Nanotech Tattoo Restores Nerves
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Scientists have developed a new temporary "electronic tattoo" that can measure the activity of muscle and nerve cells.
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DIGITAL HEALTH
Health Benefits of Pokémon GO!
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In the very short time that Pokémon GO has been available, it has become a gaming and pop culture phenomenon.
Read MoreNew Technology Speeds Diagnoses for First Responders
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Oftentimes, medicine's ability to deliver an accurate diagnosis quickly can mean the difference between life and death.
Read MoreWhy You Shouldn’t Get Your Medical Advice on TV
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Medical dramas are a very popular TV genre, which have been around for over 60 years. Typically a medical case is used as the backbone of the episode.
Read MoreAre Our Smartphones Crippling Us?
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Cubital tunnel syndrome – or “cellphone elbow” – describes the damage we can do to ourselves because of the (constant) way we are pressing our phones to our ears.
Read MoreIf you’re having surgery, here’s how to prepare
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Get a second opinion. If you are not sure what the best option is, get a second opinion. Do not be afraid to get another doctor's perspective as the most important thing is for you to feel comfortable with your care. Speak to someone who specializes in treating your condition.
Know the facts. Discuss and learn everything about your surgery with your medical team. Talk to your surgeon and everyone who manages your care during the operation. Ask any and every question until you feel comfortable.
Discuss your medical conditions. Tell your doctor if you have any health issues, including heart or lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, dental work, arthritis, or drug allergies. Also make sure to let them know if you or anyone in your family has had a reaction to anesthesia.
Ask about anesthesia. What type of anesthesia you get depends on the type of surgery. Ask your anesthesiologist about your options. You may get local, regional, or general – all of which work differently.
Don't eat or drink before surgery. Don’t forget to avoid eating and drinking before surgery. The combination of food/drink and anesthesia can cause vomiting during or after an operation. This can cause choking and other complications after surgery. Make sure to follow the instructions about when to stop eating or drinking.
Options for pain after surgery. You are likely to experience a great deal of pain after surgery. Tell your doctor if you need pain medicine while you're in the hospital. Ask what your options are for pain relief when you get home.
To avoid hospital infections. After surgery, make sure to keep your hands clean. Do not be afraid to ask your doctors and nurses to wash their hands or sanitize them before treating you as well. This way, you can protect yourself from infections that can cause serious complications.
TeleHealth Visits May Be An Option Post Surgery
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New study of US veterans suggests that people may soon be able to forgo in-person doctors' visits after surgery by opting instead for talking with their surgeons by phone or video. Researchers said that most patients preferred the virtual visits and the doctors didn't miss any infections that popped up after surgery
Read MoreNew Mobile App to Help With Motion Sickness
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According to researchers from Imperial College London: "We are confident that within five to ten years people will be able to walk into the chemist and buy an anti-seasickness device. It may be something like a machine that is used for back pain.”
Read MoreDiabetes: First Disease Tackled by Google Life Sciences
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Based on statistics from the American Diabetes Association, there are approximately 30 million children and adults who are suffering from diabetes in the U.S. alone and over 1.5 million Americans diagnosed each year.
Read MoreNew Smartphone App For Doctor's Stethoscope
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A team of researchers and engineers have developed a new application for smartphones that could allow doctors using their mobiles to monitor patients' hearts. The i-Stethoscope uses sensors built-in the phone to check a person's heart. Data can be collected and shared with ease. But according to doctors, there are still some things the app cannot do, since it cannot substitute for the doctor-patient relationship. Eko Devices, the Berkeley, California-based company that developed the smartphone app, has received FDA 510(k) clearance for the companion smartphone app and for its smartphone-enabled stethoscope, called Eko Core.
Read MoreDigital Health Innovation: Handheld Device for Rapid Assessment of Vital Signs
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A small trial of a portable device that can rapidly read a patient's vital signs shows it performs well compared with standard hospital monitors. The hand-held, battery-powered device - called MouthLab - is the invention of biomedical engineers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. The device, which picks up vital signs from the patient's lips and fingertips, could replace the cumbersome and restrictive equipment currently used in hospitals.
