By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Twitter Chats are a powerful way to share valuable information in real-time. Sharecare and the American Heart Association partner to host a Twitter Chat on Heart Health. Please join the Twitter Chat today, February 20, 2014 from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. EST, and use the Hashtag #HeartChat. In support of the 50th anniversary of American Heart Month, the American Heart Association (AHA) and Sharecare, the online health and…
Read More...Flu Season-Insights from the ER
Flu Season is here; a quick vaccine reference to avoid an Emergency Room Visit. By Justin S. Larkin, MD As the sun sets on summer and the fall weather is now here, this means one thing in the Emergency Departments around the world, Flu Season. Flu related chief complaints during the winter months place a large strain on Emergency Departments around the country. Often the wait times to be seen and overcrowding of the department…
Read More...What Everybody Ought to Know About Plastics
By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA Information circulating about the dangers of plastic containers has created fear and confusion. Are plastic containers toxic? Do harmful chemicals leach out into its contents? Do we need to discard all plastic containers? Recently, I interacted in a live health chat on MedHelp about the safety of plastics. Scientist, Joe Schwarcz, PhD, Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society talked about “The Real Truth About Plastics: What…
Read More...Heart Health and the Couch Potato: Sit at Your Own Risk
Guest Post Submitted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center We’ve all made the excuses…you can’t face the drive to the gym, you’re too tired at night, getting up in the morning is a chore or it’s too hot or cold outside. So you cozy up on the couch in front of the television. If you’re a couch potato, you’re a gambler — with your life. Unfortunately you’ll need a big sofa because you’re not the…
Read More...CDC Finds 1 in 5 High School Students Abuse Prescription Drugs
By Barbara Ficarra RN, BSN, MPA Latest News Update A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that one in five U.S. high school students have taken a prescription drug that they didn’t get from their doctor. According to the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) that was released today from the CDC, the survey asked more than 16,000 high school students if they have ever taken a prescription…
Read More...