Medications save lives and make life more bearable for millions of people. No doubt about it. But medications can also cause harm. Logically, the more medications a patient takes, the higher the risk of side effects and dangerous interactions between medications. Did you know many patients take inappropriate or unnecessary medications? Unfortunately, over-prescribing is a […]
10 Tips to Communicate Better with Doctors
How you communicate with your doctor impacts your health. It can even make a difference between life and death. Research has found that patients who effectively communicate with their doctors make more appropriate medical decisions and have better health outcomes. Use these 10 tips to communicate better with doctors to help you get the best care and […]
How Can Patients Protect Themselves from Hospital Infections?
No one wants to go to the hospital, and certainly no one wants to get sicker while they are there. However, since there are germs lurking throughout hospitals, there is actually a pretty good chance a patient could acquire a serious hospital infection. How common are hospital-acquired infections? Common enough that you should care. How […]
Financial Conflicts of Interest in Medical Research
When considering possible treatments for a serious illness, more and more of us involve ourselves in the decision-making process. We’re asking other patients what treatments they use, we’re getting second opinions and we’re looking online for information. Doctors and patients alike rely on information they read in medical journals. Are there possible new treatments? How […]
NeedyMeds Helps Patients Save Money on Medications and Other Healthcare Expenses
This is a guest post written by NeedyMeds, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping patients save money on medications and other healthcare expenses. Every day more and more Americans are struggling to cover their medication costs. As a result, many must make difficult choices between paying for food, housing, or prescriptions. Certainly, uninsured Americans face […]
Four Patient Safety Hazards You Need to Know About
At one time or another, we all need medical care. Whether it’s for a sudden illness, a chronic condition or a serious illness or injury, we’ll need a doctor’s help. Of course, we expect the care we receive to help us, not harm us. But unfortunately, that is not always the case. Doctors, nurses and […]
Are Antibiotics Helpful or Harmful? What You Need to Know.
Antibiotics are the go-to treatment for many types of infections. Doctors prescribe them, and/or patients demand them, for a wide variety of ailments. However, antibiotics are a mixed blessing. Are antibiotics helpful or harmful? Sometimes they don’t help you recover, sometimes they can make you sicker, and collectively they are causing great harm. Doctors are […]
Questions to Ask Before Surgery
Do you need surgery? There’s a lot to consider, and worry about, before a surgical procedure. It’s scary to think about going under anesthesia, and it’s scary to think about a doctor cutting you open! And it’s really scary to think about the possibility of something going wrong. But instead of putting your head in […]
Help with the Stress of Caregiving
Here’s a job listing few people would get excited about: 20-100+ hours a week with no pay. Applicant must put the needs of others above their own needs, have physical strength for heavy lifting, a strong stomach to handle bodily fluids, limited or no desire to get outside, an upbeat attitude, ability to thrive with […]
Doctor Burnout Can Impact Your Health
Do you ever wake up and feel like you absolutely do not want to get out of bed and face your job? Does your job make you feel like you can’t succeed, no matter how hard you try? These symptoms of job burnout are never pleasant and might lead you to quit your job or […]