on us. I never know what the day will bring, what exciting adventures I will encounter. For example, it is unclear what will mysteriously …
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23 Jun
BOOST YOUR IMMUNE
This week’s blog is dedicated to those who suffer from one or more autoimmune diseases. I take my hat off to you! Having to endure the daily struggles of your respective invisible illness is truly a heroic feat, and in …
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16 Jun
THYROID AND THE BRAIN
While doing some research for my book, I stumbled upon an interesting news story regarding thyroid disease. The article was about a murder trial and the defendant’s attorneys argued that a “mismanaged thyroid disease” led to her actions on that …
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10 Jun
WE ARE ALL FULL OF IT
This week’s picture has nothing to do with the blog. I figured if I put up a picture of what my blog is about…y’all probably would not read it. I want to talk about something that no one wants …
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7 Jun
How to play the ADHD game
Danny Lieberman, the founder of Pathcare, the private social network for healthcare, reviews an innovative online service for clinicians that uses distracters to help improve ADHD diagnosis and treatment plans. Do you have a child with ADHD? Then surely, you …
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6 Jun
We have a lymphedema pandemic – while IT is busy evaluating systems
IT (information technology) is about executing predictable business processes. Doctors are about handling the unexpected and dealing with the extreme and unfamiliar like lymphedema. If they will ever bridge this gap, IT and physicians must adopt a common goal and …
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28 May
Can Dr. Google do it alone?
Patient self-management is great, but is a “have browser, will heal” strategy really a good idea? Perhaps it’s a really bad idea? People have deep emotional concerns with psychosomatic implications that cannot be resolved by asking Dr. Google. A few …
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28 May
Team-based care
When I grew up in New Jersey, we had a GP who took care of the entire family, my parents, me and my 3 younger sisters. 30 years later, when my Mom became ill with MSA (multiple system atrophy), she …
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23 May
Why your doctors should be working together
Why your doctors should be working together and why patients shouldn’t have to integrate the data themselves. Eleven years ago, my Mom passed away from MSA – Multiple system atrophy. Multiple-system atrophy (MSA) is a neurological disorder associated with the …
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15 May
Back to basics – putting the patient back into center court
I remember standing on a line in a Barnes and Nobles store in Manhattan about 15 years ago and picking up a slim book of Michael Jordan’s autobiography. I actually read the entire book while waiting in the queue …
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11 May
Are you using social networking for healthcare like you choose your haircut?
Danny Lieberman talks about why taking decisions on using social media for your medical practice should be based on your specialty and your patients’ needs, not what kind of haircut the guys in your class favor. A flattop is a …
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8 May
Freeing yourself from a tobacco and alcohol addiction
Danny Lieberman talks about improving healthcare by taking a page out of the chip industry, designing a process, ramping it up into mass production and then driving down costs with continuous improvement. Social media is more addictive than cigarettes and …
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4 May
I can have my cake and eat it too!
Danny Lieberman frames the question of healthcare and social in a different way – and there might even be a delicious cake recipe in the post that is not too fattening! There is a tremendous swell of interest in using …
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3 May
Can I trust you to keep a secret?
In this article, Danny Lieberman talks about the importance of trust and privacy in our healthcare interactions. pri·va·cy/ˈprīvəsē/ The state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people. The state of being free from public …
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1 May
Getting into bed and staying there?
The family GP doesn’t do house calls anymore In late May 2009, my 87 year old mother-in-law fell. She got back into bed and stayed there. She was unwilling to get out of bed and be taken by ambulance to …
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27 Apr
A simple solution for improving healthcare
We can improve healthcare today by improving accessibility of the information shared between doctor (the expert on the science) and the patients (the experts on their personal experience). Over 5000 years ago, as described in the Old Testament, the first human …
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25 Apr
How private social networking can make healthcare workers really effective
We are accustomed to think about social media in terms of the personal interactions that stimulate our System 1: the intuitive, fast thinking process in our brain that enables us to enjoy interesting content and parry conversations with witty repartee. …
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20 Apr
The biggest resource in healthcare is the patients themselves.
We can use private social networks to enable patients to connect directly with their physicians and healthcare providers. By connecting directly with their physician in a private social network, doctors can provide guidance and patients can provide feedback using a simple, easy-to-use …
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19 Apr
(Un)-meaningful use – the healthcare system you should be using
How do you get the most of a software application for managing your patients’ medical information, i.e. maximize your return on investment? At the same time, how do you minimize your security and compliance risk for using the software? Different …
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