Men Less Likely to get Screened for Cancer

According to a recent telephone survey of almost 1,150 men and women in San Juan, Baltimore and New York City, men are more likely to skip cancer screenings than women. The survey group was mainly between the ages of 30 and 59, and about 35 percent of the participants were men.

The research team that conducted the study used questions from the Cancer Screening Questionnaire, a survey of sixty-questions which were asked over the phone. The questionnaire focused on participants’ attitudes and beliefs when it came to cancer screening.

Researchers found that although the cancer death rate is higher among men, they are less willing than women to undergo cancer screenings. However, the study also found that when given the facts about cancer screening procedures, men are somewhat more likely to get screened for cancer than women are. For this reason, physicians and other health care providers should __

The findings of the study indicate that men are screened less than women for several reasons, including the fact that women see their primary care physician more often than men do. Also, there is a need for more government-sponsored cancer awareness campaigns for men and most cancer awareness campaigns focus on women’s breast cancer.

The study was published both online and in print in the American Journal of Men’s Health.

If a doctor or hospital failed to diagnose your cancer, call or email the cancer malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today. Our experienced medical malpractice lawyers can answer your questions and help you fight for the compensation you deserve. We have helped clients with Queens cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Manhattan cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice cases.

Call today for your free case evaluation: 1-877-ASK4SAM

Study: Rate of C-section delivery with twins increases

Researchers in California have found in a new study that more twins are being delivered via cesarean section than ever before. Since the mid 90s, the rate of twin c-sections has increased significantly, according to the study authors.

In 2008, the last year included in the study, the c-section rate for twin deliveries was roughly 75 percent, significantly higher than the rate of 53 percent of 1995, and amounting to a five percent increase each year.

The researchers also noted that although many twin c-section deliveries are the result of complications, such as the position of the babies, this increase in the c-section rate was seen in healthy mothers and babies that had the option to deliver vaginally.

The study, which was published in medical journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, notes that about a third of all births in the U.S. are now cesarean section deliveries. Study authors also warn that although the rate of c-sections is on the rise, this type of delivery increases the risk of bleeding and infection for the mother, as well as certain types of injuries, so a Healing time following a cesarean section also means a longer stay in the hospital following delivery.
Cesarean sections can be potentially harmful to both mother and child. If you or a loved one experienced a difficult delivery or an injury that could have been prevented and have questions about the quality of the medical care you received, please call Silberstein, Awad & Miklos' birth injury lawyers for answers. We have helped clients with Bronx birth injury, Queens birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Manhattan birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases. Call us toll-free: 1-877-ASK4SAM

Ovarian Tumor Risk Increases with Fertility Treatment

According to a 15-year study which observed about 25,000 women, the risk of developing an ovarian tumor is higher for women receiving fertility treatments with ovary-stimulating drugs.

The study, led by Flora van Leeuwen of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, found that women who underwent in-vitro fertilization, or IVF, were twice as likely to develop either ovarian cancer or a borderline tumor, which is defined as a tumor with abnormal cells that may or may not become cancerous.

Of the 25,000 women included in the study, about 19,000 received IVF treatment. Among the group that received the treatment, 61 women had an ovarian malignancy, 31 of which were borderline tumors and 30 of which were invasive ovarian cancer.

The study’s findings were published in Oxford journal Human Reproduction.

A delay in diagnosing and treating ovarian cancer or any other form of cancer may allow the cancer to grow and spread, lowering a patient’s chance beating their cancer. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a delay in diagnosing or treating cancer, our cancer malpractice attorneys can help. Your initial consultation is free and there is no fee to you unless we recover money. Please call us today, or submit an instant inquiry now and we will respond within 24 hours. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos serves clients with Queens cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Manhattan cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice cases.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Study: Seatbelts worn by less than half of children injured in auto accidents

A recent study presented at the October 15th national meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics has found that more than half of children hurt in an automobile accident in the U.S. between 2002 and 2006 were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Statistics on motor vehicle accidents involving nearly 40,000 kids under the age of 16 were analyzed by a team of researchers led by Dr. Rebecca Stark. They found that only about 47.5 percent of the children were wearing a seat-belt when the accident occurred. Researchers also found that in minority children, including Black, Hispanic and Native American, seatbelt use was even lower.

Dr. Stark and her research team found that when seatbelts were used, a lower injury severity score (ISS) was observable. They also found that the injury rate was almost 7 percent and the death rate was almost 6 percent, with about 13 percent of the injured children needing emergency surgery.

