Health and Disability

The researchers found no significant association between use of antipsychotics and increased risk of committing a homicide. However, a slightly increased risk of committing a homicide (31% increased risk) was associated with antidepressant use.

Use of benzodiazepines to treat anxiety and insomnia was associated with a significantly increased risk (45% increase in risk) of committing a homicide, while the greatest increased risk was associated with opiate painkillers (92% elevated risk) and anti-inflammatory painkillers (206% increased risk).

Wow!!!

People with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment (CI) have altered responses to pain, with many conditions associated with increased pain sensitivity, concludes a research review in PAIN®, the official publication of the International Association for the Study of Pain. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

The available evidence questions the previous notion that people with CI have reduced pain sensitivity to pain. Rather, "It appears that those with widespread brain atrophy or neural degeneration...all show increased pain responses and/or greater pain sensitivity," write Ruth Defrin, PhD, of University of Tel Aviv, Israel, and colleagues.

Healthcare workers frequently contaminate their gloves and gowns during every day care of nursing homes residents with drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, according to a new study. The findings were published online inInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

"One in four nursing home residents harbor MRSA in some settings. We know that healthcare workers serve as a vector for MRSA transmission from one resident to another in settings such as nursing homes,"

Researchers conducted a prospective observational study at 13 community-based nursing homes in Maryland and Michigan, evaluating 403 residents for MRSA colonization and then assessing whether interactions with healthcare workers lead to contamination of their gowns and gloves by MRSA bacteria. The study found 28 percent of residents (113 out of 403) harbored MRSA. Glove contamination was higher than gown contamination (24 percent vs. 14 percent) reinforcing the importance of hand hygiene between residents to prevent transmission of MRSA.

"You just end up getting drained and drained and drained," Krouse says. "And then when your cup is completely empty, then you just get guarded and angry. And then you put up walls, and that really creates barriers."

So Krouse decided to set up a direct primary care practice. Earlier this month she opened Lotus Family Practice in Falmouth. She doesn't accept insurance. Instead, she charges patients a monthly membership fee. "So it's very direct. It's just patients and doctors. There's no one else in between."

Membership is $60 a month for adults, $20 for kids. It covers an unlimited number of visits, which last about 45 minutes. Patients can also call or text Krouse any time they want. She also provides generic drugs at wholesale cost. Those savings alone, she says, can cover the cost of membership. "Pennies. They cost pennies."

"I pay a yearly fee, and I can see him as many times as I want," Ronhave says. "And it allows him to do more doctoring. And I think that's - to me as a consumer - that's really the most important thing."

Ronhave has diabetes. He needs to see a doctor at least four times a year. Last year, he saw Ciampi nearly once a month. He says he has a better understanding of his health and more strategies to deal with issues that crop up.

Direct primary care doctors recommend patients carry catastrophic insurance to cover serious health needs. Ronhave has employer-based insurance. But he says his $50- a-month membership doesn't add up to an extra expense.

"I'd say I'm probably saving a little bit of money doing it this way," he says. "I don't think it's huge savings. But the difference is the quality of care I receive, I perceive to be much stronger than what I was getting before."

The study from University of Iowa researchers looked at California, which decided to end adult dental coverage under Medicaid in mid-2009. Some 3.5 million low-income adults in the Golden State lost dental benefits.

The researchers found those adults made more than 1,800 additional visits annually to hospital emergency departments for dental care after losing the benefit. In all, California spent $2.9 million each year in Medicaid costs for dental care in emergency departments, up from $1.6 million before the state eliminated the adult dental care benefit. That's a 68 percent increase in costs, when factoring inflation.

Everything you wanted to know about health reform in small chunks and simples choices of content.

In a new national survey of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, Health Union found a severe impact on quality of life, employment, and ability to afford treatment. The autoimmune condition attacks the body, resulting in jointinflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling, but may also harm other organs. About 1.3 million Americans or about one percent of the global population have RA.

Ninety-four percent of respondents with RA said they cannot do as much as they were able before acquiring the disease. Additionally, 67% said others do not understand the severity of their symptoms. The top life-altering symptoms include pain, fatigue, and physical limitations.

"Many people do not know rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive, autoimmune disease and not the result of aging and wear on the body, like osteoarthritis the most common form of arthritis," said Andrew Lumpe, PhD, a patient with RA and a regular contributor to RheumatoidArthritis.net. "Treatment can help slow the damage, but rheumatoid arthritis frequently alters the lives of both patients and their families."

WRAPP has found over 250 people reporting work-related asthma from fragrance exposures in many indoor work settings – including schools, hospitals, offices, and manufacturing.

Since most doctors only check for T4 (and assume the bank is open, ie your liver, kidney, and gut bacteria are doing their job and your zinc and selenium levels are normal), your T3 gets overlooked and you are told that everything is “normal”.  Despite the fact that your energy is still low, metabolism is sluggish, and weight is not budging on the scale, you are given the green light.

Another aspect to consider once the hormone is converted is if it can hitch a ride to the target cell and get there on time.  The cell is the like the store at the mall and inflammation would be equilievent to traffic.  God forbid you can’t even spend the money you have because no one will drive you to the mall or you get stuck in traffic!  Now let’s imagine you make it to the mall but the cash register is not working.  This would be similar to the cell not working properly despite you having your cash in hand.  Since your payroll department (TSH and thyroid) kept up their end of the deal they are off the hook.  These issues are known as peripheral conversion problems that are not part of your thyroid treatment since they are extraneous to the thyroid gland.  This is why millions of women get “normal” lab reports and still feel like “crap”.

Justice in Aging (formerly the National Senior Citizens Law Center) released a new report that analyzes how well states are implementing a 2014 rule that creates the right to person-centered care planning for Medicaid consumers of Long-Term Services and Supports.

When consumers are given the opportunity to choose where, how, and by whom they receive their care; and make their own decisions about mealtime, bedtime, which activities they engage in, and generally direct their own lives to the greatest extent possible, they have better health outcomes, more independence, and lead more fulfilling lives. Too often, decisions they can and would like to make themselves are made by others. This is because, at times, person-centered care plans can be cursory and driven by the needs of the health plans, government agencies, or managed care plans, rather than by the needs and desires of the consumer.

Thankfully, the CMS rule has prompted a renewed focus on person-centered care planning among health care professionals and advocates. This report, created with support from the John A. Hartford Foundation, is a tool for health care providers, plan administrators, and advocates to help them understand the scope of the rules and be able to identify when they sometimes fall short.

"We are very pleased to be supporting Justice in Aging in this work, said Marcus Escobedo, Senior Program Officer at the John A. Hartford Foundation. "This topic is not academic. Understanding these rules is crucial if we are to deliver on the promise of true person-centered care that will allow consumers receiving long-term services and supports to achieve greater independence and lead a better quality of life."