Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles

AARP Ramps Up Effort To Close Medicare Doughnut Hole One In Five Fall Into The Gap, But Few Climb Out
WASHINGTON-AARP"s Health Action Now campaign turns its
generic viagra online
FDA Approves SAMSCA(TM) (tolvaptan), The First And Only Oral Vasopressin Antagonist To Treat Patients With Clinically Significant Hypervolemic
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (OPC) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved SAMSCA(TM) (tolvaptan) as the only oral selective vasopressin antagonist for the treatment of patients with clinically significant hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia (serum sodium less than 125 mEq/L, or less marked hyponatremia that is symptomatic and has resisted correction with fluid restriction) including patients with heart failure, cirrhosis, and the syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH). Patients requiring urgent treatment to raise serum sodium to prevent or to treat serious neurological deficits should not be treated with SAMSCA. Additionally, it has not been established that raising serum sodium with SAMSCA provides a symptomatic benefit to patients. SAMSCA, an oral vasopressin V2-receptor antagonist, will be commercialized in the United States by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI).
News of the day
Greater Boston Unites To Transform Health Care
A coalition of organizations representing healthcare stakeholders throughout Greater Boston has been selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to participate in a planning grant to become part of the Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) initiative. AF4Q is the Foundation"s signature effort to lift the overall quality of healthcare in targeted communities, reduce racial and ethnic disparities, and provide models for national reform.
Diagnostics

What Is Concussion? What Is Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)?

obeys commands. *Brain injury will be classified in the Glasgow Coma Scale as: Coma = a score of 8 or less. Moderate = a score of 9 to 12. Minor = a score of 13 or more. A computerized tomography (CT) scan - this is a medical imaging method that employs tomography. Tomography is the process of generating a two-dimensional image of a slice or section through a 3-dimensional object (a tomogram). The medical device (the machine) is called a CTG scanner; it is a large machine and uses X-rays. A CT scan is generally accepted as better at looking at bleeding in the brain due to injury than an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan. However, an MRI scan measures changes in brain function from concussion, helping structure return-to-play guidelines, researchers from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine revealed. Depending on how the doctor has assessed the patient, he/she may have to stay in hospital overnight. If the patient is allowed to go home the doctor will ask somebody to monitor symptoms for at least 24 hours - this may involve waking the patient up at specific times to check for consciousness. What is the treatment for concussion? Most concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) symptoms will go away without treatment. In the USA approximately 1% of patients with MTBI require surgery. Sex and prior history - prior history of concussion and gender account for significant differences in test results following injury, researchers from the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, reported. Because of these differences, the researchers urge physicians and coaches to take an individualized approach to treating people with concussion. *Rest - experts say that the most important treatment is rest. It takes time for the brain to recover, which will happen more rapidly if the body is resting and getting a good night"s sleep each night. The International Conference on Concussion in Sports stressed that children and teens must be strictly monitored and activities restricted until fully healed. These restrictions include no return to the field of play, no return to school, and no cognitive activity - including academic activities and at-home/social activities including text messaging, video games, and television watching. *Headaches - acetaminophen (paracetamol, Tylenol) is the best painkiller for headache due to a head injury. Drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs should be avoided because they thin the blood and increase the risk of internal bleeding (hemorrhage). *Sports - it is important not to return to any sporting activity too soon. If you or your child had concussion, only do so when your doctor says it is OK. A study by researchers at the University of North Carolina, USA, found that athletes engaging in high levels of activity following concussion demonstrated impaired brain function, while those who engaged in moderate levels of activity demonstrated the best performance. *Alcohol - patients should avoid consuming alcohol, which can impede healing, until all symptoms have completely disappeared. *Migraine - migraine after concussion may indicate an increased risk of neurocognitive impairment, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Sports Medicine Concussion Program found. They said that doctors need to exercise increased vigilance when deciding about managing a concussed athlete with post-traumatic migraine. They need to be extremely cautious about deciding when the patient can return to their sport. *Worsening symptoms - if symptoms worsen patients should see their doctor. A person with a grade three concussion will probably be hospitalized if symptoms persist. Concussion and long term depression In a report authored by Robert C. Cantu, M.D., FACSM and published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, a study of 2,552 retired professional football players revealed that recurrent sport-related concussion appears to be related to an increased risk of clinical depression in retired professional football players. Prevention of concussion *Helmets and other protective headgear - such activities as cycling, motorcycling, skiing, hokey, horse riding should only be done if you wear protective headgear. It is important to buy new protective headgear - not second-hand ones. Headgear will need to be replaced periodically. *Seat belt - wearing a seat belt has been proven to massively reduce the risk of head injury during vehicle accidents. *Driving under influence - avoiding drinking and driving, or driving under the influence of illegal drugs or as well as some medications. *Mouthguard - a good mouthguard can help prevent concussion in such contact sports as boxing, martial arts, rugby, American football, etc. *Your home - consider adding lighting to areas that may be hazardous. Be alert for clutter that may cause people to fall over. Most head injuries among very young children and elderly people occur in the home. If there are toddlers in the house place pads on sharp edges of furniture, place a gate on the stairs, install window guards. *Playgrounds - there should be an underlay of soft material, either sand or special matting. *Jogging in busy streets - wear bright colored clothing and use both your eyes and ears when crossing the road. Keep to the sidewalk (UK/Ireland/Australia: pavement). *Cycling at night - make sure your bicycle has good lighting both in front and behind. Wear bright clothing with reflectors. *Nutrition and exercise - a well balanced diet and plenty of exercise can help maintain good bone mass and bone density. This is especially important for seniors (elderly people) and post-menopausal women. Stronger bones may reduce the severity of brain injury following a blow to the head. Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Pages: 1 [2] 


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009