According to the CDC, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in the U.S. in people ages 5 through 34. In 2009, more than 2.3 million adult drivers and passengers received treatment in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries resulting from an automobile accident.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles requires that every child under the age of 16 must wear a safety restraint and children under the age of 4 must be secured in a federally-approved safety seat. If you or a loved has been injured in any type of collision, call or e-mail our car accident attorneys today. One of our experienced auto collision lawyers will evaluate your case for free and help you get the compensation you deserve. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos has helped clients with Bronx auto accident, Queens auto accident, Brooklyn auto accident, Manhattan auto accident and Long Island auto accident cases.

Call today for your free case evaluation: 1-877-ASK4SAM

Infection Rate Doubles in Patients with Cardiac Devices

A recent study out of the Jefferson Heart Institute at Thomas Jefferson University has found that since the early 1990s, the risk of infection in patients that have either a pacemaker or defibrillator has more than doubled. The researchers suggest that the cause of this spike in the rate of infections may be that heart patients are sicker than they were twenty years ago.

For the research, the team, led by Dr. Arnold J. Greenspon, looked at hospital discharge records from a national database. Their research revealed an increase of more than 200 percent between 1993 and 2008 in the number of infections related to a permanent pacemaker or implantable defibrillator, both referred to as cardiac electrophysiological devices (CIEDs).

Greenspon, a professor of medicine at Jefferson Medical College and director of cardiac electrophysiology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, believes that this significant increase in the rate of infections in patients with CIEDs is a result of much of that patient population having several other major health problems in addition to having a cardiac device. Sicker patients mean a higher rate infection.

The study, which is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, also notes that male patients over the age of 65 had the highest rate of infection.

While many infections are unavoidable, countless infections that develop in a hospital or following a procedure can be prevented if proper care is given. If you or a loved one has been hurt or died as a result of a preventable infection and you have questions about the quality of the medical care received, please contact the medical malpractice lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos for answers. We have helped clients with Queens medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice matters.

Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

Heart Defects in Young Athletes Often Misdiagnosed by Cardiologists

Each year in the United States, about 76 young athletes die suddenly during practice or a game as a result of cardiac arrest. Consequently, some experts have recommended that electrocardiograms (ECGs) be required in these athletes to screen for certain heart defects.

Screening for heart defects may help prevent sudden cardiac death in these young people, however it is only beneficial when a doctor correctly reads the test results. A recent study published in the Journal of Pediatrics has found that many pediatric heart doctors misinterpret ECGs, leaving dangerous abnormalities undiagnosed. The study noted that about 32 percent of the time, pediatric cardiologists missed an abnormality, while a heart abnormality was incorrectly diagnosed about 30 percent of the time.

When an ECG is performed, the electrical impulses that are generated by the heart’s beat are measured. The test can detect certain conditions of the heart, as well as irregularities in the heart’s rhythm, when its results are correctly interpreted. For the study, researchers asked 53 pediatric cardiologists to interpret the results of 18 ECGs performed on teens with and without a heart defect. The doctors correctly read 12.4 of the 18 tests, on average.

According to lead study author Dr. Allison Hill, a pediatric resident at Stanford University, hypertonic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people. This type of heart disease occurs when the heart muscle thickens, making it extremely difficult for it to pump blood.

The sudden cardiac death of a young person is an extremely painful occurrence, especially when it could have been prevented by a proper diagnosis. If your child’s heart defect went undiagnosed, resulting in permanent disability or death, call or email the cardiac malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. Our experienced legal team can answer your questions and review your possible case free of charge. We have helped clients with Bronx cardiac malpractice, Brooklyn cardiac malpractice, Queens cardiac malpractice, Manhattan cardiac malpractice and Long Island cardiac malpractice cases.

Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

More Timely Treatment for Potential Stroke Patients Arriving by Ambulance

A study out of North Carolina has found that patients with stroke symptoms receive brain scans more quickly when brought to the hospital by ambulance, compared to arrival by a personal car or taxi. For possible stroke patients, brain scans are necessary to diagnose whether or not a stroke has occurred. When a stroke or other condition as been diagnosed, the patient can receive the correct treatment more quickly.

The study, which included 14,000 patients, found that on average, brain scans took place more than 72 minutes after the patient arrived when coming by either a personal vehicle or car service. When patients arrived by ambulance and the hospital had been notified en route, brain scans were completed in less than 48 minutes.

Current guidelines recommend that possible stroke patients receive a brain scan within 25 minutes of hospital arrival. It is also recommended that doctors interpret the results within 20 minutes of the scan being performed. This study found that patients who arrived via ambulance were twice as likely to get a brain scan within the recommended 25 minute window. In addition, when the hospital was alerted by the ambulance that a possible stroke patient was coming, patients were nearly three times more likely to get a brain scan in the recommended time.

According to the American Stroke Association, almost 800,000 people suffer a stroke each year in the United States. Of those, more than one in six patients dies as a result of their stroke.

