Latest news with #medicalprofessionals
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
B.C.'s rural, First Nations communities find support in virtual care network: report
A new report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal describes how a real-time virtual support network in B.C. is shaping health-care access for rural and First Nations communities in the province. The network includes patient-facing services, as well as decision supports for health professionals in communities.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
What people living with liver cancer wish they had known earlier about hepatitis B
Although extensive vaccination programmes have been in place since the 1980s, hepatitis B – a serious viral infection that attacks the liver – remains a major worldwide public health concern and the subject of continuing efforts to raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment with timely, appropriate treatment. During the acute infection phase, it can cause a range of symptoms from mild to acute, lasting for up to six months, with the most common signs of the disease including nausea, fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and jaundice. However, some cases can progress to a chronic infection and may eventually cause cirrhosis and liver cancer, typically leading to the need for costly long-term medical care. Liver cancer rates in Southeast Asia are expected to double by 2050, resulting in 200,000 deaths per year. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted by exposure to infectious blood or body fluids – most commonly from mother to child during birth and delivery, particularly in highly endemic regions. Among the other risks are blood transfusions, dialysis and travel in countries with high rates of infection. Up to 254 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B in 2022, with a further 1.2 million new infections occurring each year, according to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. These figures are striking, but it is often the experiences of individuals living day-to-day with the disease that most clearly bring home the urgent need for a wider call to action. Gilead Sciences, a biopharmaceutical company based in the United States, which specialises in the research and development (R&D) of antiviral drugs, is committed to raising awareness of the issue. It recently produced What I Wish I Knew, a short film series featuring four real-life stories of people living with hepatitis B in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, which is both informative and inspiring.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
"A UTI Can Be Completely Asymptomatic": Doctors Are Spilling Shocking Truths About Our Bodies That We Were Never Taught In School
We recently surprised a lot of you with these body facts that medical professionals say most people don't know, and it turns out a lot of our readers are healthcare experts who have more to add to the list! So, here are 15 more things you may not know about your own body but should: 1."In older women, a UTI can be completely asymptomatic. I'm a bladder cancer survivor and very tuned in to my bladder health. I was feeling very run down but had absolutely no UTI symptoms. I went to the emergency department for something unrelated, where I passed out and had to be resuscitated multiple times. I had become septic from an unknown bladder infection, and my husband had to watch me die and be revived in the emergency room at least three times. A super star emergency team saved my life, and I was put in the ICU without much hope of recovery. I spent six days hospitalized, and every day I thank God and those medical professionals for letting me go back to my family. PLEASE learn from my frightening experience!" —charmingcaptain114 Related: 2."Your optometrist asks what medications you take because your eyes are part of your body and can be affected by systemic diseases. You can lose vision from diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, etc. It amazes me when people leave off medications they are taking, and I say, 'So, you aren't taking any medications at all?' And then the person has an entire list, explaining that they didn't mention them because 'they don't affect my eyes.' This is wrong." —Anonymous, 52 Wisconsin 3."Never EVER boil breast milk. By doing this, you destroy all the nutrients, and it basically becomes as nutritious as water." —u/SuspiciousLemur 4."As a Navy corpsman and now Physician Assistant, I have always told my male patients that smoking can cause erectile dysfunction. That gets their attention more than strokes or heart attacks." —Anonymous Related: 5."Women continue to build bone mass until age 30. That is why it is important that you get enough calcium when you are young. It affects bone density and helps prevent osteoporosis." —Anonymous, 74 Ohio 6."I'm an ENT. Please bring earplugs to loud concerts and shows. Please don't listen to music on your earbuds/headphones too loudly. Your hearing doesn't regenerate, and you put yourself at a higher risk of developing tinnitus (ringing in your ears) and hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound)." —u/hapabeauty 7."Grapefruit juice can mess with a lot of meds, so you might want to avoid it while you're taking them." —Maya Related: 8."Type 2 diabetes is more serious than most people realize. I work as a doctor in hemodialysis, and most of the cases are due to diabetic nephropathy. It also affects your eyes, nerves, immune system, etc. Simple life changes can help prevent this." —u/kingofneverland 9."Moles don't have to look odd, have irregular borders, be different colors, grow fast, crack and bleed, etc., to be skin cancer. Moles that look absolutely normal and have been on your body for years can be cancerous. Flaky patches of skin that mimic eczema or psoriasis can actually be skin cancer. A dark freckle can actually be skin cancer. A dark purplish stretch mark can be skin cancer. This is why it's so important to not only get yearly skin checks, but also check yourself every time you are naked. Make notes of the locations on your body and a detailed description of what each area looks like so you can track it." "About 25 years ago, I had two little moles on my left ear and asked to have them removed so I could get my ears double pierced. The doctor did the usual shaving procedure and sent the tissue out for testing (this is standard protocol). Imagine my shock when the doctor called a week later and said I needed to come in to talk about the results. My perfectly normal moles were stage 1 squamous cell carcinoma. They also took off a normal-looking mole on my left elbow, which turned out to be full of atypical cells (which often leads to cancer). Thankfully, the cancer was completely localized, and I didn't need chemo or radiation. 