Sunday, 26 January 2014

27 January, 2014

You may not see doctors in white coats soon!

Ever wondered how many hours in a day the doctors wear the same white coat? What kind of patients they see in the same apron? How many infections the white coat could spread? Well, the white apron which is so characteristic of the doctors might soon be a relic.
In a move to cut health care associated infections, certain attire for health care professionals, including the traditional white coat, may become a thing of the past.
Mark Rupp, M.D., chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and one of the authors of recommendations issued by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), one of the world’s top infection control organizations, said that white coats, neckties, and wrist watches can become contaminated and may potentially serve as vehicles to carry germs from one patient to another.
Dr. Rupp, who is a past president of SHEA, said that however, it is unknown whether white coats and neck ties play any real role in transmission of infection.
It includes a review of patient and health care professionals’ perceptions of the health professionals’ attire and transmission risk, suggesting professionalism may not be contingent on wearing the traditional white coat.
The authors developed the recommendations based on limited evidence, theoretical rationale, practical considerations, a survey of SHEA membership and SHEA Research Network, author expert opinion and consensus, and consideration of potential harm where applicable. The SHEA Research Network is a consortium of more than 200 hospitals collaborating on multi-center research projects.
The recommendations are set to appear online in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
27.01.2014



Is Facebook driving teenagers to eating disorders?

Social media websites like Facebook and Twitter are to be blamed for the doubling in the number of youngsters seeking help for eating disorders in the last three years, it has been revealed. According to a charity the number of children and teenagers seeking help for an eating disorder has risen by 110 per cent in the past three years, and this dramatic increase could be attributed to several factors, including the increased pressure caused by social media, the growth of celebrity culture, and the rise of anorexia websites, the Independentreported. 
The charity suggested that the problem is most prevalent among girls of secondary school age, as they are more concerned about their body image and looks. Sue Minto, head of ChildLine, said 24/7 nature of social media places huge pressures on children and young people which in turn can lead to significant emotional issues.  
Here are some eating disorders you should know about
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterised by a cycle of recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by extreme weight-control behaviours.
Types of bulimia nervosa
Purging type: Binge eating followed by regular self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.
Non-purging type: Binge eating followed by other inappropriate compensatory behaviours, such as fasting or excessive exercise or strict dieting.  
Anorexia nervosa
It’s an eating disorder characterised by extreme food restriction and an irrational fear of gaining weight. Because of this, sufferers limit the amount of food they eat. People who suffer from it are called anorexic. Various health issues are connected with this condition including a lack of energy, headaches, drowsiness and dizziness and in the long term conditions like hormonal imbalance, cardiac arrests, reduction of bone and even death (studies show that anorexia has the highest death rate among all psychological disorders). (Read 
27.01.2014








Success is the sum of small efforts
R Collier


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