If you or a loved one has experienced a failure do diagnose or treat a stroke in a timely manner, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for a free case evaluation. One of our experienced attorneys will review your Queens stroke malpractice, Brooklyn stroke malpractice, Bronx stroke malpractice, Manhattan stroke malpractice or Long Island stroke malpractice case and answer any questions you may have.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Surgical Site Infections Avoided with Cotton Swab Use

A recent study published in the Archives of Surgery has found that daily use of cotton swabs to clean surgical incision sites considerably reduces the risk of infection at the site.

According to the study authored by Dr. Shirin Towfigh, a surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, only about 3 percent of the appendectomy patients whose incision sites were swabbed with cotton every day developed an infection. Of the patients whose surgical sites were swabbed daily with iodine, 19 percent developed an infection at the site.

The reason for this dramatic decrease in the rate of infections, according to researchers, is that cotton swabs absorb any contaminated fluid, allowing it to drain from the soft tissues and reduce the amount of bacteria at the site.

Dr. Towfigh also found that patients in the cotton swab group had less pain following their surgery compared to those whose incision sites were swabbed with iodine. Additionally, their average hospital stay was only about five days, compared with the average seven day stay of those in the iodine group. The study also noted that the cotton swab group also experienced better cosmetic healing of their incision.

According to the report, over 500,000 surgical site infections occur annually in the U.S. Many of these infections can be prevented with proper management of the incision site by doctors and nurses.

If you or a loved one was injured by surgical malpractice in New York City or Long Island and have questions about the medical care you received, call or e-mail us today for a free consultation. Our experienced surgery malpractice attorneys have helped clients with Queens surgical malpractice, Bronx surgical malpractice, Brooklyn surgical malpractice, Manhattan surgical malpractice and Long Island surgical malpractice cases.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Summer Brings Risk of Portable Pool Drowning for Children

A recent study conducted by investigators at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio looked at the 209 drowning deaths that occurred in the U.S. between 2001 and 2009 in children under the age of 12 involving above-ground pools.

The research team, led by Dr. Gary A. Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the hospital, found that on average, one child drowns in a portable swimming pool every five days in the U.S. The investigators also noted that these deaths involve not only large, deep swimming pools, but also smaller, shallow ones.

Experts warn parents that even small, inflatable pools can also pose a serious risk to their child’s safety, so it is important to take precautions with any size pool; not only deep in-ground and above-ground pools.

Dr. Smith and his group of investigators also found that children under 5 years of age have the greatest risk of drowning, with almost 95 percent of the over 200 cases they detailed falling in that age range. For that reason, parents of young children should be extra cautious when their child is in the vicinity of any pool. According to the study, more than 40 percent of these drowning deaths occurred while the child was under adult supervision and about 39 percent occurred while there was no adult supervision. The remaining 18 percent of the 209 drowning deaths occurred as a result of a lapse in supervision.

The study used data taken from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and will be published online in Pediatrics.

If your child’s drowning death was caused by another’s negligence, call or email the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for a free case evaluation. We have helped clients with Queens premises liability, Bronx premises liability, Brooklyn premises liability, Manhattan premises liability and Long Island premises liability matters.

Call toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Breast Cancer Survival Less Likely for Obese or Overweight Women

A recent study presented at the 93^rd annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in Boston has found that obese and overweight women have a lesser chance of surviving breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-positive, in which estrogen fuels the progression of the cancer.

The analysis included roughly 4,000 women from a separate study who had been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1995 and 2006. Researchers found that for women who were obese at the time of their diagnosis, meaning they had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, the risk of dying from breast cancer was almost 70 percent higher than that of normal weight women. For women who were considered overweight when diagnosed, meaning they had a BMI of 25 to 29, the increased risk of not surviving their cancer was the same as that of obese women.

Researchers found that a possible cause for this drop in the rate of breast cancer survival is that in overweight and obese women, the levels of estrogen in the blood are higher. For this reason, overweight and obese women should perform self breast exams regularly, and their doctors should screen them accordingly to catch any early signs of breast cancer.

If you or a loved one has breast cancer malpractice questions in New York City or Long Island, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today. Our experienced malpractice attorneys have handled many cases involving delays in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. Call our New York City medical malpractice lawyers today for a free consultation.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Risk of Premature Birth Drops with Flu Shot

Many prominent organizations, including the March of Dimes, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, recommend that women receive flu vaccinations while pregnant. In support of this recommendation, a recent study conducted by U.S. researchers has found that the risk of delivering prematurely, or before 37 weeks gestation, is significantly lowered when a woman receives a flu shot during flu season.

For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 4,000 deliveries in Georgia from June of 2004 to September of 2006. Of the women involved in the study, roughly 15 percent had received a flu shot while pregnant.

Researchers found that for vaccinated women who gave birth during flu season, which is generally from October to May, the risk of premature delivery dropped by 40 percent. Women who had received a flu shot and delivered during peak flu season (January and February) were 72 percent less likely to give birth prematurely.