'Normal' isn't always what it seems." —henrylovedog 10."Antibiotics only work against bacteria; they are not some kind of wonderpotion that cures anything, and they should not always be given. Please stick to the prescription the doctor gives you. Even if you already feel better, don't just stop unless the doctor says you can stop. A lot of medication needs to be taken according to the prescription in order for it to be effective because you build up the dosage to an effective level. Stopping or not sticking to it really decreases effectiveness." —u/jonneyboy112 11."Tell us what drugs and alcohol you're on. We aren't gonna tell the cops, and we aren't gonna lecture you, but it might change the anesthesia we give you. Some of the stuff we give could kill you. So, if you drink a 30-pack a day, tell us." —u/CopyX Related: 12."Having wet hair in a cold room will not make you sick." —u/jbx_93 13."Just because you're skinny doesn't mean you're healthy. Sometimes I ask teens whom I treat what healthy foods they eat, and rarely do I get a right answer. I feel like the internet has so many fad diets, and some families rarely cook, so there are so many people who don't know basic nutrition facts." —u/Thornloki256 14."Alcohol is really, really bad for you. By binge drinking, you run the risk of developing stomach bleeds, intestinal bleeds, pancreatitis, liver disease, and/or liver failure, alcoholism, heart failure, seizures, stroke, osteoporosis, lung failure, the list goes on... Having 4 drinks spread out over a few hours can be JUST as fun as having 10 drinks in the same time span, AND you're not putting yourself at risk for massive organ failure and making yourself look like an idiot." —u/Mosessbro lastly: "Fevers are not always dangerous. In fact, they are your body's natural response to an illness. Always call your doctor first, but you might not need to rush to the emergency department at the first sight of one." —u/sms575 Did any of these surprise you? Let us know in the comments! Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Solve the daily Crossword
ABC News
7 days ago
- ABC News
Byron Bay night-precinct plan sparks fears of alcohol-fuelled violence
Byron Bay residents are worried a plan to boost the tourism hotspot's nightlife will lead to an increase in alcohol-fuelled violence. The NSW government announced in April that Byron Bay would be the first town outside of Sydney to trial a special entertainment precinct (SEP), as part of a strategy to boost its night-time economy. The move would allow the local council to designate an area in the CBD where trading hours and sound conditions could be relaxed for hospitality venues, live music, and special events. Enmore Road in Sydney became the first permanent SEP in December 2023, and other trials have started around the Chinatown Night Markets in Burwood and Fairfield. But the plan has drawn strong criticism from some residents, with about 150 people attending a community meeting on Tuesday night to raise their concerns. Among them was emergency medicine specialist Blake Eddington, who said extended nightlife trading could put lives at risk. "Seeing teenagers and young people mindlessly assaulted, some of them with life-threatening conditions, that are completely preventable by drinking less alcohol and not having venues stay open until 3, 4, 5 o'clock in the morning." Other medical professionals who spoke at the meeting said local health services, paramedics and police were at capacity, and not equipped to handle an increase in cases. Some speakers at the meeting raised two recent incidents which had shaken the Byron Bay community, including a fight outside a busy cafe last week, and an assault in which a 25-year-old suffered serious head injuries after he was reportedly attacked in a car park by six young men. Data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) showed there were 251 non-domestic-violence-related assaults in the Byron Shire in the 12 months to March — a ratio 1.6 times the statewide rate per 100,000 residents. The BOCSAR website warns crime rates could appear distorted in areas with high visitor populations because the resident population is smaller than the total number of people in the area. It also notes many assaults are not reported to police and are therefore not captured in BOCSAR data. Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce president Matt Williamson said businesses were not necessarily looking to extend their late-night trading, but were keen to try initiatives that could boost the town's "vibrancy". In April, Byron Shire Council received a grant of $162,800 to kickstart community consultation and begin planning the trial. Mr Williamson said consultation so far had been lacking. Concerns about alcohol-related violence prompted a community-led campaign in 2013 called Last Drinks at 12. Byron resident Chris Hanley was part of that initiative, and told ABC North Coast Breakfast the same fears had surfaced again. "Nothing will stop new operators and different people going into the future who do want to … open their venues to the wee small hours and disturb our community," he said. "To have more culture and vibrancy in a town … is easy to do — get council out of the way. "Get council to make it easy for businesses to have outside dining and street festivals." In a statement, NSW Police — which had officers at the community meeting — said Tweed/Byron Police were working alongside government, council, and community stakeholders in ongoing discussions about the SEP. The Byron Shire Council is set to hold information sessions for residents and businesses in August.
