• 4th of July Sun Catchers: Good way to use up bits of old crayons.
• Free Printable Patriotic Paper Chain
Not interested in today’s activities, try the Take a Break Pinterest Board.
It’s important to note the difference between being complacent and acceptance. Complacent is the inactive form of acceptance. Basically acceptance is understanding how things are and recognizing you do have choice in how you interpret the situation, take actions etc. Acceptance is the middle ground between dissatisfaction and complacency.
And just to qualify it a bit more, there is contentment. I wrote a post Contentment is Happiness, which I reread it and still like a lot of what I wrote, particularly the line, In short contentment is finding our joy and happiness in our lives as they are. Think that pretty much sums it up.
This winter, my son, who has a chronic condition, was badly injured-the right place but at the wrong time. He was pretty much immobile for the better part of two months, as he had to have surgery on his ankle and foot. A very active person, I was worried how he’d handle it.
We texted and talked a lot through those two months. While he could work from home, that only took up so much time. He read Western Philosophers-I gave him a book of Stoic philosophers for Christmas-and turned to music.
He didn’t want to take a lot of pain meds, so music helped to divert his attention. I’m happy to say, he weathered this storm by being present to the situation. He listened to his body, didn’t spend a lot of time on self-pity but rather focused on healing, becoming a better musician, doing his job, and when he felt strong, tried new recipes and learned new things.
His musicianship has expanded by leaps and bounds. He’s a good example of learning to deal well with the negative so you have more time for the positive, which has improved his life on multiple levels, as well as strengthened his resiliency.
Ways to Have More Time for the Positive
• Take the Self Compassion Quiz from Greater Good: What goes through your mind when things are not going as planned? Does your inner voice sound like a caring, supportive friend—or like a pestering, harsh critic? Having yourself as a supportive compassionate friend is a must.
• Recognize that how you perceive and believe a situation to be determines how you will respond. Emotions follow your beliefs. Nothing either good nor bad but thinking makes it so.” Shakespeare.
• Check out the Secret to Never Being Frustrated Again It's an interesting summary of Albert Ellis’s, the founder of Rationale Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), How to Stubbornly Refuse to Make Yourself Miserable About Anything Yes Anything. Lots of tips and practical suggestions. An aside, Ellis was frustrated with the lack of success he was having with traditional modes of psychotherapy and so went back to the Greek and Roman philosophers. Both his work and Beck's (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) are based on the work of the Stoics. If interested in this topic, check out Stoic Philosophy as a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
• Contentment is Happiness contains lots of tips.
Keep your head up and your heart strong.
If you don’t sew, take a clean sock or leg warmer fill it 2/3 with rice, tie off tightly at the top and you are good to go. To make filling easy, use a funnel or stick a toilet paper tube at one end to pour the rice through.
Type of rice: I use whatever I have on hand, but jasmine seems to be a favorite. However, it can get expensive, so go with what you can afford.
Fabric: My favorite at the moment is old T shirts that I double in thickness. They are all 100% cotton and feel so good next to the skin. 100% cotton fabric is best. Use flannel (upcycle an old flannel shirt), terry cloth, old towels, socks etc.
Cooling: Leave the rice pad in the freezer for at least an hour, better for 2.
Warming: Place in the microwave along with a cup of water (this will provide moist heat and prevent the rice from scorching in the microwave) and heat for approx. 1-3 minutes. The bigger the rick packet, the longer time it will need to heat.
Aromatherapy: Some people like a scent in their rice bag, other’s don’t. If you are giving it as a gift, unless you know that they have a scent they love, avoid it as allergies can be a real issue for people. If you are going to use a scent, use a good quality essential oil.
Focus on keeping pulse points cool. Holding something cold against these areas will make your whole body feel cooler. These include: the inside of your wrists, the temple area, inside of elbows and knees, top of feet, inner ankle and neck.
EyePillow: Includes a pattern.
This is a good no sew way to make a pack of any size. The video is for hand warmers.
A set of different size rice bags make a nice present, so start now for holiday giving.
Not interested in today’s activities, try the Take a Break Pinterest Board.
IBS patients' symptoms improved under COVID-19 lockdown orders Patients' irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms unexpectedly improved when they were under COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, reaffirming the gut-brain connection in functional gastrointestinal disorders, according to research that was selected for presentation at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2021.
