Health literacy is the sure way to help you and your health care team make the best medical decisions for you. Making healthy lifestyles permanent is one of the keys to good health. The following books are recommended primarily because they teach you things you can do for yourself that you can incorporate in your lifestyle to make it healthier.
Barney & Baby Bop Go to the Doctor
by Margie Larson
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom
by Christiane Northrup M.D.
The Medical Advisor: Complete Guide to Alternative & Complimentary Treament
by TIME Life Books
Dr. Koop's Self Care Advisor
by Everett C. Koop, M.D.
Merck Manual
by Merck
Savvy Patient Toolkit
by Margo Corbett
The Empowered Patient
by Elizabeth Cohen
Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide
by J. L. Richardson, M.D.
Best health!
domingo, 14 de noviembre de 2010
martes, 9 de noviembre de 2010
Flu IQ & Precautions
How much do you know about the flu? Take the Center for Disease Control quiz and see. Remember the basics: wash hands, cover your cough, stay well hydrated, dress warmly, get plenty of rest, and get a flu shot. If you have flu symptoms, stay at home until fever has gone and you feel better. Best health!
viernes, 5 de noviembre de 2010
Incidentaloma Incidents
When I had my initial body scan 10 years ago unexpected findings were discovered. These incidental incidentalomas had failed to cause any symptoms. An incidentaloma is the medical term for incidental findings that you may have been born with or acquired which are usually benign. Harmless and benign as they may be, further investigation is warranted, This may involve direct testing with a biopsy and possibly surgical excision.
Though most inidentalomas are benign, they may continue to grow inside the body. This may endanger other organs and become life threatening. Routine scans done at one, two, three, six months then annually is an accepted standard of care for following incidentalomas. In addition, periodic blood tests that correlate with it will help show any changes from the incidentaloma.
Of the five abnormal findings on my body scan, one proved life threatening. The ginormous kidney stone stuck in my kidney had caused no symptoms. Had it remained undetected, kidney failure and/or loss of a kidney surely could have occurred. Another incidentolama required biopsy and proved to be benign (was initially found on a cardiac stress test!). The others continue to be unchanged and asymptomatic. Followup with routine scans is the way they have been followed and they remain stable.
If you are concerned about cost and/or whether your health insurance will cover it, you may want to consider self pay. This test was worth each penny of my $750. Plus no prescription or referral is needed unless it is covered by Medicare. My insurance company now covers scans of each area with incidentolomas. Though not a body scan, the results are the same.
Incidental incidentolomas affect all of us. Once found they should be checked. Be sure to see any specialists that may be necessary to decide if biopsy, surgery, or simply following routine scans is enough.
Best health!
Though most inidentalomas are benign, they may continue to grow inside the body. This may endanger other organs and become life threatening. Routine scans done at one, two, three, six months then annually is an accepted standard of care for following incidentalomas. In addition, periodic blood tests that correlate with it will help show any changes from the incidentaloma.
Of the five abnormal findings on my body scan, one proved life threatening. The ginormous kidney stone stuck in my kidney had caused no symptoms. Had it remained undetected, kidney failure and/or loss of a kidney surely could have occurred. Another incidentolama required biopsy and proved to be benign (was initially found on a cardiac stress test!). The others continue to be unchanged and asymptomatic. Followup with routine scans is the way they have been followed and they remain stable.
If you are concerned about cost and/or whether your health insurance will cover it, you may want to consider self pay. This test was worth each penny of my $750. Plus no prescription or referral is needed unless it is covered by Medicare. My insurance company now covers scans of each area with incidentolomas. Though not a body scan, the results are the same.
Incidental incidentolomas affect all of us. Once found they should be checked. Be sure to see any specialists that may be necessary to decide if biopsy, surgery, or simply following routine scans is enough.
Best health!
sábado, 30 de octubre de 2010
Health Books: Must Read Healing, Part 1
Health literacy is the sure way to help you and your health care team make the best medical decisions for you. Making healthy lifestyles permanent is one of the keys to good health. The following books are recommended primarily because they teach you things you can do for yourself that you can incorporate in your lifestyle to make it healthier.
The Healing Power Of Prayer: The Surprising Connection Betweeen Prayer & Your Health
by Chester L. Tolson, Ph.D. and Harold G. Koenig, M.D.