A link was also found between flu vaccination and a decreased risk of delivering a baby with a low birth weight during flu season, although no association was found outside of flu season.

Babies born prematurely have a significantly higher risk of complications at birth. If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today for a free evaluation. We have helped clients with Queens birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Manhattan birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.

Disparities Found in Minority Stroke Management

In a report issued by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association and published in AHA journal Stroke on May 26^th, experts have found that treatment of a stroke differs between ethnic minorities and whites in the U.S.

According to Dr. Salvador Cruz-Flores, director of the Souers Stroke Institute at St. Louis University and lead author of the article, there are differences across the board when it comes to stroke management in minorities. Discrepancies are found in overall knowledge of symptoms and risk factors of stroke and wait times experienced at hospital emergency rooms, all the way through to rehabilitation of stroke patients.

Cruz-Flores’ report recommends new guidelines for minority stroke management in an attempt to adjust any differences in care, as well as improve stroke awareness in certain minority groups, especially since many stroke and heart disease risk factors are more prevalent in certain groups.

The report also calls for more available health insurance for ethnic minorities, as many groups do not benefit from advanced stroke management centers because they have deficient health insurance or no insurance at all.

A doctor or hospital’s failure to properly diagnose and treat a stroke is one of the most common medical malpractice errors in the country. If you or a loved one has been the victim of stroke malpractice, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. One of our experienced attorneys will evaluate your potential case for free and answer any questions you may have. We have helped clients with Bronx stroke malpractice, Queens stroke malpractice, Brooklyn stroke malpractice, Manhattan stroke malpractice and Long Island stroke malpractice. Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Study: Medication use during pregnancy becoming more common

According to research appearing in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology out of Boston University Schools of Public Health and Science, more than 80 percent of pregnant women were using at least one medication, either over-the-counter or prescription, by 2008.

Researchers, led by Dr. Allen A. Mitchell, also found that about 50 percent of pregnant women were taking some type of drug during the first trimester of their pregnancy. This data is alarming, as the risk of birth defects resulting from medication use is the most concerning at this stage of pregnancy.

The findings, which are based on data from two separate long-term studies on birth defects, also showed that about 30 percent of pregnant women were using some type of medication during the first trimester thirty years ago, suggesting a 20 percent increase over the past three decades.

The study is significant because in pregnant women, the safety of many drugs is unknown. Medication trials involving pregnant women are extremely rare because of the dangers of exposing pregnant women to medications that have unclear effects.

Often times, birth defects can be prevented, especially those caused by prescription medications administered during pregnancy. If your child was born with a birth defect that could have been prevented, or if your child was injured at birth, call or e-mail the medical malpractice lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today. One of our experienced attorneys will evaluate your case for free. We have helped clients with Queens birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Manhattan birth injury and Long Island birth injury matters.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Closures of Nearly 30% of U.S. ERs over Past 20 Years

A recent study conducted by Dr. Renee Y. Hsia, a University of California assistant professor of emergency medicine, has revealed that over the past two decades, almost 30 percent of emergency rooms in U.S. cities have closed.

Hsia and her colleagues looked at ER closure data from the American Hospital Association from 1990 to 2009. The research team then compared that data with Medicare reports, which detailed hospitals’ financial information, as well as insurance status of patients.

The study found that over these two decades there was a 27 percent decrease in the number of emergency rooms in U.S. cities, going from 2,446 ERs in 1990 to 1,770 in 2009. Over 1,000 ERs were shut down during the 20 year period, while less than 400 new emergency departments opened.

Hsia’s study also revealed that the number of ER visits in the U.S. jumped by 35 percent over the past two decades, despite the number of closures. This means that while more people required emergency medical treatment, there were fewer and fewer emergency departments to treat them, resulting in overcrowding in available ERs and longer wait times for medical attention.

Emergency department closures can cause significantly longer wait times at other ERs for patients waiting to be seen by a doctor. Many patients in need of immediate medical attention experience a delay because of ER and hospital overcrowding, which increases their risk of serious harm or death. If you or a loved one was seriously hurt or died as a result of a hospital’s failure to provide appropriate treatment, call the injury attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for a free consultation. We have helped clients with Brooklyn hospital malpractice, Bronx hospital malpractice, Queens hospital malpractice, Manhattan hospital malpractice and Long Island hospital malpractice fight for the justice they deserve.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM for more information.

Risk of Death Higher for Bowel Patients with Hospital Infection

According to a study published in the April 19^th issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, patients admitted to the hospital for treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have a considerably greater risk of dying if infected with Clostridium difficile, a bacteria that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two forms of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. The study found that patients with IBD are six times more likely to die if infected with C. difficile in while in the hospital than those who are not infected.

