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Category Archives: Health
End-of-life-care – US rankings surprisingly improved in some areas
Most folks wish to pass from this life in a home-like environment surrounded by loved ones. But in the past, most of us were whisked off to the hospital. Hospice care has had a huge impact by improving end of life … Continue reading
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The Smallpox Miracle
Smallpox dates back to the body of Pharaoh Ramses V, who died more than 3000 years ago. He had telltale pockmarks on his mummified skin. There have been horrendous repetitive epidemics over the centuries, for example an epidemic raged in … Continue reading
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Doctor, get off the computer!
I recently had my Medicare annual checkup. The checks in the checkup turned out to be the boxes on the computer screen carefully completed by my Internist. As she smiled and we chatted, there were a lot of computer screens … Continue reading
Do Hand Sanitizers Really Cut Down on Illness?
There are some “simple” precautions that we should be taking, but do we? The hard part is remembering. In addition to hand washing or a sanitizer, can we really keep our hands away from our noses? From the NYT: Q. … Continue reading
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“How do we heal medicine” Atul Gawande
His book, “Being Mortal” will be discussed at next Monday’s Book Club at Skyline.
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The century of tobacco abuse that lingers on
The 20th century will be remembered in many ways – one of which is the epidemic of lung cancer, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease related to tobacco abuse. Remember when cigarettes were less than a quarter a pack and the … Continue reading
A letter to the President from organizations across the political spectrum
The letter below to President Trump was signed by America’s Health Insurance Plans, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Benefits Council, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the Federation of American … Continue reading
Updates from Aging & Disability Services – King County
Update from : Aging & Disability Services; Seattle King County Area Agency on Aging Thanks to effective advocacy from the Advisory Council and aging network partners, there has been a number of wins this legislative session, including: Vulnerable adult bill 1153 passed both … Continue reading
Posted in Aging Sites, Health, Politics, Social justice
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”We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep”
We still know far too little about sleep. It’s surprising because if we live to be 75 and sleep 8 hours a day, we’ve slept for 25 years. Why? What’s going on? The restorative aspects of sleep are widely appreciated … Continue reading
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Diagnosing high blood pressure: Who knew it could be so complicated?
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?
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
Posted in Health, In the Neighborhood
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Turning negative thinkers into more positive ones
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
April 29th film and gathering at nearby Seattle First Baptist Church
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
Posted in end of life, Health, Hospice
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Your tongue
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
Things of Beauty: Scientific Instruments of Yore
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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“Is Death in Trouble” – from the Hastings Center
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
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
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”
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
A Family Adventure in Medical Tourism
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?
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
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.
Great source of health, safety and aging information
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
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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