Category Archives: Health

Medicare enrollment

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Thanks, from Barb W.  We get it, you’ve got plenty of things on your “to-do” list already. But if you haven’t already added these 5 items to your list, you’ll want to do so now. Why? So you can get … Continue reading →

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Earl E. Bakken, Pacemaker Inventor and Medtronic Founder, Dies at 94

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Dick D From the NYT: “Earl E. Bakken, who, working in a Minneapolis garage, invented the first wearable, battery-powered pacemaker and went on to help create the world’s largest medical device company, died on Sunday at his home … Continue reading →

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Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Jim deMaine

  In a recent presentation at Skyline, there was some confusion generated in comparing the advantages of having Original Medicare (with a supplemental medigap plan and drug plan) vs. having a Medicare Advantage plan. Unfortunately a private insurance company’s “educational … Continue reading →

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New single dose drug for the flu

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Jim deMaine

From the NYT: “The first new flu drug in 20 years won approval Wednesday from the Food and Drug Administration. The new antiviral, generically known as baloxavir marboxil but sold under the brand name Xofluza, is a single dose treatment. … Continue reading →

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Safeguarding Health and Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: The Washington State Physicians for Social Responsibility *WPSR) is sponsoring the presentation. The concerns have become even more relevant as nuclear rhetoric heats up: “The US national security adviser, John Bolton, has confirmed that the US will withdrawal from the … Continue reading →

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The Medicare insurance annual choices

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: We are in our annual confusing months of thinking about our health insurance coverage. Below is a very useful essay posted on the Morningstar site. It does some comparisons between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage . From discussions … Continue reading →

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Advice From Health Care’s Power Users

Posted on October 21, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: The article below has some pretty good suggestions but I’ll add a few of my own and would like you to know that some help will be coming in finding local resources. When I established with a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | 3 Comments

Soon you may need that Happy Light for SAD

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Sleep specialists recommend the use of a 10,000 lux “happy light” for 15-30 minutes each morning during the dark days in northern climates like ours. Choose one carefully because they are not FDA regulated. Here is one reviewer’s selection. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Health, sleep | 1 Comment

Every Older Patient Has a Story. Medical Students Need to Hear It.

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: The lecture I remember most from medical school was by an aging senior professor who interviewed a patient in front of our entire class saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to present a very interesting case.” Then he … Continue reading →

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Flawed – falling in love with a plastic surgeon

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Jim deMaine
Posted in Art, Essays, happiness, Health | 1 Comment

The importance of medical touch

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: I remember feeling somewhat puzzled and annoyed that during my first Medicare annual checkup that my doctor never touched me. An assistant checked my BP, weighed me, checked my meds and did a cursory dementia screen. Then is … Continue reading →

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It’s time for that flu shot

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Here is a version of the well known in-flu-Enza nursery rhyme in “Our Paper” Vol. 10 (1894) by Massachusetts Reformatory (Concord, Mass.): There was a little girl, and she had a little bird,  And she called it by the pretty name … Continue reading →

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For Elderly Women With Breast Cancer, Surgery May Not Be the Best Option

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: The thoughtful geriatrician will approach his aging patient with the “do no harm” principle. Perhaps the intervention might work in a younger person; perhaps the medication dose should be halved or even stopped; perhaps the aggressive management of … Continue reading →

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Is stress good for teenagers?

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: When my kids were in Junior High, the Principal felt that stress and competition was not good for the kids. Hence, there were no school sports teams and grades were deemphasized. The object was to build up the … Continue reading →

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Ken Burns – the Mayo Clinic: Faith – Hope – Science – tonight 9 PM on KCTS

Posted on September 25, 2018 by Jim deMaine

From Dick Dion: Take a timely look at how one institution has met the changing demands of healthcare. The Mayo Clinic: Faith – Hope – Science is a new two-hour documentary executive-produced by Ken Burns and directed by Burns, Erik Ewers … Continue reading →

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FDA Approves Sale of Prescription Placebos – from the Onion

Posted on September 25, 2018 by Jim deMaine

FDA Approves Sale Of Prescription Placebo – the Onion ^ | September 17, 2003  (forwarded by Ann Milam) WASHINGTON, DC—After more than four decades of testing in tandem with other drugs, placebo gained approval for prescription use from the Food and … Continue reading →

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The Obecalp Effect

Posted on September 25, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Betty was complaining at an escalating rate. She’d been in her nursing home for four years and wasn’t happy. She kept coming up with new symptoms like aching, fatigue, nervous stomach, tingling, dizziness, etc. Her daughter Nancy was getting daily … Continue reading →

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Build strength, fall less and live longer – just two training sessions a week can reverse age-related cellular damage

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: There is repeated evidence that weights and resistance training can help with our health in multiple ways. It’s a good idea to check in with our Fitness Team before embarking on a strenuous program. Here’s some suggestions in … Continue reading →

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Why (or why not) that daily baby aspirin?

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: After talking to a Cardiologist friend several years ago I asked him why he didn’t take a daily baby aspirin. He said he didn’t have any risk factors and felt the risk of a hemorrhage was greater than … Continue reading →

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‘The right trousers’: Wallace and Gromit inspire artificial muscle clothing

Posted on September 14, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Frank Conlon writes: “Given that we have folks pursuing a goal of dynamic support clothing, the attached story from The Guardian of Sep. 11 might be of interest.” It will be interesting to see how/when/if this technology really … Continue reading →

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Factfullness: Ten reasons we’re wrong about the world – and why things are better than you think

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Hans Rosling has written a fascinating book that Bill Gates called the most important book he’s ever read. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think. Rosling explains how and why our thinking … Continue reading →

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Stories for Getting Back to Sleep with Diane Gillespie, author & psychologist

Posted on September 7, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Skyline residents welcome Tuesday, September 25 7:30 PM, Anderson Hall Horizon House, 900 University Street Ever have trouble falling back to sleep in the middle of the night? Find yourself stuck in stories that make you anxious? Educational psychologist Diane … Continue reading →

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Blame Emergency Rooms for the Out-of-Control Cost of Health Care

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: The article below about ER costs reinforced my bias against going to an ER unless we really have an emergency. Our medical system (if you can call it that) really breaks down in terms of urgent care after … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Health | 1 Comment

Preventing Muscle Loss (Sarcopenia) as We Age

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Jane Brody is the personal health columnist, a position she has held since 1976. She has written more than a dozen books including the best sellers “Jane Brody’s Nutrition Book” and “Jane Brody’s Good Food Book.”  From the NYT: “Use … Continue reading →

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Have you ever used a Canadian Pharmacy?

Posted on August 27, 2018 by Jim deMaine

Have you ever thought of buying an expensive prescription drug from Canada? Actually it’s legal and not that difficult – and often there is free shipping. I have recently been able to purchase Prednisolone eye drops at 20% of the … Continue reading →

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