Healthdame Tips for empowered patients in the new health 2.0 universe

New Google Site Helps Consumers Find Flu Shots

Google has launched a web-based flu shot finder to help consumers find clinics that have vaccine available.

Dueling Doc Raps Teach Kids To Avoid H1N1

That’s the latest “doc rap” on H1N1 to hit the airwaves, and I think it’s a great one for kids. Many of you have probably seen the terrific rap video by Dr. John Clarke that went viral a while ago. (It’s below if you haven’t). Dr. Clarke’s rap is artistically superior and more [...]

Cheap Drug Combo Cuts Heart Attack and Stroke Risk by More Than Half

A cheap combination of three pills helped patients lower their risk of heart attack or stroke by as much as 80% if they took the medicine regularly, according to a study published by doctors from the Kaiser Permanente health plan. Even those who took their pills just half the time were 60% less likely to [...]

Retail Clinics Get High Marks in Study

Is using one of those walk-in-clinics like at a store the same as going to a doctor’s office or a hospital?  According to recent research by the Rand Corp., the quality of the care you get is similar or better, but you’ll likely end up paying less at the retail clinic.  Much less if your [...]

Good Way to Avoid Flu? Wash Your Hands

Once again, Mom’s are right.  This New York Times article describes the wealth of research that has shown that regularly washing hands or using handsanitizer can help people avoid catching nasty bugs, including the now dreaded H1N1 flu.
Part of the problem is that people tend to touch their faces a lot.  Disease-causing germs can infect [...]

H1N1 Flu Vaccines May Be Available By Mid October

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved H1N1 flu vaccines from four manufacturers.  The vaccines, which are identical, should be available at clinics around the country by mid October, according to the agency.  An FDA press release reported that “the 2009 H1N1 vaccines induce a robust immune response in most healthy adults eight [...]

Eat Fish With Less Worry: Go to Fish for Your Health

State by state, www.Fish4Health.net lists the seafood-related advisories you need to be aware of and other helpful information about eating fish.

Take Care Clinics Now Offering Nebulizer Treatments

Walgreens’ Take Care Health clinics have added nebulizer treatments to the list of services they provide.
The clinics, which are run out of Wallgreens, currently offer a lot of routine services at a very reasonable price, including treatment for minor injuries or illnesses, adult vaccinations, physical exams, and a range of diagnostic tests including those for [...]

Teens Getting Sex Disinfo On the Web: What To Do?

The rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases have been rising among teens.  Unfortunately, those teens who comb the web for their sex education will often get disinformation. So what’s a concerned parent to do?
It’s a very touchy subject.
The statistics about teen sexual health released earlier this year by the CDC are depressing:

There were approximately [...]

John Hughes Dies of Heart Attack at Age 59: Would You Know Symptoms?

Renowned “Brat Pack” director and writer John Hughes died of a heart attack while walking in Manhattan. He was 59 years old. Symptoms include chest discomfort.