Food as Medicine: How to Use Diet, Vitamins, Juices and Herbs for a Healthier, Happier and Longer Life
by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
Prescription for Herbal Healing
by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
Spontaneous Healing
by Andrew Weil, M.D.
The Doctor and the Word
by Reginald Cherry, M.D.
Healing Words: The Power of Prayer & the Practice of Medicine
by Larry Dossey, M.D.
20 Minute Yoga Workouts
by America Yoga Foundation & Alice Christensen (founder)
Home Health Massage
by Wendy Kavanagh
Take Charge of Your Hospital Stay: A Start Smart Guide for Patients & Caregivers
by Karen Keating McCann
Power Healing: The Four Keys To Energizing Your Body, Mind, & Spirit
by Dr. Zhi Gang Sha
Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide
by J. L. Richardson, M.D.
Best health!
The Healing Power Of Prayer: The Surprising Connection Betweeen Prayer & Your Health
by Chester L. Tolson, Ph.D. and Harold G. Koenig, M.D.
Food as Medicine: How to Use Diet, Vitamins, Juices and Herbs for a Healthier, Happier and Longer Life
by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
Prescription for Herbal Healing
by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
Spontaneous Healing
by Andrew Weil, M.D.
The Doctor and the Word
by Reginald Cherry, M.D.
Healing Words: The Power of Prayer & the Practice of Medicine
by Larry Dossey, M.D.
20 Minute Yoga Workouts
by America Yoga Foundation & Alice Christensen (founder)
Home Health Massage
by Wendy Kavanagh
Take Charge of Your Hospital Stay: A Start Smart Guide for Patients & Caregivers
by Karen Keating McCann
Power Healing: The Four Keys To Energizing Your Body, Mind, & Spirit
by Dr. Zhi Gang Sha
Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide
by J. L. Richardson, M.D.
Best health!
What Internet Does For You & Your Health
Prior to any medical diagnosis you or doctor visit, you are able to check things out for yourself. Textbooks in your personal home library and the public library along with information your health care providers may have given you is initial information most patients are exposed to initially. The Internet is now the primary source for health information for patients and health care providers all over the world. This is the only place you can find valid, up-to-date medical information from all over the world. In a few hours you know as much if not more than any new medical school graduate about your health conditions.
A survey done by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports that over 50% of Americans look up health information on line in 2009. Women were more likely than men to research health information on the Internet. Direct patient-doctor interactions like email, prescription refills, and appointments were used infrequently (5%). Disease specific information is the most searched health information followed by medication. nutrition and fitness.* Most of the patients discussed their findings with their doctors. Key word search using the search engine, Google, was the primary way information was located. Specific websites were second. Over 98% reported the material was reliable and easy to understand.
Information like this helps you and your medical care team help you get the best care possible. Wellness, prevention, early detection and treatment are a few hours and a few clicks away - free. The Internet is a valuable resource that does the following:
by J.L. Richardson, M.D., family medicine physician and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
*study from Dept. of Family Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Journal of American Board of Family Medicine, 2006
A survey done by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports that over 50% of Americans look up health information on line in 2009. Women were more likely than men to research health information on the Internet. Direct patient-doctor interactions like email, prescription refills, and appointments were used infrequently (5%). Disease specific information is the most searched health information followed by medication. nutrition and fitness.* Most of the patients discussed their findings with their doctors. Key word search using the search engine, Google, was the primary way information was located. Specific websites were second. Over 98% reported the material was reliable and easy to understand.
Information like this helps you and your medical care team help you get the best care possible. Wellness, prevention, early detection and treatment are a few hours and a few clicks away - free. The Internet is a valuable resource that does the following:
- provide you with information that will keep you healthy and well
- help you find the latest research, clinical trials, treatments, doctors for any illness
- allow you to communicate with your health care providers directly (email, telemedicine)
- find and share research thereby promoting your health literacy i.e learning and teaching for every one involved
- help you find virtual and real communities that provide support for your conditions and diseases as well as social interaction
- search and shop for insurance and other medical aid, supplies, etc.
by J.L. Richardson, M.D., family medicine physician and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
*study from Dept. of Family Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Journal of American Board of Family Medicine, 2006
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