What kind of end-of-life care do you want? Don’t leave the burden of such decisions on your loved ones. Make a living will, which will speak for you when you are unable to, says lawyer Lyn Boxall.
About two years ago, I answered a phone call from my sister. She lives in my home town, Adelaide in South Australia, and I’ve lived in Singapore for many years. “Mum was found unconscious on the floor of her bathroom this morning and now nothing she’s saying is making any…
In India it is considered shameful to send an elderly relative to a nursing home; instead domestic workers often from rural areas with no education - care for older people in their homes. Complicating matters even further is a lack of geriatric training for doctors in India, the absence of home health care services.. http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/caregiving-from-another-continent/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&smid=fb-share&_r=1&
Gilead Sciences has authorized several generic drug companies in India to sell its $1,000-a-day Hepatitis C pill for a fraction of the price in developing countries like Honduras, Vietnam and South Africa. It signed licensing deals with seven generic pharmaceutical companies that make drugs in India, including Ranbaxy, Cipla and Mylan to sell generic versions of Sovaldi in 91 developing countries. http://online.wsj.com/articles/gilead-to-allow-cheaper-hepatitis-c-drug-1410779963
Artificial sweeteners may contribute to soaring levels of diabetes, according to a controversial study that suggests the additives could exacerbate the problem they are meant to tackle. Researchers in Israel found that artificial sweeteners used in diet drinks and other foods can disrupt healthy microbes that live in the gut, leading to higher blood sugar levels – an early sign of diabetes. But the study has left many experts unconvinced. The findings draw largely on tests of just one sweetener…
Taking the drugs known as benzodiazepines, which include diazepam and lorazepam, for three months or more was linked with a greater chance of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease five years later. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/11083674/Sleeping-pills-ta… For our community's tips on sleeping please check out http://www.patientsengage.com/?q=discussions/are-you-sleeping-well-what-works-you
Mayo Clinic unveiled today a partnership with IBM to harness the power of its Watson supercomputer to match patients with the right clinical trials. Starting early next year, Watson will initially enroll patients with breast, colorectal and lung cancers based on eligibility. There are 170,000 ongoing clinical trials around the world, however, according to the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation, only 6% are completed on time. Enrolling patients in the…
People who live in neighborhoods that are conducive to walking experienced a substantially lower rate of obesity, overweight and diabetes than those who lived in more auto-dependent neighborhoods, according to a pair of studies presented at the American Diabetes Association's 74th Scientific Sessions. http://www.diabetescare.net/article/title/neighborboods-that-encourage-walking-reduce-obesity-and-diabetes Those who read this, also read one of our contributor's journey as a diabetic for…
Diabetes is making an increasingly important contribution to the TB epidemic and a 52% increase in diabetes prevalence recorded over the last 3 years in the 22 highest TB burden countries is thought to be responsible for a rise in diabetes-associated TB cases from 10% in 2010 to 15% in 2013,” says the Lancet study to be published in the medical journal this week. Read more here Diabetes has long been known to be a risk factor for active tuberculosis and reactivation of latent tuberculosis…
Trees are saving more than 850 human lives a year and preventing 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140725163557.htm A previous 2008 study showed that children who live in tree-lined streets have lower rates of asthma, suggests new research. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080430201651.htm