Psoriasis Associated With an Increased Risk for COVID-19 in Real-World Study: People with psoriasis have a higher risk of infection with COVID-19 than the general population, but some systemic treatments appear to lower risk in patients, compared with those on topical therapy, a new study finds. American Academy of Dermatology Virtual Meeting Experience
COVID-19 Immunity Could Last for Years, Studies Say: Immunity to the novel coronavirus could last for a year — and possibly longer — particularly after COVID-19 vaccination, according to The New York Times . Two recent studies indicate that most people who contracted COVID-19, recovered and then got vaccinated later may not need a booster shot. Those who were never infected and then got vaccinated may need a booster shot later, the newspaper reported. Both studies looked at people who were exposed to COVID-19 about a year ago. In a study published Monday in the journal Nature, scientists found that certain immune cells may survive in the bone marrow of people who were infected and later vaccinated. Those immune cells may create antibodies whenever needed.
Lower Testosterone in Men Tied to Severe COVID Cases: While men have been shown to have greater risk of COVID-19 illness compared with women, a new study shows that the lower the testosterone level in men, the higher the likelihood of severe COVID-19 disease. JAMA Network Open,
Unvaccinated Shouldn't Rely on General COVID-19 Protection: People who haven't received a COVID-19 vaccine shouldn't rely on general protection from those who have been inoculated, according to CNN. Although the U.S. is hitting major vaccination milestones and COVID-19 cases are dropping, those who aren't vaccinated still face high infection risks, medical experts told the news outlet. "The work ahead of us is going to be really challenging because while the people who are fully vaccinated are well protected, we still have to keep on convincing individuals who are not yet vaccinated that they are not safe," Leana Wen, MD, an emergency physician and CNN medical analyst, said this week.
The origin of COVID: Did people or nature open Pandora’s box at Wuhan? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Vitamin D Supplements May Not Reduce COVID-19 Risk: A new genetic study suggests that giving people extra vitamin D may not protect against coronavirus infection or COVID-19. PLOS Medicine,
Getting a Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Can Drop Your Risk for Infection by 91%: New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that the messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines used against the coronavirus reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by 91 percent in people who are fully vaccinated. For people who are partially vaccinated, the reduced risk drops to 81 percent. The study, which was released this month as a preprint on MedRxiv, also shows that the vaccines reduce the severity of illness in both fully and partially vaccinated people who develop COVID-19.
New study highlights potential role of diet: Healthcare professionals, with heavy exposure to Covid, eating a plant-based diet were 73% less likely to experience moderate to severe COVID-19, and those following a plant- or fish-based diet were 59% less likely to get seriously ill.
Antibody Combo 'Reduces Mortality in Most Vulnerable COVID Patients': An antibody combination has been found to reduce the risk of mortality by 20% when given to seronegative patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19, according to a study preprint. The treatment uses a combination of two monoclonal antibodies, casirivimab and imdevimab (REGEN-COV, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals), that bind specifically to two different sites on the coronavirus spike protein, neutralising the ability of the virus to infect cells.
CDC: Delta Variant From India a 'Variant of Concern': The CDC has officially classified the delta variant of the coronavirus as a "variant of concern" to monitor in the U.S. The variant, which was first identified in India and is also known as B.1.617.2, now accounts for 10% of cases in the U.S. and is spreading quickly. The variant led to a surge in cases in India and is prevalent across the U.K., which has led to a delay in reopening. "It's doubling every 2 weeks," Scott Gottlieb, MD, a former FDA commissioner, said on CBS News's Face the Nation on Sunday. The delta variant is more transmissible than other strains and appears to remain contagious for longer periods of time, he said. And I think the risk is really … that this could spike a new epidemic heading into the fall." The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines appear to be about 88% effective against the delta variant after two shots, Gottlieb said. The Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines seem to be about 60% effective, but more studies are needed.
Giving Flu and COVID Shots at Same Time Appears Safe, Effective: the NVX-CoV2373 vaccine (Novavax) is showing 89.8% efficacy in an ongoing, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. When the researchers gave a smaller group of 431 volunteers from the same study an influenza shot at the same time, efficacy dropped slightly to 87.5%. The research was published online June 13 as a medRxiv preprint.