Researchers looked at data on IBD patients hospitalized between 2002 and 2008 and found that for those infected with C. difficile, the death rate was 25 percent. Those not infected with the bacteria had a considerably lower death rate of 3 percent. Researchers also found that IBD patients infected with C. difficile experienced a longer hospital stay than those not infected.

When a patient is on certain antibiotics, C. difficile bacteria can grow because the harmless bacteria in the body that would otherwise fight C. difficile have been eliminated by the antibiotics. Once C. difficile is discovered in a patient, the antibiotic responsible for the infection should be stopped, and in most cases, another antibiotic should be administered to treat the infection.

When a patient develops an infection in the hospital, many times the hospital can be at fault for failing to keep conditions properly sanitized. Many infections are preventable if proper guidelines are followed by doctors and other hospital staff. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or died as a result of a hospital-caused infection, call or e-mail the hospital malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys can answer your questions and evaluate your case free of charge. We have fought for clients with Bronx hospital malpractice, Queens hospital malpractice, Brooklyn hospital malpractice, Manhattan hospital malpractice and Long Island hospital malpractice cases.

Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

Hospital Mistakes More Frequent than Previously Thought

A recent study published in the April issue of Health Affairs has found that many errors made in U.S. hospitals are overlooked due to a flawed system of detecting mistakes.

For the study, researchers used the Global Trigger Tool, a new method in which a complete review of hospital medical records is performed. They found that the actual rate of error is ten times higher than suggested by earlier methods of error detection.

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recommends voluntary error reporting systems or coding systems that use patient charts to discover mistakes. However, these methods are not nearly as thorough as the Global Trigger Tool.

The research team used both methods when looking at roughly 800 patient records. They found that while the methods recommended by the AHRQ found only 35 errors within the evaluated charts, the Global Trigger Tool found 354 mistakes.

The most frequent mistakes found within the charts were medication errors, with surgical and non-surgical procedure errors and infection errors as the second and third most common mistakes.

Serious hospital errors can cause serious harm and even death. If you or a loved one was seriously hurt or died as a result of doctor or hospital negligence, call or email the injury attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for a free consultation. We have helped clients with Brooklyn hospital malpractice, Bronx hospital malpractice, Queens hospital malpractice, Manhattan hospital malpractice and Long Island hospital malpractice fight for the justice they deserve.

Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

Rate of Reports of Negative Drug Reactions Increases

According to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the number of official reports of bad reactions to prescription drugs has drastically risen over the past ten years.

Led by the University of Maryland’s Dr. Sheila Weiss-Smith, researchers looked at data from an FDA database which was introduced more than forty years ago. They found that more than half of the reports in this database that involved “adverse events” thought to be caused by medical products and medications were from the last decade.

Each year, the FDA receives about 500,000 reports of health problems and deaths caused by prescription drugs and other medical devices. Between 2000 and 2010, the rate of reports related to medical products increased by more than 11 percent each year. Over that ten year period, the number of reports totaled 2.2, which makes up roughly 55 percent of the entire database.

Dr. Weiss-Smith noted that it is not easy determining why the number of reports continues to grow. It is also difficult to approximate the exact number of problems caused by medical devices and drugs, since only manufacturers are required to report adverse effects to the FDA. Reports made by patients, doctors and other parties are on a voluntary basis and are not required by the FDA.

Unsafe medications and defective medical devices can cause serious injury and even death. If you or a loved one has been hurt by a negative reaction to medication or defective medical product, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Silberstein, Awad, & Miklos, P.C. have helped clients with Queens product liability, Brooklyn product liability, Bronx product liability, Manhattan product liability and Long Island product liability cases. Call today for your free case evaluation.

Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

Heart Attack Twice as Likely for TIA Patients

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic recently found that people who suffer a transient-ischemic attack (TIA) are twice as likely to suffer a heart attack later in life as those who have not experienced a TIA, which can also be referred to as a “mini stroke” or “warning stroke”.

For the study, researchers led by Dr. Robert D. Brown, Jr., a neurology department chair at the Mayo Clinic, looked at data on more than 450 patients who had suffered a TIA between 1985 and 1994. Of the group, which had an average age of 72, sixty-six percent had high blood pressure, according to their medical records. Researchers also found that more than 50 percent of the study group smoked, and 75 percent were taking medication to prevent blood clots.

The study, which was published in the March 24^th online issue of Stroke, found that people who had suffered a mini stroke had a 1 percent risk of experiencing a heart attack each year of the average ten years of follow-up; double that of a person who never had a TIA.

In addition, Brown and his research team found that the average time between a mini stroke and a heart attach was about 5 years. They also found that for people younger than 60 who had suffered a TIA, the risk of heart attack was 15 times greater than those who never had a mini stroke.