Read MoreDigital Health Innovation: New Non-Invasive Skin Cancer Test
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A new research report published online in Nature Scientific Reports announced that a team of scientists have developed a special technique to detect the subtle differences in blood flow beneath the skin. The researchers used a laser technique to tell the difference between noncancerous moles and malignant melanoma. The study was led by Pisa University in Italy and the Lancaster University. Researchers at Pisa University Hospital have monitored 55 patients with atypical moles.
Read MoreCan the tech in our lives increase risk of skin cancer?
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The major risk factors for skin cancer continue to be for those people who have fair skin or a lighter natural color, family history of skin cancer or personal history of skin cancer, ultraviolet light exposure from the sun or indoor tanning. UV radiation is a proven human carcinogen skin that burns easily, gets red easily or becomes painful in the sun. But now a new study says the tech in our lives such as devices like tablets, smartphones and laptops can actually reflect these ultraviolet light from the sun and may directly increase an individual's exposure to the cancer-causing wavelengths.
Read MoreGOOGLE TO COLLABORATE ON 'NEXT-GENERATION' GLUCOSE MONITORING DEVICES
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The life sciences team at Google will be joining forces with DexCom, a company specializing in glucose monitoring devices, to develop a new low-cost bandage-sized sensor for people with diabetes. In addition to being small and low-cost, the new wearable sensor will be disposable and usable by people with all types of diabetes. The device will be connected to The Cloud and provide real-time information. DexCom state that the aim of the partnership is to develop next-generation continuous glucose monitoring products that will be "substantially smaller and much less expensive than existing technologies."
Read MoreMUSIC 'REDUCES PAIN AND ANXIETY' FOR SURGERY PATIENTS
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New study says listening to music before, during and after an operation can help reduce pain. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London said the patients who had listened to music had been less anxious after their surgery and had needed less pain relief. They said music had been effective even while patients had been under general anaesthetic. The Department of Health said doctors should consider the findings. The scientists want hospitals to suggest in NHS information leaflets that patients bring music devices and playlists into hospital with them.
Read MoreFeeling Depressed? Your Phone May Detect It
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Phone data could predict with 87% accuracy whether someone had depressive symptoms. Most of us are pretty attached to our phones, and researchers are starting to figure out what that connection can tell us about our health, including our mood. In fact, your phone may be able to tell if you’re depressed even better than a self-assessment of your own depression can, according to a small new study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Read MoreNew FDA-Approved 3D Printed Drug: Personalized Medicine Has Arrived
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Much excitement along with skepticism arose this week as the FDA approved the first 3D printed prescription drug to treat epilepsy. Produced by the drug maker, Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, the FDA has approved the drug named Spritam for both adults and children suffering from certain types of seizures caused by epilepsy. 3D printing is disrupting many production methods that date all the way back to the Industrial Revolution, from fashion and retail to computer science and healthcare. We’ve seen this concept of bio printing quickly come to life where instead of traditional “ink” the printers spray human cells.
Read MoreHealing Injuries Could Be Better Thanks to This 3-D Printed Cast
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Fiberglass casts may soon be of the past. A company called 3D Systems, a major player in the 3D printing game in collaboration with Bespoke, a company that developed prosthetics and braces developed a new cast using the technology or 3D printing. 3D printing is exploding in all directions such as dentistry, fashion and throughout the healthcare field including surgery and rehabilitation. Many believe 3D printing is the secret to sustaining a competitive advantage for the future.
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Lessons Learned From Not Using Social Media
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The health industry has been following the evolution of social media and its effect on our health and over the years many studies have been done to show the effect of it on our brain. Facebook made lead to depression due to social comparison. The LED light on our laptops and iPads might be keeping us awake. We've been hearing about tech's effect on our health a lot. The question remains: how can we still use it in moderation, enjoy it but not overuse it? The concept is similar to how we eat. Here are some lessons learned.
Read MoreCHICAGO COMPANY OFFERS EYE EXAMS VIA SMARTPHONE AND COMPUTER FOR $40
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A Chicago optometrist has created a digital eye exam that adults can take on their computers and smartphones, My Fox Chicago reported. The test, called Opternative, takes 25 minutes or less and produces a prescription from a registered ophthalmologist within 24 hours. The test costs users $40. According to OkCopay, an online service that tracks out-of-pocket medical expenses, the national median cost of an eye exam is $85. Opternative co-founder Dr. Steven Lee thought of the idea years ago after one of his patients asked whether an easier eye exam was available.
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