Category Archives: Health

Pro or Con – make your opinion known

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Jim deMaine

EOL Washington has proposed legislation to improve Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) care and access. See below.

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So just where are those six AEDs at Skyline?

Posted on January 23, 2023 by Jim deMaine

If someone yells out, “Go get me an AED!” Are you ready to respond?

Posted in Health | 1 Comment

CPR and Defibrillators: What You Need to Know

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By Gina Kolata in the NYT Before 1958, there was no such thing as CPR. If someone’s heart stopped because of cardiac arrest, that person fell to the ground, with no pulse, no breathing. And they were simply declared dead. All … Continue reading →

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How to safe a life in 90 seconds with CPR

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Jim deMaine

This is a useful skill that able residents and willing staff should learn. As resident Leonard Cobb MD notes, learning this skill and having an AED may enable you to save a life one day. Some residents who are frail … Continue reading →

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Health Experts Warily Eye XBB.1.5, the Latest Omicron Subvariant

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By Carl Zimmer in the NYT Three years into the pandemic, the coronavirus continues to impress virologists with its swift evolution. A young version, known as XBB.1.5, has quickly been spreading in the United States over the past few weeks. As of … Continue reading →

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Pill-Swallowing Methods for Simplifying Medication Administration

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Sandy J. Anne-Marie Botek According to an online Harris Interactive poll, about 40 percent of American adults have trouble swallowing pills. Commonly cited issues include gagging, a lingering aftertaste from an incomplete swallow and having a pill become … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | 2 Comments

Visit the nearby Memory Hub

Posted on January 5, 2023 by Jim deMaine
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It’s after-hours and you need medical help. What to do?

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Of course, if it’s an emergency call 911 and let the concierge know of your call (or have them call 911). But often, it’s not a 911 issue. What about having a concern about COVID symptoms or a urinary infection … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | 1 Comment

Weight and health – current status from the New England Journal of Medicine

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Jim deMaine
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The Josephine Way

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: This essay from the current issue of the New England Journal reminds us that we, as patients, have choices. Our providers may or may not agree, but making our wishes known in the way Josephine did engendered a … Continue reading →

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WHAT ARE TYPES OF HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICES?

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: I’ve been asked on occasion how one can find an advocate when they have no one close to them who can be their power of attorney or assist with health care navigation. HealthAdvocateX is a national non-profit organization committed … Continue reading →

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Stressed During the Holidays? There’s an Exercise for That.

Posted on December 5, 2022 by Jim deMaine

By Danielle Friedman in the NYT The holidays may be known for their go-go-go stressful energy, but we also tend to spend a lot of time in December being sedentary. Historically, people are least physically active during the winter, thanks to falling temperatures, limited hours of … Continue reading →

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Assisted living too often fails older, sicker residents, report says

Posted on December 5, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Diana C – Published in the Washington Post Assisted-living communities too often fail to meet the needs of older people and should focus more on residents’ medical and mental health concerns, according to a recent report by a diverse panel … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Caregiving, Dementia, Disabilities, end of life, Grief, Health | 1 Comment

Better believe it – research into the placebo effect

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Marilyn W. Ed Note: Placebo is a Latin word which translates as “I shall please.” If you’re interested, click here to read a blog post I wrote about one of my patients responding to the “drug” obecalp. By Sam … Continue reading →

Posted in Fitness, Health | Comments Off on Better believe it – research into the placebo effect

Researchers begin trial for mRNA flu vaccine

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Jim deMaine

The investigational vaccine is in the third phase of trials and targets flu strains expected to circulate this winter Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) are now recruiting participants age 65 and older who have not yet … Continue reading →

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19,000 Polyclinic, Everett Clinic patients face in-network insurance loss

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Once again, we’re faced with consumer unfriendly restrictions and costs in the health care industry. Now we’re seeing bargaining over care vs. profits! United Health Group Inc (UNH) is for profit and it’s stock continues to soar gaining … Continue reading →

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Relationships 2.0: An Antidote to Loneliness

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Jim deMaine

When you go to a medical appointment, your doctor may ask you several questions. Do you smoke? Have you been getting exercise? Are you sleeping? But rarely do they ask: are you lonely? U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy believes we are suffering … Continue reading →

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A Neurologist’s Tips to Protect Your Memory

Posted on November 19, 2022 by Jim deMaine

A new book by a renowned brain expert says there are a few simple things we can do to prevent memory decline as we age. As we age, our memory declines. This is an ingrained assumption for many of us; … Continue reading →

Posted in Dementia, Health | 2 Comments

Extreme heat will change us

Posted on November 19, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Gordon G. who notes “Time to buy property in Wash. or Maine, along the shore, but about 20 feet above sea level😐!” What levels of temperature can the human body endure? By 2050, nearly half the world may … Continue reading →

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Medicare Advantage or Just Medicare?

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Most people are happy with their Medicare, whether “Advantage” or not. I’ve had excellent care under both. It should be emphasized though that the Federal government (your money) pays a premium to privatize Medicare in it’s array of … Continue reading →

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Kaiser Permanente pays over $36M for Yesler Terrace site on 9th Avenue just south of Harborview. Nine story facility planned.

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: If you happen to receive your care from Kaiser Permanente (this editor does not), this construction may bring much of your care, possibly including urgent care, much closer to home. As planned, Kaiser Permanente has paid a little … Continue reading →

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TERREWODE Womens Hospital: A Tribute to Skyline Residents Friday October 28 at 3 pm Mt. Baker Room

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Jim deMaine
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Poor air quality — stay indoors if possible

Posted on October 15, 2022 by Jim deMaine

The best air quality is east Puget Sound or up in the San Juan Islands. Seattle area today shows generally unhealthy air. Click here for the latest air quality map.

Posted in Health, In the Neighborhood | 1 Comment

‘A New Frontier’ for Hearing Aids

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Over-the-counter hearing aids are coming at long last. But lower prices and greater accessibility may take time to materialize. By Paula Span in the NYT The world of hearing health will change on Oct. 17, when the Food and Drug Administration’s … Continue reading →

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‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions

Posted on October 9, 2022 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Privatizing Medicare has perverted the incentives to provide good care at a reasonable cost. The insurance companies quickly discovered if they could claim (often fraudulently) that its enrollee patients had multiple sickness, they could rake off huge profits … Continue reading →

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