According to the American Heart Association, a TIA occurs when an artery is temporarily clogged by a blood clot, preventing part of the brain from receiving the blood it needs. Symptoms of a TIA are similar to that of a stroke, however, they are only temporary and resolve within minutes or a few hours. TIA symptoms should not be ignored and a suspected TIA should be treated immediately by medical professionals.

The American Heart Association provides these symptoms of TIA:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Stroke is the third leading killer in the U.S. following after heart disease and cancer. If a doctor or hospital failed to diagnose or appropriately treat your stroke, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. for your free case consultation. We have helped clients with Queens stroke malpractice, Bronx stroke malpractice, Brooklyn stroke malpractice, Manhattan stroke malpractice and Long Island stroke malpractice cases.

Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM (877-275-4726)

Multivitamins Do Not Lower Cancer, Heart Disease Risk

A recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology has found that taking a multivitamin does not lower the risk of cancer or heart disease death in older adults.

Song-Yi Park, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, along with her team of researchers, studied more than 82,000 men and almost 100,000 women with an average age of 60. The group included both multivitamin users and non-users.

Researchers looked at how many of the 180,000 people died over an 11 year period of follow-up, in addition to the cause of death. They found that death rates were the same for both multivitamin users and non-users, with 6 per 100 people dying from heart disease, 5 per 100 dying from cancer, and 4 per 100 dying from other causes.

According to the National Institutes of Health, doctors should only prescribe multivitamins to patients that require additional vitamins because they are unable to adequately absorb vitamins from food, or because they cannot consume enough food to get a sufficient amount of vitamins. This study suggests that multivitamins do not prevent cancer or heart disease-related deaths; although many multivitamin users believe they are lowering their risk of such diseases by taking them.

The American Cancer Society reports that cancer causes about 560,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, while heart disease is responsible for roughly 616,000 deaths. If you or a loved one was hurt or died as a result of delayed diagnosis or treatment of cancer or heart disease, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced medical malpractice lawyers will review your case free of charge and answer any questions you may have.

Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

New Recommendations for Car Seat Use

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should be kept in rear-facing car seats until they reach age two, or until height and weight specifications set by the manufacturer are met.

These new guidelines, which will be published in the April issue of Pediatrics, replace previous recommendations that suggested rear-facing car seats be used only for children less than one year of age or under 20 pounds.

The publication states that the death rates due to automobile accidents in children younger than 16 years of age dropped roughly 45 percent from 1997 to 2009, however, motor vehicle accidents still top the list as the leading cause of death in children 4 years and older.

Report author Dr. Dennis Durbin, a pediatric emergency physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, notes that in the event of an accident, rear-facing car seats provide better support to the spine, head and neck of infants and young children.

Durbin also points out that parents should not interpret the new guidelines to mean that their child should be placed in a front-facing car seat immediately after their second birthday. It is important to take into consideration a child’s height and weight, keeping toddlers that are small for their age in rear-facing car seats until the requirements set by the manufacturer are reached, and switching to front-facing car seats sooner for bigger children.

As for forward-facing car seat use, the new guidelines recommend these seats be used as long as possible until a child’s height and weight reach the maximums set by the car seat manufacturer. Booster seats, which keep the seatbelt in the proper position, should also be used until a child reaches a height of 4 feet 9 inches. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that children under age 13 ride in the backseat to lower their risk of injury should an accident occur.

The auto accident lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. have successfully represented hundreds of clients injured in collisions in New York City and Long Island. If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of crash, call or e-mail us today. One of our experienced auto collision attorneys will review your case free of charge.

Call us toll-free for your free consultation; 1-877-ASK4SAM

Understaffed Hospitals Mean More Patient Deaths

According to a recent study published in the March 17^th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, when hospitals are short nurses, patients have a higher risk of death.

Lead by Jack Needleman, a professor of health services at the University of California Los Angeles’ School of Public Health, the study's researchers examined nearly 200,000 admissions at a large hospital with high staffing goals. The admission time frame included roughly 177,000 shifts of nurses in 43 units at the hospital.

Needleman and the other authors of the study found that patient mortality rose by 2 percent when hospital units were understaffed. In addition, patients admitted to the hospital for the average three nursing shifts had a 6 percent greater risk of mortality when all three shifts were understaffed. When the hospital experienced a surge of admissions creating more of a demand for nurses, the risk of mortality rose 4 percent for patients.

Considering the findings of this study, researchers suggest that hospitals currently focused on cutting costs by short-staffing units reassess their goals to include patient safety as a priority. Needleman and his co-authors also recommend implementing new ways to handle admission and transfer surges so each patient can receive proper care.

