A recent article in Emerging Infectious Diseases indicates that there was a sevenfold rise in Community Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus(CA-MRSA) in hospitals and other health care facilities from 1999 — 2006. Researchers have noted that a rise in CA-MRSA has added additional pressure to Healthcare settings who are already over burdened with Hospital Acquired Methicillin-Resistant [...] Read More »

Should I nix the nuggets or call the Colonel? Consumer Reports latest study indicates that two-thirds of tested chickens purchased at supermarkets nationwide harbored salmonella and/or campylobacter, the leading bacterial causes of food borne disease. Believe it or not this is an improvement from a similar study done two years ago in which they estimated 80% of the chicken supply to be contaminated. [...] Read More »

During the holidays, we fill our calendars with lots of shopping, baking, gift wrapping, and holiday parties. So it’s easy to overlook one of the most important elements to staying sane and healthy‚Ķ H20. Dehydration when you drink less water than your body needs, or excessive water is lost. Water is essential for survival and the imbalance can lead to serious problems. Dehydration [...] Read More »

In the Emergency Room we are seeing many patients with upper respiratory illnesses and presumed H1N1 influenza. The great majority of these cases are mild and require nothing more than treatment for symptoms. If a patient is at risk for complications the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) recommend healthcare providers use clinical judgment to start an antiviral treatment of Tamiflu (oseltamivir) [...] Read More »

As an emergency medicine physician I see many patients presenting with fever, cough and varying degrees of feeling tired and wiped out. The great majority of these patients are not very ill and can be discharged home simply with something for their fever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil). But hiding amongst the weeds is a serious killer named sepsis, which early in its presentation [...] Read More »

As the mother of three daughters, closely approaching 50 I am very aware of my appearance. I have always had the mantra that I plan on aging gracefully, but recently I have noticed that I am aging faster than I would like and my grace just can’ keep up. In other words it is easy to say you don’ mind getting older, until you realize you are in the midst of it. I guess you can say I have [...] Read More »

Current reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) state a slight decline in the reported cases of H1N1 influenza, even though hospital related influenza activity is still higher than usual for this time of year. This is encouraging and may mark the coming of the end of the second wave of H1N1. The first wave of H1N1 (Swine flu) was the initial onset of the pandemic, which swept [...] Read More »

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) has stated that anyone under the age of 50 has no natural immunity to the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus – a H1N1 viral virgin. But, recent evidence released this week states that researchers have discovered that people who have had repeated flu infections, or annual flu vaccines may have some protection against the new H1N1 influenza. So how do [...] Read More »

November 19th the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout Day! But, did you know the month of November is also COPD Awareness month? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that affects millions of people each year. COPD includes diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. A person with COPD may have either emphysema or chronic bronchitis, [...] Read More »

You know what that means – kick the habit and put those cigarette butts out. Why quit smoking? Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 1 of every 5 deaths in the U.S. are attributed to smoking. For every 1 person that dies from a smoking-related disease, another 20 people [...] Read More »