Risk of Stroke Higher in Older Adults with Salty Diets

A study conducted over ten years and recently published in the journal Stroke reinforces the belief that high salt intake is a risk factor for stroke. Researchers interviewed almost 2,700 New Yorkers with an average age of 69, looking at their health and lifestyle, in addition to dietary questionnaires the participants completed.

The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that sodium intake be limited to no more than 1,500 milligrams a day. People that consume high levels of salt generally have increased blood pressure, which is a risk factor for stroke

The study found that those who consumed higher than recommended levels of sodium were almost three times more likely to suffer a stroke during the ten year study period than those whose sodium intake was within the suggested range.

Researchers also noticed that of the study participants, who were mostly black and Hispanic, many consumed much more salt than recommended. Of the 558 people that consumed 4,000 milligrams of sodium or more per day, 66 experienced a stroke over the duration of the study. Among the 320 that consumed 1,500 milligrams or less a day, only 24 experienced a stroke.

Many people are unaware of how much salt they are actually consuming on a daily basis, so it is important to read nutrition information labels on food before eating to avoid foods with excessive sodium content. The majority of sodium consumed by adults in the U.S. does not come from adding salt to foods, but from the prepared foods themselves.

It is important for physicians to be aware of any stroke risk factors their patients may have, including high sodium consumption and high blood pressure. According to the American Stroke Association, more than 137,000 people die each year from strokes, making it the fourth leading cause of death.

If you or a loved one was seriously hurt or died as a result of a stroke that was untimely treated or misdiagnosed, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys have helped clients with Brooklyn stroke malpractice, Bronx stroke malpractice, Queens stroke malpractice, Manhattan stroke malpractice and Long Island stroke malpractice matters.

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Study: Women more likely to have heart attack without chest pain

A recent study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that women are more likely than men to present to the hospital for a heart attack without having experienced chest pain or discomfort.

Researchers looked at the medical records of roughly 1.1 million heart attack patients that were included in a national database. The records included treatment from 1994 to 2006 at almost 2,000 hospitals. Their analysis found that while about 31 percent of male heart attack patients did not have chest pain or discomfort, about 42 percent of female patients experienced the same lack of symptoms. In younger women, no chest pain was even more common following a heart attack.

A lack of pain or discomfort can be extremely dangerous when it comes to a heart attack, as it can cause a delay in treatment and increase the risk of death. This also makes clear why women included in the study had a higher incidence of death compared to men , as many were unaware they were experiencing a heart attack and did not receive treatment early enough, if at all.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that each year, almost 800,000 people in the U.S. experience their first heart attack, and heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for men and women.

It is important to remember that aside from chest pain and discomfort, heart attack sufferers can also experience shortness of breath or pain in the jaw, neck, arms, stomach or back. Women who have a family history of heart disease, are smokers, or those with diabetes are predisposed to heart attacks. These women should be aware that there are more symptoms of a heart attack than just chest pain.

If you or a loved one ‘s experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of their heart attack resulting in serious injury or death, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos for a free consultation today. We have helped clients with Bronx cardiac malpractice, Brooklyn cardiac malpractice, Queens cardiac malpractice, Manhattan cardiac malpractice and Long Island cardiac malpractice cases.

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Teen Girls Twice as Likely to Use Cell Phones or Other Electronic Devices While Driving

A study recently released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that teen girls are twice as likely as teen boys to use an electronic device, including cell phones, while driving. Girls are also almost ten percent more likely to engage in other distracting behaviors while behind the wheel. Teen boys were found to be twice as likely as girls to turn around in their seats, and were also more likely to talk to people outside of their cars while driving.

Researchers involved in the study looked at in-car video clips of unsupervised new teen drivers in North Carolina. The videos revealed that the most common distractions for both genders were cell phone use, including texting, personal grooming, and reaching for things within the car. Cell phone use was observed in about 7 percent of the video clips. Fifteen percent of the videos showed some other type of distraction while driving, such as eating or drinking, personal grooming or adjusting car controls.

The study found that when teen drivers had a group of passengers in their car as opposed to one passenger, horseplay and loud conversation was far more likely to occur. Older teens were found to be more prone to distracted driving. Researchers believe that as teens become more comfortable behind the wheel, they are more likely to engage in distracted behaviors while driving.

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S., making it extremely important that teens understand the dangers of distracted driving. Parents should educate their teen about the hazards of distracted driving. If you or a loved one was injured as a result of another driver’s negligence, call or email the automobile accident attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will evaluate your case for free any answer any questions you may have. We have helped clients with Queens auto accident, Bronx auto accident, Brooklyn auto accident, Manhattan auto accident and Long Island auto accident cases.

Potency of Some Cancer Drugs Reduced when Combined with Common Medications

A study recently presented at a meeting of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics has found that many patients taking oral cancer drugs are also taking other medications that may either lower the effectiveness or increase the harmful side effects of the cancer drug.

The research, conducted by Medco Health Solutions, included pharmacy claims of roughly 11,600 patients who were taking one of nine kinase inhibitors, or oral cancer drugs. The drugs included Nexavar, Gleevec, Tasigna, Sutent, Tarceva, Sprycel and Tykerb.

Of the patients taking Gleevec, a drug used for leukemia, 43 percent were also taking another medication that could possibly lower the potency of the cancer drug. Sixty-eight percent were also taking a drug that could increase the level of toxicity of Gleevec.