An increased risk of death for patients as a result of hospital understaffing is a reality throughout the country. Many patients in need of immediate medical attention do not get the care and treatment they require because hospitals often fail to properly staff their units. If you or a loved one was seriously hurt or died as a result of hospital negligence, call or email the injury attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for a free consultation. We have helped clients with Brooklyn hospital malpractice, Bronx hospital malpractice, Queens hospital malpractice, Manhattan hospital malpractice and Long Island hospital malpractice fight for the justice they deserve.

Call us toll-free at 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit us online at www.ask4sam.net for more information.

Risk of Stroke, Heart Disease Lowered with Potassium Consumption

A recent study published online in this month's edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has found that people who consume more potassium have a reduced risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

The study, which was lead by Dr. Pasquale Strazzullo, a professor of medicine at Naples Medical School in Italy, analyzed 11 studies which included 247,510 people. Strazzullo and her research team looked at data about potassium and heart disease, and examined what the men and women recalled consuming in the past day.

Researchers found that those study participants who consumed 1.64 grams or more of potassium each day reduced their risk of stroke by 21 percent, as well as reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease. In other words, by eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, the risk of stroke and heart disease can be significantly lowered, according to Strazzullo.

Foods rich in potassium include fish, poultry, dairy, and fruits and vegetables, with sweet potatoes and tomato paste providing the most potassium, ounce for ounce.

If you or a loved one has had a heart attack or stroke and have questions about the quality of the medical care received, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. for answers. We have helped clients with Queens medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases. Together we will continue our fight against FRIVOLOUS DEFENSES and DECEPTIVE DEFENSES.

Free medical malpractice consultations in New York City and Long Island

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

New Weight-Gain Findings for Severely Obese Pregnant Women

According to a recent study, women who are extremely obese may not need to gain as much weight as current guidelines recommend for a healthy pregnancy and newborn.

The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, found that severely obese women who gained a lesser amount weight than recommended by the Institute of Medicine during their last two trimesters had no added risks.

Researchers also found, however, that pregnant women who were obese, overweight, normal weight or underweight did suffer problems when less weight was gained than guidelines advise. One risk of gaining less than the recommended amount of weight for women in these groups included giving birth to newborn that are undersized for their gestational age.

Alternatively, the study found that women in all categories who gained an excessive amount of weight in their second and third trimesters had a higher incidence of babies that were big for gestational age. Overweight women who gained more weight than recommended were also more likely to develop gestational diabetes, as well as deliver via induced labor and/or cesarean section.

Researchers included almost 74,000 women who gave birth to a single baby to arrive at their findings, which were presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s annual meeting. Of the women, 5 percent were morbidly obese, 6 percent were severely obese, 13 percent were obese, 24 percent were overweight, 48 percent were normal weight and 4 percent were underweight.

The findings imply that recommendations for necessary weight gain for obese pregnant women should be lowered to prevent possible complications.

Some complications during labor and delivery can cause serious harm or death. If your child has suffered a birth injury that may have been preventable, please call or e-mail the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for your free consultation. One of our experienced birth injury lawyers will evaluate your case and answer your questions.

Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Study: Stroke patients rarely receive tPA within 60-minute recommendation

Tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, is an FDA-approved drug which is administered to certain stroke patients to dissolve blood clots. It is recommended that stroke patients receive tPA within 60 minutes of arriving to the hospital to increase their chances of survival and recovery. However, a new study has found that only a small amount of patients receive the drug in the recommended window.

For the study, cardiovascular medicine professor Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow analyzed more than 25,000 ischemic stroke patients treated with tPA within three hours at 1,083 hospitals. All of these hospitals were participating in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines-Stroke program, which urges timely tPA treatment.

Dr. Fonarow found in his study that only about 26.6 percent of eligible stroke patients (6,790 patients) received tPA within the 60-minute window. Of the patients who did receive the drug within the recommended period, only about 8.5 percent died as a result of their stroke, while 10.4 percent of patients who experienced a delay in receiving tPA died.

In an effort to save more lives, Dr. Fonarow also warned family members against driving someone with stroke symptoms to the hospital themselves. Calling 911 for an ambulance allows for more immediate treatment and a better chance of recovery.

The failure to properly diagnose a stroke and treat it in time is a leading medical malpractice mistake in the country. If you or a loved one has been the victim of stroke malpractice, call the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for your free consultation. We have helped clients with Brooklyn stroke malpractice, Queens stroke malpractice, Bronx stroke malpractice, Manhattan stroke malpractice and Long Island stroke malpractice matters.

Call toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM

Increased Risk of Breast Cancer for Smokers

It is well known that smoking can greatly increase a person’s risk of developing many cancers, including lung, oral, esophageal, stomach, bladder and cervical cancer, among others. However, a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has found that for female smokers, the risk of developing breast cancer is also greater.