Associated Press
21-07-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Maverick Behavioral Health Releases New Article, ‘Can I Get a Second Opinion or Appeal a Denial from My Insurance Company for Rehab Treatment?'
Euless, Texas – Maverick Behavioral Health, a premier outpatient rehab center, is thrilled to announce the release of its new article, 'Can I Get a Second Opinion or Appeal a Denial from My Insurance Company for Rehab Treatment?' Utilising the addiction and mental health treatment center's experienced teams' extensive expertise, the new article highlights the key federal and state laws that are crucial to challenge insurance decisions to help empower prospective patients to commit to the appeals process and attain peace of mind for their rehabilitation treatment. Under the Affordable Care Act and other federal regulations, insurance companies must provide clear appeals processes for coverage denials. Individuals typically have 180 days from the date of a coverage denial to file an appeal, though specific timeframes may vary by state and insurance plan type. Maverick Behavioral Health's article explains that most insurance plans have multiple levels of appeals, starting with internal reviews by the insurance company and potentially progressing to external reviews by independent medical professionals. Each level provides opportunities to present additional evidence and challenge the initial denial decision. Individuals have the right to receive written explanations of denial decisions, including specific reasons for the denial and information about their appeal rights. This documentation is important for understanding the basis of the denial and developing an effective appeal strategy. Internal appeals are reviewed by different personnel than those who made the initial denial decision, providing a fresh perspective on a case. Individuals can submit additional medical documentation, provider recommendations, and other evidence supporting the medical necessity of their treatment to strengthen their case. A healthcare provider, such as Maverick Behavioral Health, can assist with internal appeals by providing additional clinical documentation, treatment recommendations, and expert opinions about the appropriateness of proposed treatment. Provider involvement often strengthens appeal cases significantly. Internal appeals typically must be decided within 30 days for standard appeals or 72 hours for urgent appeals involving immediate medical needs. Insurance companies must provide written decisions explaining their reasoning and any additional appeal options available. If an internal appeal is denied, individuals also typically have the right to request an external review by independent medical professionals who are not employed by their insurance company. External reviewers evaluate whether the denied treatment meets generally accepted medical standards and must be completed within specific timeframes, typically 45 days for standard reviews or 72 hours for urgent reviews. Maverick Behavioral Health encourages individuals with any more questions regarding its new article, 'Can I Get a Second Opinion or Appeal a Denial from My Insurance Company for Rehab Treatment?' to contact its specialist team today. About Maverick Behavioral Health Maverick Behavioral Health is a premier addiction and mental health treatment center dedicated to transforming lives through bold, individualized, and compassionate care. With a skilled team of addiction specialists committed to providing personalized treatment plans and compassionate support, Maverick Behavioral Health empowers clients to take control of their recovery, break free from limitations, and build a strong foundation for lifelong success. More Information To learn more about Maverick Behavioral Health and the release of its new article, 'Can I Get a Second Opinion or Appeal a Denial from My Insurance Company for Rehab Treatment?', please visit the website at Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
