Here’s something you might not want to know. Most surgeons learn how to perform surgery on real live patients. Sure, they start off as students practicing on cadavers but mostly, they learn by performing actual surgical procedures under the guidance of senior surgeons.
However, researchers are looking to technology to change this learning pattern and have created virtual patient simulators for residents to practice on before using a scalpel on real patients.
Clinical trials are currently being held at the Stanford University School of Medicine to test the effectiveness of this virtual reality training.
They are integrating data from patient’s pre-op CT scans …read more

Thinking about buying a new cell phone?
Before you do, you might want to check out the free, user friendly online tool that illustrates the radio frequency emission of more than 1000 phones in the marketplace.
The online tool, created by the Environmental Working Group, offers easy to read graphics which enables consumers to make quick comparision of the radiation levels of cellphones and smart phones.
Radiation is emitted from cell phones each time you talk on or send text message from it. Some phones emit less than others. As to whether or not it is a health risk remains in debate with …read more

Here’s a study you can use.
Swearing apparently plays an important role in relieving pain.
The study, published last month in the NeuroReport journal, tested this theory on college students. Students are required to immerse their hands in cold water for as long as they could. While the hands were in the cold water, they were encouraged to either repeat a swear word of their choice or chant a neutral non-swear word.
The students who used sweat words reported less pain during the exercise and were also able to keep their hands in the cold water for at least 40 seconds longer.
While the …read more

Would you leave the hospital before your doctor says you are ready?
It’s not something that I’d do.
But according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, it’s becoming a common occurence as more and more people check out against medical advice.
In fact, in 2007 368,000 patients walked out on their doctor.
So why did they leave?
Turns out that the majority of those who left were uninsured or on Medicaid.
 
They were also more likely to be…

Male: Men left hospital against advice at a rate of 1.5 per 1,000 population, compared with 0.9 for 1,000 women. In contrast, women were more likely to …read more

There was a  health care SNAFU at the Veterans Administration early this month.
A computer coding error by the Veterans Administration led to more than 1,800 Gulf War veterans being sent letters informing them that they had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal neurological disease more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Can you imagine opening up your mail and being told that as a veteran with ALS, they were entitled to disability compensation of up to $2,700 a month with additional money for their children and spouses.
Most would have been left scratching their head and wondering how in the world they suddenly had …read more

Death – it happens to all of us…eventually. And when it does, the usual chain of events is a funeral and/or where you are either buried or cremated, followed by a period of mourning for those you left behind.
But, according to this fascinating article from mental floss, it doesn’t have to be that way.
Might sound somewhat morbid and gross, but it turns out there are plenty things your body can do and places for your body to end up rather than six feet under or in an urn.
According to this mental floss article  ‘10 Things Your Body Can Do After …read more

What do you think of 3-D ultrasounds of babies in the womb?
Is it, as some supporters claim, early bonding or is it in fact simply entertainment for a ‘can’t wait’ generation of parents?
It’s a controversial procedure that is experiencing a surge in popularity despite the fact that many health professionals are recommending that parents don’t expose their unborn babies to ultrasounds unless there is a good medical reason.
In fact, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine is actively discouraging parents from getting 3-D ultrasounds done.
See video here

August 20th is World Mosquito Day.
It was on this day back in 1897 the link between mosquitos and malaria was first established. Army doctor Ronald Ross, based in India, discovered this tremendous fact while dissecting the stomach tissue of a anopheline mosquito. The mosquito, which had fed on a malarious patient four days previously, had the malaria parasite. It was the evidence needed to prove mosquitos were responsible for transmitting the malaria parasite to humans.
Ross, who went on the win the Nobel Price for Medicine in 1902 and found the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, declared August 20th as World …read more

PETA’s at it again.
In an attempt to encourage people to go vegetarian, they have introduced a new billboard campaign featuring an obese bikini clad woman alongside this slogan “Save the Whales, Lose the Blubber: Go Vegetarian”.
Yet again, PETA has crossed the line and managed to create another tasteless, tacky, ignorant, and insulting campaign.
Do they really think that this sort of publicity stunt will encourage people to go vegetarian?
According to this Press Release, it seems they do…
A new PETA billboard campaign that was just launched in Jacksonville reminds people who are struggling to lose weight — and who want to have …read more

It’s a strange world where a person can end up with jail time for the simple and often involuntary act of yawning. But what’s even stranger is that while the yawner was being given jail time, the actual defendant, who plead guilty to a felony drug charge, was only given two years probation. Interesting way of ensuring that justice is done.
(image source)
 
Apparently the judge decided that the yawn was a disrespectful interruption of the court and the yawner was in contempt.
Seriously, you have to wonder what the judge was thinking. Yawning is as natural as breathing and just as involuntary. …read more