Lead researcher Karin Michels, Ph.D., along with her colleagues, analyzed roughly 30 years of records from the Nurses’ Health Study. The researchers used data on over 110,000 women who were included in this government-sponsored study.

Although the additional risk of developing breast cancer for female smokers was only about 6 percent compared to non-smokers, heavy smokers faced a 28 percent higher risk of developing the cancer. Researchers considered a heavy smoker someone who smoked one pack a day for no less than 30 years.

Of the 110,000 women involved in the study, a reported 8,772 women developed invasive breast cancer during the 30 year period. Michels and her colleagues also found that the risk of developing breast cancer was even higher for women who began smoking at a younger age. However, the risk for women who smoked following menopause was lower than that of non-smokers due to lower estrogen levels caused by both menopause and smoking.

According to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website, screening tests are the best way for women to lower their risk of dying from breast cancer. If a doctor or medical professional failed to diagnose or treat you or a loved one’s breast cancer, contact the cancer malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos. We have helped clients with Queens cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Manhattan cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice matters. Call today for your free evaluation. 1-877-ASK4SAM

Study: Many painkiller prescription errors caused by similar drug names

Each year, pharmaceutical errors harm numerous patients because the incorrect dosage or drug is given. Many prescription drugs have similar sounding or similar looking names, which can lead to errors when those prescriptions are being filled.

The Journal of Pain recently published a study in which researchers at Albany Medical Center in New York reviewed 714,290 orders for prescription painkillers in hospitals. They found that of those prescription orders, 2,044 errors were made, which included 449 potentially serious errors.

In addition, the research team found that errors occurred more often when pain medication was being prescribed for children, with 243 errors occurring in roughly 41,000 orders.

To reduce prescription errors, the researchers suggest computerizing order entries in hospitals, having pharmacists and hospital staff review each order, and reducing the number of similar prescription drugs.

Although many prescription errors do not result in long-term harm, some mistakes can cause serious injury or death. If you or a loved one has been harmed as a result of a pharmaceutical error, please contact our medical malpractice lawyers to discuss your legal rights. Our medical malpractice attorneys have been helping clients with Queens prescription error, Bronx prescription error, Brooklyn prescription error, Manhattan prescription error and Long Island prescription error matters for 30 years. Call us today do discuss your possibly case and have all of your questions answered.

1-877-ASK4SAM

Risk of Heart Disease Lowered along with Blood Pressure in Women

According to a report published in Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association, lowering blood pressure can significantly cut the risk of heart disease in middle-aged women.

For the study, researchers tracked roughly 9,400 men and women with an average age of 53 for about 11 years. The research team found that smoking, high cholesterol and high systolic blood pressure were to blame for 85 percent of reversible heart disease, with high systolic pressure being the main risk factor.

Systolic pressure is the pressure of the blood when the heart contracts. This is the first number in a blood pressure reading. High systolic pressure is risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

By lowering systolic blood pressure by 15 mm Hg in women with hypertension, or high blood pressure, about 40 percent can prevent cardiovascular disease, compared with only about 20 percent of men.

Researchers recommend that middle-aged women, and their doctors, treat high systolic blood pressure more vigorously to prevent the health risks that it causes. Failing to diagnose and treat high blood pressure can cause serious health problems and even death.

Heart disease is the number one killer in the nation, and failure to diagnose a heart attack is the number one medical malpractice mistake in our country. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice in New York City or Long Island, contact the medical malpractice attorneys at SILBERSTEIN, AWAD & MIKLOS today to schedule your free consultation. We have helped clients with Queens medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases for 30 years.

Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

Risk of Heart Disease Death Higher for Pre-1984 Breast Cancer Radiation Patients

A new study published in next week’s issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has found that surviving breast cancer patients who had been treated with radiotherapy prior to 1984 have a greater incidence of death caused by heart disease.

The study’s researchers determined this after analyzing data on almost 4,500 breast cancer patients who were treated for their cancer between 1954 and 1984 at a treatment center in France. Each woman included in the study was each evaluated for 28 years, on average.

Researchers looked at these women’s medical records and national registry information and determined that about two-thirds had received radiation treatment for their cancer. The team found that of the 2,637 women who survived their breast cancer, 421 died as a result of cardiovascular disease.

It was determined that for women who received radiation therapy in the specified time frame before 1984, the risk of dying from disease was 1.76 times higher than those women who were not treated with radiation.

A delay in diagnosing and treating breast cancer can allow the cancer to grow and spreads over time. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in the diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer and have questions about the quality of the medical care received, please call or email Silberstein, Awad & Miklos’ cancer malpractice lawyers for answers. We have helped clients with Queens breast cancer, Bronx breast cancer, Brooklyn breast cancer, Manhattan breast cancer and Long Island breast cancer malpractice for thirty years.

Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM

SE HABLA ESPANOL