COVID May Cause Long-Term Brain Loss: According to the study, researchers in the United Kingdom had access to brain image testing on about 40,000 people that was done before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, they asked hundreds of those people to come back for more brain scans. Almost 800 responded. Of those patients, 404 had tested positive for COVID-19, and 394 had usable brain scans that were taken before and after the pandemic. Comparison of the before-and-after brain scans found "significant effects of COVID-19 in the brain with a loss of grey matter" in parts of the brain connected to smell and taste.
More Than 300 Heart Inflammation Cases Reported After Vaccination: More than 20 million adolescents and young
adults have been vaccinated in the U.S., the news outlet reported. Although
rare, the 300 cases are higher than expected for the age group. Medscape
Smell training, not steroids, best treatment for COVID-19 smell loss: Corticosteroids - a class of drug that
lowers inflammation in the body - are not recommended to treat smell loss due
to Covid-19. Instead, 'smell training' - a process that involves sniffing at
least four different odours twice a day for several months- is recommended. International Forum of Allergy &
Rhinology
Ibuprofen May Be Superior to Codeine to Manage Postsurgery Pain: According to research published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, it appears ibuprofen is more effective than codeine for managing pain after surgery. Ibuprofen also appears to have fewer side effects than codeine, which is an opioid, and it along with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not pose the potential for dependence as codeine may. “We found high-quality evidence that outpatient postoperative adults taking NSAIDs reported less pain at 6 and 12 hours than those taking codeine in a meta-analysis of RCTs,” the researchers wrote.
Many surgery patients get opioid prescriptions, but many don't need to, study suggests: Effective pain control with equal short-term outcomes and patient satisfaction seen in patients who got non-opioid pain medication. The team behind the study has also produced a free, evidence-based guide for surgeons and other acute care providers, to help them treat patients' pain without the risk of persistent use that opioids carry. The new study is published in the Annals of Surgery by a team from Michigan Medicine
People with back pain miss far fewer workdays when they receive recommended treatments: People with lower back pain injury miss 11 more days of work in a year when they only receive treatments for lower back pain that are not recommended by medical guidelines compared to people treated according to guidelines. The findings publish in PLOS ONE on June 17.
Study examines care received by patients with knee osteoarthritis: New research reveals that only a
minority of U.S. Medicare beneficiaries with knee osteoarthritis in 2005-2010
used non-surgical care such as physical therapy and knee injections, and few were
treated by rheumatologists, physiatrists, or pain specialists. The study, which
is published in Arthritis
& Rheumatology, also found that non-surgical care was more
common in regions with low rates of knee replacement surgery.
Disparities in treatment persist for people with headache: Disparities exist in the treatment of people with headache disorders because of race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status and geography, according to a review article published in the June 9, 2021, online issue of Neurology
Higher incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome after bilateral oophorectomy: New study suggests the risk of severe
carpal tunnel syndrome increases for women after surgery to remove the
fallopian tubes and ovaries. Menopause
The use of couple therapy to reduce pain during intercourse : Provoked vestibulodynia is a condition experienced by approximately 8% of women in North America. It is characterized by severe pain at the vaginal opening during sexual intercourse or when inserting tampons. To reduce the burning sensation, many women apply lidocaine, an anesthetic cream. A new study of 108 couples found cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for couples to be more effective than lidocaine.
Autologous adipose injection for shoulder pain in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: Pilot study of micro-fragmented adipose tissue injection suggests that the biologic is an effective treatment option for wheelchair users with chronic shoulder pain
Complementary Health Approaches for Hypertension: NCCIH Clinical Digest
Tai chi shows promise for relief of depression and anxiety in stroke survivors: A small feasibility study has suggested that tai chi has the potential to reduce depression, anxiety and stress plus improve sleep in people who have had a stroke. EuroHeartCare - ACNAP Congress 2021
Team describes science-based hiccups intervention: The forced inspiratory suction and swallow tool was found to be 92% effective. FISST is a rigid drinking tube with an inlet valve that requires forceful suction to draw water from a cup into the mouth. The suction and swallow simultaneously stimulate two nerves, the phrenic and vagus nerves, to relieve hiccups. JAMA Network Open
The 'Mozart effect' shown to reduce epileptic brain activity, new research reveals: Music by Mozart has been shown to have an anti-epileptic effect on the brain and may be a possible treatment to prevent epileptic seizures, according to new research presented today at the 7th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN)
Tick for
insomnia treatment: If
insomnia keeps you awake at night, Flinders University researchers recommend a
trip to the doctor - not for a sleeping pill prescription but for a short
course of intensive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT improves insomnia,
mental health and quality of life, and can be more successful than sleeping
pills. Australian Journal of General Practice
Earlier
sleep timing associated with lower depression risk, new study suggests: People who tend to go to bed and wake
up earlier have significantly lower risk of major depression, according to a
sweeping new genetic study. JAMA
Psychiatry
• Approved a nasal antihistamine, Astepro, for nonprescription use through a process called a partial prescription to nonprescription switch.
