Sherri Silesky has been blogging for over a year on topics pertaining to her chronic illnesses and her ability to advocate for herself. She is the first guest to post on this blog. Take a look at what Sherri has to say about learning to step up to the plate when you least feel like […]
Guest Post — Learning from the Constant Patient Read More »
The FDA came out with a report on the negatives of botox injections… It’s like deja vu, isn’t it? Where is common sense? Read this post at About.com, Patient Empowerment.
Smoking and Botox — Wishful Thinking and Common Sense Read More »
Perhaps the most basic of patient empowerment skills is the ability of patients to ask questions of their doctors. The AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) recognizes that an informed patient will be a healthier patient — and has put together a video they plan to run (and already have in some places) on
Do You Ask Your Doctor Questions? Read More »
Most of us know the word “placebo.” It’s a Latin word meaning “I shall please.” Along comes a word I’d never heard before yesterday — but it has application in areas of my work. The word is “Nocebo” — more Latin — meaning “I shall harm.” I heard the word from a broadcast producer, Stacie,
The Nocebo Effect: The Potentially Deadly Version of “It’s All in Your Head” Read More »
From 2002 to 2003, about 101,000 Americans died from preventable causes ranging from diabetes to bacterial infections and surgical complications, so says a study releases this week. The reports are based on results from a study undertaken by the Commonwealth Fund, a private New York City based health policy foundation. The study took place among
Why Does the US Have the Worst Rate of Preventable Deaths Among Industrialized Nations? Read More »
Yesterday’s post, where I told the stories of three (+2) victims of MRSA infections, raised ire, blame and excuses from commentators and emailers alike. Never mind that they were stories of five people who are infected with MRSA, one of whom has basically been left to die. Never mind that the frustration levels of these
MRSA: Victimization and Shooting the Messenger Read More »
It’s cold and wintery. Time to hunker down with plenty of comfort food and a toddy or two… and while we’re at the store, let’s pick up a bottle of aspirin, some stomach acid medicine, and maybe even plenty of dog food for the rottweiler…. A swipe of both your store’s loyalty card (gotta get
How Supermarket Purchases Violate Your Privacy and Increase the Cost of Insurance Read More »
I found a photo in my morning newspaper of a man throwing paperwork into a shredding bin in Times Square in New York City. The caption tells about Good Riddance Day. A huge, industrial-sized paper shredder was set up, and the public was invited to shred their bad memories of 2007 — to tell those
Good Riddance — Time to Shed Those Bad 2007 Health Challenges! Read More »
