Though scope and impact may vary, a disaster is generally defined as an unexpected, catastrophic event that generates widespread damage, loss, or destruction.The images of disaster are never far from our collective consciousness. The flooded neighborhoods of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The ash-stained streets of New York City after 9/11. The red skies of California during the wildfires of 2020. The ICUs were packed to capacity during the heights … [Read more...]
Community
Vector-Borne Diseases and How to Avoid Them
Vector-borne diseases — that is, diseases spread by vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.These vector-borne diseases cause approximately 700,000 deaths annually. These account for about 17% of all infectious diseases, including malaria, dengue, schistosomiasis, yellow fever, and more. Small but deadly Though most common in tropical and subtropical latitudes, vector-borne diseases can spread wherever their vectors can survive. Mosquitoes and ticks … [Read more...]
Monitoring and Managing Diabetes
There was a time when a healthcare professional didn’t have a good way to determine how well-managed their patient was.I entered the diabetes education field six-and-a-half years ago when the landscape of treatment was changing rapidly. New medications were debuting left and right. New technologies were (and still are!) smacking me in the head. Even after all these years, there’s always something new to learn. How a healthcare professional monitors … [Read more...]
Pain Management Trends Every Healthcare Professional Should Know About
There are many methods for pain management.“Pain that continues when it should not.” That’s how the American Chronic Pain Association defines chronic pain, from which roughly 50 million Americans suffer. There are many methods for pain management, including non-narcotic drugs like acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen, and narcotic medications like morphine and methadone. New techniques and technologies continue to emerge, however, offering healthcare … [Read more...]
Supporting Healthcare Professionals’ Mental Health
Finding mental health support for healthcare professionals, however, has proven to be a challenge.We applauded them from the rooftops, made viral videos to express our gratitude, and threw endless pizza parties. The nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals who stepped up during the course of the pandemic were nothing short of heroic — but that heroism wasn’t without cost. The mental, physical, and emotional burdens … [Read more...]
Celebrating National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.Since the first official announcement by Ronald Reagan in 1983, each sitting United States President has celebrated the month of May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Led by a Presidential Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, the program raises awareness of physical activity recommendations, improves nutrition, and normalizes healthy decision-making. Data tracked by the Centers for Disease … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Updates: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Restricted, Omicron in Children, and More
Diagnosis trackerMore than 517.3 million cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been diagnosed worldwide as of Monday evening, including more than 6.2 million deaths.Healthcare officials in the United States have reported more than 83.5 million positive COVID-19 cases and more than 1.02 million deaths. Source: www.worldometers.info/coronavirusVaccine trackerMore than 11.7 billion individual doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered … [Read more...]
Managing Stroke Risk and Raising Awareness
May 2022 is National Stroke Awareness Month.We're examining the causes of stroke, highlighting prevention tips, exploring the warning signs, and sharing helpful resources for healthcare professionals caring for stroke patients.Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a stroke. This adds up to more than 795,000 strokes each year and accounts for roughly 1 out of every 19 American deaths. Tragically, up to 80% of these strokes are preventable.Heart … [Read more...]
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