• Approved StrataGraft for the treatment of adult patients with thermal burns
• Approved Ryplazim (plasminogen, human-tvmh) for the treatment of patients with plasminogen deficiency type 1, also referred to as hypoplasminogenemia
• Approved Wegovy (semaglutide) injection (2.4 mg once weekly) for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight
• Approved Lumakras (sotorasib) as the first treatment for adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer
• Approved Rybrevant (amivantamab-vmjw) as the first treatment for adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer
• Approves Nivolumab after surgery for esophageal or GEJ cancer
• Approved emergency use for Sotrovimab for patients 12+ hospitalized with COVID-19 or require oxygen therapy
• Approved Aducanumab for Alzheimer’s Disease
Walking an Extra 1,000 Steps May Increase Your Life Span: A study presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Conference, found that people who took more steps each day had a significantly lower risk of death than those who were less active. The health benefits were consistent among people who walked in uninterrupted sessions and those who walked in short spurts. You don’t need to commit to lengthy strolls each day to improve your health. Squeezing in spurts of steps through everyday activities has the same health benefits. They identified a 32 percent decrease in death among those who took at least 2,000 steps a day. The health benefits plateaued around 4,500 daily steps
Exercise likely to be best treatment for depression in coronary heart disease: A study by RCSI indicates that exercise
is probably the most effective short-term treatment for depression in people
with coronary heart disease, when compared to antidepressants and psychotherapy
or more complex care. Psychosomatic
Medicine
Study finds association between head impacts and imaging changes in youth football players: Study finds association between head
impacts and imaging changes in youth football players. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics
High-intensitystrength and impact training attenuates skeletal aging: Regular strength and impact-type
training may decrease or even prevent age-related bone deterioration in men.
Nutritional
supplement proves 92% effective in boosting brain function: An international subject pool was
studied to confirm the effectiveness of a whole food complete vitamin and meal
replacement product, IQed. The findings indicate that the carefully developed
nutritional supplement, IQed Smart Nutrition, can help bolster key
functions for people with a wide range of prevalent diagnoses including
Autism, Apraxia, and ADHD, and other obscure, but equally challenging,
diagnoses encompassing speech and motor processing disorders. Alternative Therapies
Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Survival: Having enough vitamin D at the time of diagnosis is associated with better breast cancer outcomes according to a new study highlighted at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 virtual annual meeting. Experts say most people in the United States don’t have sufficient vitamin D levels because only a few foods contain the mineral naturally. They add that vitamin D supplementation is necessary for only certain groups of people, including post-menopausal women, those on long-term steroids, older adults, expectant and breastfeeding women, those with chronic kidney disease, parathyroid disease or obesity.
Could Fish Oil Supplements Help Fight Depression? In a study of 22 people with major depression, Treatment with
both omega-3s was associated with a significant improvement in depression, with
an average 64% drop in symptoms for the EPA group and 71% in the DHA group. It
does not prove cause-and-effect, however. Molecular
Psychiatry
There’s No Safe Dose of Alcohol: According to a recent study by a group of scientists at Oxford University in England, there’s no safe dose for alcohol consumption. The observational study looked at data from more than 25,000 middle-aged adults. The study found that moderate consumption is more closely associated with adverse effects on the brain than was previously known. They found that alcohol was negatively associated with global brain gray matter volume. Also, individuals with comorbidities like high blood pressure and a high BMI, or those who binge drink, may be more susceptible to these adverse effects.
