Here are the top ten reasons to set up a personal health record
1. In the event of an emergency, that info is available to your treating doctor
2. Reduce the likelihood of medical mistakes by giving this info to your doctor
3. An easy way to Keep track of your medications
4. An easy way to show your medication allergies to a health care provider
5. If you need to move or need an expert consultation or second opinion, you have your records available to share with another provider.
6. Using a proprietary system, like http://www.passportmd.com/ , saves time and effort by automatically getting your records from many sources and doctors
7. Great for your kids, your family members or yourself, while away on vacation or at summer camp
8. Can give info to your doctor so you dont have to "fill out" as many forms at doctors office
9. Can keep living will accessible rather than filed in a drawer.
10. Disaster Recovery of important files and medical records in the event of Hurricanes, storms, floods or fires.
Companies or sites that offer creation of personal health records
1. http://www.passportmd.com/
2. http://www.keepseniorshealthy.com/
3. http://www.webmd.com/
4. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/kiwy.asp
5. http://www.medicalert.org/home/Homegradient.aspx
6. http://www.capmed.com/
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Are We Raising Too Many Medicated Grandchildren?
This is a real issue. Clearly, traditionalists and "old school" parents remember when they "were kids", and how a threat of a belt or a slap on the wrist was enough to get their child's attention.
Well, today things are different. And, although, many older parents and grandparents do not necessarily agree with the recent trends, there is a significant movement that attributes "bad behavior" , "hyperactivity" , "poor performance in school", "inability to follow directions" to a medical condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), http://www.add.org/ and you have to be living in a cocoon if you don't know a child with this diagnosis.
The condition is diagnosed three times more often in boys than in girls and is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood according to http://www.aap.org/ . The condition runs in families and is treatable.
But, some would argue that there is a significant "over representation" of this disorder. Some people argue that "just because your kid doesn't listen" doesnt mean they have ADHD. It is controversial as many people that dont want to believe that this is the child's problem, firmly and staunchly believe that the increasing numbers of diagnoses is more representative of "poor parenting". On the other hand, parents, that see a dramatic difference with medication would take issue with that opinion. What are your thoughts?
Today, ADHD realted doctors' office visits by children age 3-18 more than double, from 3.2 million to 7.4 million according to a recent article in http://www.webmd.com/ (WebMD magazine). The number of office visits that included a prescription also more than doubled to 6.6 million from 1993-2003.
So, this begs the question... Are we medicating our grandchildren and children too much?
Additionally, there is a debate as to whether or not these medications, should carry a warning label about the risk of suicide or heart attacks. More than 200 scientific studies have found that these medications are effective . The medications range from stimulants to antidepressants and more than 70 % of children do well on the stimulants or Strattera http://www.strattera.com/index.jsp . Strattera is undel special scrutiny because of some suicidal thoughts and one attempt in children in a clinical trial of 2200 children. So, between remote possibilities of suicide ideations and heart problems , this drug is being scruitinized by the FDA.
What are your thoughts? Are we over medicating? Are we over diagnosing? Or are we over reacting to a problem that is real, existent and does respond to medicine?
Some great blogs that also deal with health are:
http://blogs.webmd.com/healthy-children/2006/01/your-kids-accept-them-as-they-are.html
http://seniorhealth.about.com/
Well, today things are different. And, although, many older parents and grandparents do not necessarily agree with the recent trends, there is a significant movement that attributes "bad behavior" , "hyperactivity" , "poor performance in school", "inability to follow directions" to a medical condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), http://www.add.org/ and you have to be living in a cocoon if you don't know a child with this diagnosis.
The condition is diagnosed three times more often in boys than in girls and is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood according to http://www.aap.org/ . The condition runs in families and is treatable.
But, some would argue that there is a significant "over representation" of this disorder. Some people argue that "just because your kid doesn't listen" doesnt mean they have ADHD. It is controversial as many people that dont want to believe that this is the child's problem, firmly and staunchly believe that the increasing numbers of diagnoses is more representative of "poor parenting". On the other hand, parents, that see a dramatic difference with medication would take issue with that opinion. What are your thoughts?
Today, ADHD realted doctors' office visits by children age 3-18 more than double, from 3.2 million to 7.4 million according to a recent article in http://www.webmd.com/ (WebMD magazine). The number of office visits that included a prescription also more than doubled to 6.6 million from 1993-2003.
So, this begs the question... Are we medicating our grandchildren and children too much?
Additionally, there is a debate as to whether or not these medications, should carry a warning label about the risk of suicide or heart attacks. More than 200 scientific studies have found that these medications are effective . The medications range from stimulants to antidepressants and more than 70 % of children do well on the stimulants or Strattera http://www.strattera.com/index.jsp . Strattera is undel special scrutiny because of some suicidal thoughts and one attempt in children in a clinical trial of 2200 children. So, between remote possibilities of suicide ideations and heart problems , this drug is being scruitinized by the FDA.
What are your thoughts? Are we over medicating? Are we over diagnosing? Or are we over reacting to a problem that is real, existent and does respond to medicine?
Some great blogs that also deal with health are:
http://blogs.webmd.com/healthy-children/2006/01/your-kids-accept-them-as-they-are.html
http://seniorhealth.about.com/
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