Category Archives: Health

Diagnosing high blood pressure: Who knew it could be so complicated?

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (formerly Group Health Research Institute) is undertaking an important study about how we diagnosis hypertension. It’s well known that on a medical visit that blood pressure readings are generally lower after the visit than … Continue reading →

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Have you registered with smart911?

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Jim deMaine

National EMS Week is May 21-27, 2017. Let’s thank them! One way to protect ourselves (and to help 911 dispatchers) is by listing your phone number plus pertinent medical and contact information at the confidential site for 911. By logging … Continue reading →

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Turning negative thinkers into more positive ones

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Jim deMaine

From the NYT passed along by MJF: “Most mornings as I leave the Y after my swim and shower, I cross paths with a coterie of toddlers entering with their caregivers for a kid-oriented activity. I can’t resist saying hello, … Continue reading →

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April 29th film and gathering at nearby Seattle First Baptist Church

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Hospice Chaplain Trudy James has spoken previously at Skyline. If you missed viewing her film Speaking of Dying, here’s your chance. I’ll be there! 4 p.m. — FREE SCREENING of the 30-minute film SPEAKING OF DYING, plus  a conversation with  two physicians … Continue reading →

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Your tongue

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Jim deMaine

The amazing thing about our bodies is how unaware we are when everything is functioning normally. I’m worried about a friend who’s loosing control of her 12th cranial nerve, the hypoglossal nerve. Never heard of it? Well that’s OK. There … Continue reading →

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Things of Beauty: Scientific Instruments of Yore

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Are you a collector? Or if you aren’t do you wish you had been? A friend has his house full of cash registers. Of course, he worked for NCR and just can let them go. Below is a video of … Continue reading →

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And your insurance policy covers ….

Posted on March 18, 2017 by Jim deMaine
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“Is Death in Trouble” – from the Hastings Center

Posted on March 18, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Daniel Callahan wonders if death is in trouble. Have we pushed death back so far with the advances in medicine that we no longer die of old age? It’s an interesting thought. Death may be intellectually inevitable but it’s always … Continue reading →

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Suggestions for becoming a positive deviant

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Harvard surgeon and author Atul Gawande has written several books and New Yorker articles about medicine, aging, mortality, quality improvement, and philosophical musings. In many ways he reminds me of Lewis Thomas. Gawande is probably doing more than any other … Continue reading →

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The Immigration Ban And The Physician Workforce

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Jim deMaine

From the Health Affairs Blog: “The Executive Order restricting visas for citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen has many legal, political, and moral implications. But here we will focus on the medical implications of the executive order, … Continue reading →

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AARP’s letter to Congress concerning “The American Health Care Act”

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Jim deMaine

One reason (of many) the opponents of Obamacare don’t like the law, is that taxes are attached to support the program. There are a number of them and include (from Forbes): 2.3% Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers (this doesn’t hit … Continue reading →

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A Family Adventure in Medical Tourism

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Jim deMaine

At the moment, I’m living about 15 minutes north of Tijuana. The wall at the border is impressive restraining movement in both directions, yet the car and foot traffic are brisk and commonly backed up – and medical care is one … Continue reading →

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Should I Take a Vitamin for Brittle Nails?

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: “The desire to take medicine is perhaps the greatest feature which distinguishes man from animals.” William Osler. This seems to be more than obvious by walking the isles of expensive supplements and vitamins at COSTCO and any pharmacy. … Continue reading →

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Republicans reveal replacement plan for Obamacare

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Oops! Someone seems to have misplaced it. Sorry, can’t seem to find it anywhere! Maybe it’s locked in drawer somewhere. But wait, there may be three or four plans, who knows? Trumpcare/Ryancare awaits the light of day.

Posted in Health | 1 Comment

Great source of health, safety and aging information

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: This web site http://www.agingkingcounty.org/advisory-council is well worth subscribing to for all kinds of health and safety tips. Below is just a taste of one of their articles on food safety for your edification and to whet your appetite. Food safety … Continue reading →

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Trumpcare vs. Obamacare by Atul Gawande

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Jim deMaine

There’s a joke going around that Congress and the President are going to repeal Obamacare — and replace it with the Affordable Health Care Act. Harvard physician and author Atul Gawande writes about how difficult the choices are in the … Continue reading →

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Obamacare in Trump country

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Jim deMaine

 

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An unfortunate truth

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Submitted by Sylvia P.: Abuse in nursing homes received attention in a recent CNN story titled “Sick, dying and raped in America.” We are fortunate at Skyline to have strong leadership in preventing abuse but it is of national concern … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Social justice | 2 Comments

The interned and the undocumented: the immigration spectrum in the US today

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Jim deMaine

From Aeon and the NYT: “With many Americans either too far away or too busy to care for their elderly relatives, the task is frequently shifted to professional caregivers – often female immigrants from cultures where caring for elders is seen as … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Social justice | 1 Comment

The difficult C. Diff

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Mrs. G was admitted from the ER to our ICU in shock. This quite healthy 80 year old woman had an infected toe about a month prior to admission. It responded to antibiotics and initially she did well. But when … Continue reading →

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Do you have questions about hospice?

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Next Tuesday in the MBR at 3PM Questions and Answers about Hospice and Palliative Care This is an informal discussion intended to define and clarify what hospice might “look like” if you, a family member, or loved one were interested … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Hospice | 4 Comments

Lack of direct sunlight may reshape the human eye and impair vision

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Jim deMaine

Sunlight seems to be controversial. Can’t live without it though. Sunlight is good in the morning to help set your sleep cycle. But it’s bad for your skin and causes cataracts. Yet you need it for your bones and vitamin … Continue reading →

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How many of your knees hurt?

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Jim deMaine
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Physician Aid in Dying Gains Acceptance in the U.S.

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Jim deMaine

From the NYT: “The number of residents taking advantage of these laws in Oregon and Washington has climbed in the past two years. Still, after nearly 20 years in Oregon and eight in Washington, far fewer than 1 percent of … Continue reading →

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Federal Legislation to EXCLUDE Advance Care Planning under Medicare

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Jim deMaine

 Unbelievable – “Death Panel” phobia redux! Yikes! From the Medical Futility Blog: Congressman Steve King has re-introduced a bill to exclude coverage of advance care planning services under the Medicare program.Unfortunately, King fundamentally either misunderstands or deliberately mischaracterizes the current … Continue reading →

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