Olympics Managers Train GP Volunteers 'How To Prescribe Paracetamol'

Olympics Managers Train GP Volunteers 'How To Prescribe Paracetamol'

According to a report in industry health magazine Pulse, doctors have been forced to sit through a surreal' training session - in how to prescribe paracetamol.

Pulse writes that doctors were left ‘dumbstruck’ as they sat through a mandatory training session.

Gerada added: “If they’re being taught to prescribe paracetamol that’s a bit insulting. I suspect they’ve been thrown into a group of mixed medical expertise, so the training has to be general."

Pulse reported that surgeons and dentists were also in the session, including Tony Kilcoyne, a dentist and a member of the General Dental Council.

He told Pulse it was a ‘surreal' moment: ‘When that happened you could hear a pin drop. Everyone here knows how to do it. It was almost insulting.'

Clare Gerada told HuffPost Lifestyle: “I take my hat off to these doctors who are volunteering. They don’t get accommodation, or tickets, or even a chance to see the opening ceremony dress rehearsal - so I do think their time should be used appropriately.

“That said, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I wish I was joining them.”

• How To Ease, Treat And Prevent Migraines

• Prescribed Medication

  If you suffer from regular migraines, your doctor might prescribe you acute (treatment) and prophylactic (prevention) medicine. You may be given the following: <strong>Anticonvulsant</strong>, such as divaloproex sodium (sodium valproate), topiramate or gabapentin <strong>Antidepressant</strong>, such as amitriptyline <strong>Antihistimine</strong>, such as cyproheptadine <strong>Beta-blockers</strong>, such as propranolol, metoprolol, timolol, nadolol <strong>Anti-inflammatory drug</strong>, such as pizotefen Not all medication has to be prescibred as you can get the following non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) over-the-counter: Apisrin Ibuprofen Paracetamol Codeine

• Self-Help

  If you don't want to take medication and prefer to treat the problem mechanically, you can try the following at home: <strong>Change your temperature.</strong> Try applying an icepack, or a hot water bottle, to the painful area. Hot or cold showers and a long soak in the bath does help some sufferers, or try soaking the hands and feet in hot or cold water. <strong>Apply pressure.</strong> Try applying pressure to the pulse points on the side of the forehead or neck to relieve the headache. <strong>Moderate exercise.</strong> Experts claim that easy exercise, like swimming and brisk walking, can have a therapeutic effect on migraines. <strong>Keep a diary.</strong> Note down symptoms, date and time of attacks and what you've eaten and drunk. This will help you identify possible triggers.

• Salt Supply

  Lack of sodium can be pinpointed as a cause of migraines and could explain why migraine sufferers crave a salty snack after an attack. In moderation, salt can have health benefits, so if you feel the onset of a migraine developing, add a tiny amount of salt into a glass of water and sip slowly.

• Complementary Therapy

  Some migraine sufferers swear by complementary treatments like the following: <strong>Acupuncture.</strong> A type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of thin needles in the body, stimulating the anatomical locations under the skin called acupuncture points. <strong>Chiropractic.</strong> Helps treat and prevent neuromusculoskeletal condition by manipulating the spine, joints and soft tissue. <strong> Homoeopathy.</strong> A form of alternative natural medicine that treats patients with liquid 'remedies' that apparently help relieve pain. <strong>Herbalism.</strong> An old traditional form of medicine made entirely of plants and plant extracts which help relieve pain and discomfort from within.

• Drink More

  It sounds obvious, but a big cause of migraines is down to dehydration. It's currently recommended that people drink between six to eight glasses of water a drink to help keep the body functioning properly.

• Botox

  Botox injections were licensed in 2010 to be used on people suffering from severe headaches and migraines. Although the evidence surrounding this treatment is still inconclusive, previous clinical trials have proved that it makes a difference if administered regularly. The treatment is currently available privately and costs between £400 to £600.

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Source: www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

Millions Grow Reliant On This For Health Care

Millions Grow Reliant On This For Health Care

* Health center patient ranks reach 20 million

* $728 million for health center building projects

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - U.S. community health centers that cater to the poor and uninsured saw their patients' ranks swell by nearly 18 percent from 2008 to 2011 as job loss left more Americans without health insurance, the Obama administration said on Tuesday.

A report released by the White House said 20 million Americans now receive healthcare services through 8,500 community health centers, up from 17 million four years ago.

"Those numbers really took a big jump," Mary Wakefield, who heads the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, told reporters. "A lot of those folks were people who, when they lost their jobs early on, lost their coverage."

The administration said health centers were able to accommodate larger numbers of patients because of funding provided by President Barack Obama's embattled healthcare reform law and the administration's earlier economic stimulus package.

The report, the latest in a series of government releases aimed at underscoring the value of healthcare reform, surfaced as the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates about the future of the law known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Community health centers, which often serve low-income areas where there are few doctors or hospitals, provide a cornerstone for the law's goal of expanding healthcare access to more than 30 million uninsured Americans.

The ranks of the uninsured, which equaled 1-in-4 Americans last year, pose major social and financial challenges for the $2.6 trillion U.S. healthcare system.

But the high court could overturn the reforms in a ruling expected next month, ending the administration's plans to expand coverage and much of its support for community health centers.

The law also faces repeated election year calls for repeal from Republican politicians who call it government over-reach and a potential drag on the economy.

The administration also announced on Tuesday that it had awarded $728 million in grants for about 400 renovation and construction projects at community health centers. Officials said the funding would allow another 860,000 people to gain access to medical services.

Community health centers are nonprofit groups that serve patients with low incomes, including people with no insurance, limited English proficiency, migrant and seasonal farm workers, the homeless and people living in public housing.

All told, the Obama administration has now allocated $1.5 billion to support major construction and renovation projects at community health centers.

The ranks of health center patients are expected to grow by another 1.3 million people over the next two years, the White House report said. (Editing by Vicki Allen)

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Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Another Reason Why Dark Chocolate (In Moderation!) Is Good For You

Another Reason Why Dark Chocolate (In Moderation!) Is Good For You

Hooray! -- even more research shows why dark chocolate (in moderation) has heart-healthy benefits.

Researchers from San Diego State University conducted a small controlled study illustrating that eating dark chocolate has positive effects in lowering blood sugar levels and "bad" cholesterol levels and increasing "good" cholesterol levels -- all of which could have positive effects on heart health.

The study was presented at the Experimental Biology 2012 meeting.

For the study, researchers had 31 people eat either 50 grams of regular dark chocolate (70 percent cocoa), dark chocolate (70 percent cocoa) that has been overheated, or white chocolate (0 percent cocoa). The study participants ate their assigned chocolate for a 15-day period; their blood glucose, circulating lipids, blood pressure and blood flow were all measured before and after the study.

But while the researchers found a positive effect of eating the dark chocolate in the study, they cautioned that chocolate is also high in saturated fat and calories, and must therefore be eaten in moderation.

For more sweet benefits of chocolate, click through the slideshow:

Chocolate Decreases Stroke Risk

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A 2011 Swedish study found that women who ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke than women who treated themselves to fewer than 9 grams of the sweet stuff.

A 2011 Swedish study found that women who ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke than women who treated themselves to fewer than 9 grams of the sweet stuff.

Chocolate Decreases Stroke Risk

A 2011 Swedish study found that women who ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke than women who treated themselves to fewer than 9 grams of the sweet stuff.

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Source: www.huffingtonpost.com