The types of medications that were found to cause potentially dangerous effects when combined with the cancer drugs included proton pu,p inhibitor (PPI) heartburn drugs (i.e. Nexium and Prevacid), calcium channel blockers used for blood pressure and the heart, and certain antibiotics, antifungal treatments and steroids.

In most cases, the cancer drugs were prescribed to patients by their oncologists, and the other medications were prescribed by the patient’s primary care physician. Study authors stressed the importance of communication between the patient’s doctors. Better physician communication can help prevent dangerous combinations of prescription drugs, improving overall patient safety.

When physicians negligently prescribe a drug that has a bad interaction with another medication, patients can be seriously hurt. If you or a loved one were harmed by a doctor’s negligence, call or email the prescription malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos. We have over 30 years of experience helping clients with medical malpractice and personal injury matters. Call or email us today to discuss your possible Bronx medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice or Long Island medical malpractice case.
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Many Local Hospitals Receive Low Rating by Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports recently released their list of the 50 worst hospitals in the nation, with 30 local medical centers landing themselves among lowest rated.

The report rated hospitals based on the number of patients readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, the number of patients that developed an infection while at the hospital, and the quality of instructions given regarding medication and discharge. Report authors used these criteria to rate 1,045 of the over 4,000 hospitals nationwide.

Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx received the lowest score in New York, followed by Nassau University Medical Center on Long Island. The 30 lowest-scoring area hospitals were ranked as follows:

1. Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY
2. Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY
3. Forest Hills Hospital, Forest Hills, NY
4. St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Yonkers, NY
5. St. John’s Riverside Hospital, Yonkers, NY
6. Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
7. Lawrence Hospital Center, Bronxville, NY
8. Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY
9. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Jamaica, NY
10. Coney Island Hospital, Brooklyn, NY
11. Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
12. New York Westchester Square Medical Center, Bronx, NY
13. Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Flushing, NY
14. St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY
15. Sound Shore Medical Center of Westchester, New Rochelle, NY
16. Lincoln Hospital, Bronx, NY
17. New York Community Hospital, Brooklyn, NY
18. St. Michael’s Medical Center, Newark, NJ
19. St. John’s Episcopal Hospital – South Shore, Far Rockaway, NY
20. Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
21. New York Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY
22. JFK Medical Center, Edison, NJ
23. Harlem Hospital Center, New York, NY
24. Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY
25. New York Hospital Queens, Flushing, NY
26. Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ
27. Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center, Patchogue, NY
28. Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY
29. St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, NY
30. Mercy Medical Center, Rockville Centre, NY

New York’s highest scoring hospital was NYU Langone Medical Center; however it was still reported to be 10 percent below the national average for patient safety.

Although many hospitals disputed the report, stating that the ratings were misleading, as they were based on outdated information, it still raises concern about the safety of patients being treated in New York area hospitals.

When a hospital provides substandard care, they put their patients at risk of serious injury or death. If you or a loved one has been hurt by the negligence of a doctor or hospital in New York, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos today for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys have been helping clients with Bronx medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases for over 30 years.

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Higher Risk of Blood Clots for Cancer Outpatients

According to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, cancer patients that that have been treated with chemotherapy usually develop blood clots following hospital discharge, and not while still admitted.

The study, which examined almost 18,000 cancer patients over about four years, revealed that outpatients made up 78 percent of the 5.6 percent that developed blood clots. When a blood clot, or venous thromboembolism (VTE), occurs, red blood cells, clotting proteins and platelets form a mass, preventing blood flow.

Roughly one in five cancer patients develops a blood clot following their diagnosis, and the report points out that once a cancer patient develops a blood clot, it is more likely that they will develop others. Cancer outpatients need to be at the center of blood clot prevention efforts, as they are more likely to develop a clot than those patients still admitted to the hospital.

Many cancer patients need to be educated on the importance of blood clot prevention, as well as on preventive treatment they can receive if they are at risk of a clot. If a cancer patient has symptoms of a clot, such as swelling of the limbs or shortness of breath, they should contact their physician immediately.

If a blood clot goes undiagnosed, it can cause serious complications or death. If you or a loved one was hurt by doctor or hospital negligence, call or email the medical malpractice attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys have helped clients with Bronx medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases.

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Survey: ER visits result in infection for some elderly patients

A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has found that elderly adults in long-term care facilities that were recently treated in a hospital emergency room are three times more likely to develop a gastrointestinal or respiratory infection than those not recently seen in an ER.

For the study, researchers looked at about 1,270 seniors who lived in 22 long-term care facilities located in four Canadian cities between September 2006 and May 2008. The study focused on emergency room visits in the fall, winter and spring months, since respiratory and gastrointestinal infection rates are higher at these times than in the summer.

During the nearly two year study, about 425 of the seniors included in the study were treated at a hospital emergency room for something other than a gastrointestinal or acute respiratory problem. The rest of the seniors in the study were not seen at an ER.

The research found that those who were seen at a hospital emergency room were roughly three times as likely to develop a gastrointestinal or acute respiratory infection in the week after their visit.

In some cases, infections are not preventable and do not occur as a result of hospital negligence. However, some infections can be avoided and it is the responsibility of the hospital to prevent their patients from developing such infections.

If you or a loved one has acquired a serious infection while in a hospital and have questions about the quality of the medical care received, please call Silberstein, Awad & Miklos' hospital malpractice lawyers for answers. We have helped clients with Queens hospital malpractice, Bronx hospital malpractice, Brooklyn hospital malpractice, Manhattan hospital malpractice and Long Island hospital malpractice matters.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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