Treating Sleep Apnea

Podcast Week 11- Treating Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a medical condition that has been sweeping the nation.  Sleep apnea is a condition that causes people to stop breathing during sleep. There are sleep studies that are being performed in order to test the severity of this medical condition. Some of the symptoms include walking with a sense of being unrefreshed, having problems with memory loss and concentration, feeling tired, and having personality changes. Other symptoms may include heartburn, chest pain, headaches, and swelling of the legs. Sleep apnea may lead to work related accidents or even driving accidents. Sleep apnea is such a prevalent medical condition in the military, that soldiers receive 50 percent disability for this medical condition. Sleep apnea is also a condition that occurs in children. In children younger than 5, the symptoms include snoring, mouth breathing, sweating, restlessness, and having difficulty staying asleep. Children over 5 have symptoms of bed wetting, performing poorly in school, and not growing as quickly as they should.  Sleep studies are a series of test that record what happens to the patient’s body while they sleep. Polysomnography is a test that records the electrical activity of the patient’s brain, eye movement, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing, and air flow through the patient’s nose and mouth. A blood oxygen level, also known as saturation, is measured and can dictate how long the patient has been affected by this medical condition. The most common treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP). A CPAP machine enables a person to breathe more easily during the night. The throat is pressurized to prevent collapsing. The patient is able to get better rest and so are the family members.

http://www.healthcare411.ahrq.gov/transcriptP.aspx?id=1211&type=seg

Medication Wallet Card

Podcast Week 10- Medication Wallet Card

                How many times have we been to a doctor’s appointment and were asked what medications we are taking? It is not uncommon for people to forget the names or dosages or even forget how many different medications they are on. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has a brochure that includes a medication wallet card. This helps patients keep track of medications. This card can be a great help during an office visit or during an actual medical emergency. Some patients, depending on the severity of their illnesses, can take more than ten different medications at one time. Without the assistance of a friend, family member, or medical professional, the medication schedule can be quite overwhelming. I have dealt with patients at an Oncology clinic and they would present me with grocery bags full of medications. I would input each one into the computer by the prescription order on the label. Some patients would bring a detailed list and some would attempt to rely on memory. It would be wise for patients to share their medication list with family members or friends just in case critical information needs to be passed on to a health care team.

http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/transcript.aspx?id=817

Depression after a Traumatic Brain Injury

Podcast Week 9 Depression after a Traumatic Brain Injury

            Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) happen in our everyday life.  TBI’s can happen as a result of a fall, injuries sustained from a motor vehicle accident, sports injuries,  and from injuries due to combat. Serious brain injuries are being detected early by specialized medical teams and neurosurgeons. After a patient is stabilized they can be moved to a trauma center. Depression is also associated with traumatic brain injuries. Some of the factors of depression stem from an individual not being able to conduct day-to-day living as they would have before the injury. 30 percent of people with TBI’s develop depression.  Another associated problem is memory loss. A patient might not remember how the injury occurred or anything prior to the incident. Rehabilitation facilities are set up to provide efficient care to patients that suffer from this medical disorder.  The more severe cases of TBI need to be treated by mechanical ventilation because the patient cannot breathe on their own.  Fort Campbell, Kentucky has a traumatic brain Injury team that specializes in the care of soldiers that have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. With the amount of injured soldiers that are returning home, there is a whole battalion dedicated to assisting soldiers with various medical needs. The Warrior Transition Battalion is a stepping stool for soldiers that will aide in the transition process of being a rehabilitated wounded warrior into civilian life.

http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/transcript.aspx?id=819

Most Costly Conditions in Men

Podcast Week 8 Most Costly Conditions in Men

                Men are not as likely to go to the doctor as much as women. Men are seen as strong and leaders of their households. They feel that it’s a sign of weakness to fall ill or become incapacitated due to a serious health condition.  With a high number of men in the military, and the increasing amount of male veterans, it is no surprise that the health of men is declining at a rapid pace. The average life expectancy for men is 73.25. A study found that heart disease is number one for the most costly disease to treat. It cost $47 billion to treat heart disease for American men.  The second condition on the list is cancer. The treatment for cancer is about $34 billion, which is $4 billion less than the amount is cost to treat women. There were nearly 26 million men that reported hypertension-related expenses. Blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when the force (or pressure) of blood against your artery walls is too great, causing excessive strain on your blood vessels. This can also occur in teenage males.  While teenagers may have a lower risk at developing high blood pressure, this will only add to the cost of health care for men later down the road.

http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/transcript.aspx?id=1249&type=seg

Most Costly Conditions in Women

Podcast Week 7- Most Costly Conditions in Women

                Women in this country have ailments that have prevented them from having children or even living normal healthy lives. Although women are more inclined to seek medical treatment than men, they are still at a high risk for the most common diseases. Prevention is becoming the leading tool when it comes to most diseases, but sometimes prevention is not enough. Heart disease is the number one condition and the most costly condition for women. Cardiac treatments that are not covered by health insurance can clear someone of their entire life savings. The cost for treating women for heart disease is nearly $44 billion. The second condition on the list is cancer. Cancer comes in many types including breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical. Cancer treatment cost about $38 billion. Mental disorders and high blood pressure are on the top ten lists as well.  High blood pressure is the most commonly reported condition among women.  Some women can attribute high blood pressure to their extremely stressful lifestyles. Many women in this country are single mothers or wives of deployed soldiers. Other women take on more than they can bare and their nutrition is not up to par.

http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/transcript.aspx?id=1250&type=seg

Choosing a Good Nursing Home

Podcast Week 6- Choosing a Good Nursing Home

                As the population is aging, there is becoming a greater need to find quality nursing homes. Our family members deserve to have a facility that they feel comfortable and secure. Mistreatment is a common factor that occurs in nursing homes. The elderly are often abused; physically and mentally.  It is often stressful to locate a high quality nursing homes that suit the needs of the patient as well as the family members. Nursing Home Compare is a site that aids in the process of researching. The online tool looks up nursing homes in your area, and it includes input from the residents. During the face-to-face visit with the facility, you can take the checklist that can be downloaded on Nursing Home Compare. The cost is also increasing and health insurance is not covering the cost.  There are 16,100 nursing homes in the country, 1.7 million beds, and occupancy is at 86 percent. There are currently 1.5 million residents and the average length of stay is 835 days.

http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/transcript.aspx/id=888&type=pro

Managing Pain from a Broken Hip

Podcast Week 5- Managing Pain from a Broken Hip

                A broken hip is a serious injury that is often very painful. Over time the pain may cause delirium which is the temporary state of mental confusion and fluctuating consciousness resulting in high fever, intoxication, and shock. It can also cause poor sleep habits to develop and may lead to depression. Treatment options often include metal plates and screws and lots of physical rehabilitation. If pain is not controlled it can interfere with treatments and may tamper with the healing of other medical conditions. Some of the treatments are non-aspirin pain medication and electric stimulation. The elderly are at more risk of having a broken hip and the least to have successful treatment.

http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/transcript.aspx?id=884&type=pro