Caffeine Can Only Help So Much If You Don’t Get Enough Sleep: Experts say caffeine can help you stay awake if you’re sleep deprived, but it probably won’t improve your performance on tasks. They say caffeine is not a substitute for a good night’s sleep, which helps repair tissue and cleanse the brain. They note that too much caffeine can also disrupt sleep patterns. studyTrusted Source Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, & Cognition
Spice Up Your Diet. It’s Good for Your Heart: Two new studies have found that consuming herbs and spices can help promote better cardiovascular health. One study found that adding herbs and spices to meals may help reduce blood pressure in people at risk of heart disease. The other study linked spice supplements (ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, curcumin, or curcuminoid supplements) to lower cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. NUTRITION 2021 Live Online
2 Servings
of Fruit a Day Can Lower Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Researchers say you can lower your risk
of type 2 diabetes by eating two servings of fruit per day.People who eat fruit
can lower their blood glucose levels without producing as much insulin. Fruit
juice doesn’t produce as many benefits as consuming whole fruits. Journal of
Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Case study shows patient on ketogenic diet living fully with IDH1-mutant glioblastoma: A British man who rejected the standard of care to treat his brain cancer has lived with the typically fatal glioblastoma tumor growing very slowly after adopting a ketogenic diet, providing a case study that researchers say reflects the benefits of using the body's own metabolism to fight this particularly aggressive cancer instead of chemo and radiation therapy. Frontiers in Nutrition
High caffeine consumption may be associated with increased risk of blinding eyedisease: Consuming
large amounts of daily caffeine may increase the risk of glaucoma more than
three-fold for those with a genetic predisposition to higher eye pressure
according to an international, multi-center study. Ophthalmology
People Who Skip Breakfast Miss Vital Nutrients, Snack More: A new study from researchers at The Ohio State University shows that regularly skipping breakfast may be a bad idea. Foods that are commonly eaten for breakfast don’t tend to be eaten at other times of the day. This can lead to underconsumption of the nutrients that they contain. In addition, people who skip breakfast tend to snack more, especially on sugars, carbohydrates, and fat. Experts say that it’s important to start your day with good nutritional choices, regardless of what you eat.
'MIND' Diet
Can Help Preserve Brain in People With MS: Those who ate more of the "good" foods from a
brain-health eating regimen known as the MIND diet and fewer "bad"
ones tended to have more preserved tissue in a critical relay station in the
brain called the thalamus. The study also found a link between eating more
full-fat dairy products and fewer MS brain lesions. Eating omega-3 fatty acids
from fish also had brain benefits. The MIND diet combines aspects of the
Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.
Foods considered "good" include leafy vegetables, berries, nuts and
fish, and those considered "bad" include fried foods, butter, cheese,
red and processed meats and sweets. MS
and Related Disorders.
SPRINT studyconfirms controlled blood pressure important in preventing heart disease and stroke: Follow-up data
from the landmark SPRINT study of the effect of high blood pressure on
cardiovascular disease have confirmed that aggressive blood pressure management
-- lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 120 mm Hg -- dramatically
reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death from these diseases, as
well as death from all causes, compared to lowering systolic blood pressure to
less than 140 mm Hg. NEJM
Can Too Much Work Increase Your Risk of Death? a recent reportTrusted Source released by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization says that overwork led to 745,000 deaths from stroke and heart disease in 2016. To make matters worse, that’s an increase of 29 percent since the year 2000. Working over 55 hours is associated with an increased risk of death. But experts say that a certain number of hours worked doesn’t always mean someone is overworked. Instead, they say to look for signs that work is exhausting you and affecting your health. If you’re in a job that is negatively impacting your health, there are ways to improve your mental health even if you don’t switch jobs.
Poor oral health linked to muscle loss and diabetes: A longitudinal study found that “oral frailty,” a measure that includes the number of remaining teeth, chewing ability, and difficulties eating and swallowing, was a risk factor for physical frailty, disability, and mortality from all causes. PLOS ONETrusted Source.
Study Finds ‘Forever Chemicals’ Common in Cosmetics: A new study found that almost half of the cosmetic products tested in contain potentially harmful chemicals. These chemicals, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been linked in early research to cancer, reproductive harm, and damage to the immune system. PFAS are often used to increase a product’s durability, spreadability, and wear. The study, published by the American Chemical Society, looked at more than 200 products in the United States and Canada and found the highest levels of these chemicals in everyday personal care products, including lipstick, mascara, and foundation.
Have trouble sleeping? You're at higher risk of dying, especially if you have diabetes: Having trouble falling or staying asleep may leave you feeling tired and frustrated. It also could subtract years from your life expectancy, according to a new study from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom (UK). The effect was even greater for people with diabetes who experienced sleep disturbances, the study found. Journal of Sleep Research
Personalized medicine, not X-rays, should guide forearm fracture treatment in older adults: A decade-long study of the most common forearm fracture in older adults revealed that personalized medicine catering to a patient's individual needs and environment, not age or X-rays, should guide treatment options. JAMA Network Open
New drug to
halt dementia after multiple head injuries: A world-first international study led by the University
of South Australia has identified a new drug to stop athletes developing
dementia after sustaining repeated head injuries in their career. Scientific
Reports
Treating sleep apnea with CPAP therapy is associated with lower risk of heart problems: Findings from a recent study show that patients with untreated, moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea had a higher risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event, but the risk of incident heart problems was decreased in those who used CPAP therapy.
OTHER
Routine Testing Before Surgery Remains Common Despite Low Value: A wealth of evidence suggests these
tests are often unnecessary, costly, and can lead to adverse effects. Before
undergoing surgery, patients often go through a number of tests: blood work,
sometimes a chest X-ray, perhaps tests to measure heart and lung function.
plenty of evidence suggests that preoperative testing is often unnecessary for
low-risk surgeries. At best, it’s costly
and doesn’t usually improve outcomes for patients. At worst, it can lead to
more invasive testing and delay surgery, which can create complications that
could have been avoided if the tests weren’t done. JAMA Internal Medicine
Human health 'intricately linked' to ocean health: In a new report, a team of researchers argues that the world’s ocean is “intricately linked” to human health. As a consequence, repairing the human-influenced damage done to the ocean will also benefit human health. In the paper, which appears in the American Journal of Public Health, the authors say that restoring the health of oceans should not just be the priority of marine scientists but also the medical community and the public more broadly.
• Some drugs take a while to reach their full potential. Have you waited long enough to make an accurate assessment?
• Are you taking the medications as prescribed?
• Drugs interact with food, other medications, and/or dietary or herbal supplements. Using one of the following drug interaction checkers, see if a supplement or food could be part of the problem:
- Medscape
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Rxisk
• Lifestyle habits, such as smoking, alcohol and/or drug use can interfere with a treatment's success
• Do you have other conditions which makes your case a bit more unique? Could you have an un diagnosed condition?
• Gender can make a difference. Women metabolize drugs differently in their livers then men and that’s just the beginning.
• Genetics can also be a factor. Pharmacogenetics studies the way that genes affect the body’s response to medications. Tests are available for people taking drugs for a variety of conditions including depression, anxiety, certain types of cancer and other diseases. Learn more about pharmacogenetics.
If it turns out the treatment isn’t working for you, consider the following:
• Discuss your experiences with your medical provider. They may have seen this with other patients and may have other recommendations including a “plan B,” a different approach to your situation. Your provider can be a big help in determining why a particularly regiment isn’t working, so make sure they are part of the team early on.
• Talk about your experiences with support group. You can learn a lot at a good condition specific support group. People will often have practical suggestions for problems you may be encountering.
• Consider changing providers: Sometimes a change in medical provider can make all the difference. If you are looking to your primary care provider to treat a specific condition, you may receive more appropriate care from a specialist. Check out last week’s post Is My Doctor Right for Me?
• Share your data: By registering with sites that share medical data, you may be able to learn of other approaches as well as clinical trials. Such sites include:
-
Patients Like Me is a free site
which aims to improve the lives of patients by using combined data and real
world experiences. Founded in 1998 to
help a family member with ALS, it’s been serving all diagnosis since 2011.
- Citizen is a free service that helps patients get more out of their health records. Platform enables patients to find better treatment options and allows them the opportunity to advance the research for cures. Citizen was founded by the former director of Apple’s Health Records in memory of his sister.
-
Disease specific registries: This is
the list from the NIH.
• Consider a clinical trial. Patients consider clinical trials for a variety of reasons including: current treatment plan isn’t working; there is no treatment for their health condition; and/or they may be able to prevent a health issue.
- What are Clinical Trials andStudies: From the National Institutes of Health
- Talk to your provider about your interest. They may have a suggestion for a trial that may be appropriate for you.
- FindMeCure is dedicated to bringing clinical trials closer to patients.
- Volunteering for research studies: 15 questions to ask
