ICU Patients Benefit From Early Exercise

According to a study conducted by Dr. John Kress of the University of Chicago and his research team, waking critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) for short periods of physical therapy may help them in the future. In their study, Kress and his colleagues included 104 patients who were on mechanical ventilators for 72 hours. These patients were expected to require the ventilators for another 24 hours. Before their final 24 hours of ventilation, 49 of the patients had their sedation interrupted and received early exercise and mobilization, while the other 55 received standard care and treatment. Kress and his team followed each patient’s “independent functional status” after discharge, which included their ability to walk without assistance and to carry out six everyday tasks. The researchers found that of the group that received early exercise, 59 percent were able to complete those goals within their four week follow-up. Of the group that received standard care, only about 35 percent were able to walk unaided and execute the six tasks in the four week period. In addition, researchers found that this early exercise shortened the length of time patients required a ventilator and reduced the rate of delirium episodes by 50 percent.

The study, which was published in the online edition of The Lancet, suggests that brief physical therapy for critically ill patients provided early on in ICU may lead to better outcomes for those patients. The immobilization associated with long-term sedation, which is common in ICU, can often cause complications such as weakness and neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia and depression. Interrupting this sedation and mobilizing the patient in the earliest days of their illness can improve their capabilities during recovery and their overall quality of life later on. Critically ill patients require the constant care of doctors and other health care professionals. If you or a loved one was injured by hospital medical malpractice in the New York area, call or e-mail our malpractice attorneys today for a free consultation with an experienced attorney. We serve clients with Bronx hospital malpractice, Brooklyn hospital malpractice, Queens hospital malpractice, Nassau hospital malpractice and Suffolk hospital malpractice cases.

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Increased Risk of Cardiac Death for Patients Taking Psychiatric Drugs

According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac death, also known as sudden arrest, is death resulting from an abrupt loss of heart function, or cardiac arrest. A heart attack causes heart muscle tissue to die because of a loss of blood supply and may or may not result in cardiac arrest or death. Heart attacks can cause cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death, but the terms are not interchangeable. One recent study conducted by Dr. Jussi Honkola, a researcher at the University of Oulu in Finland has found that people who suffered fatal cardiac arrest were more likely to have taken psychiatric drugs than people who survived a heart attack. For the study, Honkola and colleagues looked at the medications being taken by the 321 patients that had died as a result of sudden arrest and compared them with the medications being taken by 609 heart attack survivors. They found that almost 11 percent of the people who experienced sudden cardiac death had been taking antipsychotic drugs, compared with only 1.4 percent of those who survived a heart attack. Of the victims of sudden cardiac death, 7.4 percent had been taking an antidepressant, while only about 3 percent of the other group had been taking drugs to treat depression. Benzodiazepines, which are antianxiety drugs, were being taken by18.4 percent of those who experienced sudden cardiac death and just 5 percent of those who survived a heart attack.

The research team, led by Dr. Honkola, also found that more people in the surviving group were more likely to take aspirin and beta blockers, which reduce blood pressure. The study, which was presented at the Heart Rhythm Society’s annual meeting in Boston, did not reveal which psychiatric drugs were examined by the researchers. In addition, the findings did not clearly show whether or not these drugs directly caused any problems and there was no indication that anyone taking these psychiatric drugs should switch medications. The American Heart Association states that brain death and permanent death start to occur in just four to six minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest. If you or a loved one has experienced a serious injury or death as a result of a delay in diagnosis or treatment of a heart problem, call or e-mail the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. We serve clients with Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpratice, Queens medical malpracitce, Nassau medical malpractice and Suffolk medical malpractice cases. We also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

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Prostate Cancer Therapy Increases Risk of Fatal Cardiovascular Disease, Bone Problems

A recent study conducted by Lockwood Taylor, a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, and colleagues, has found that men being treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for their prostate cancer have a greater risk of developing heart and bone problems. According to the American Cancer Society, the treatment is a hormone therapy that lowers a man’s levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. These male hormones are produced mainly in the testicles and encourage the growth of prostate cancer cells, so lowering their levels helps shrink or slow the growth of those cancerous cells. For the study, Taylor and his team reviewed 14 past studies from 1966 to 2008 that looked at the skeletal and cardivascular side effects of ADT as a treatment for prostate cancer. The researchers found that the risk of overall fracture was 23 percent higher for men with prostate cancer being treated with ADT than those not receiving the treatment. They also found that men with prostate cancer being treated with ADT were 17 percent more likely to die from fatal cardiovascular disease than those with prostate cancer that were not getting ADT. Of the 14 previous studies that were reviewed, 2 of the larger studies indicated that patients receiving ADT also had a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Although the study found a significant increase in the risk of developing these side effects for prostate cancer patients taking ADT, Taylor noted that the absolute risks are still very low. Patients on androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer should be monitored for changes in bone density and risk factors for cardiovascular problems by their doctors. If markers of a heart problem do arise, doctors will then be able to provide additional treatments to correct those problems and prevent further damage. Taylor's study supports previous findings related to ADT side effects and may help prevent serious problems for prostate cancer patients receiving the treatment. As with most treatments that come with side effects, a patient and their physician must determine whether or not the benefits of the treatment outweigh the risk of potentially harmful side effects. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 27,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year. If you or a loved one has had a delay in diagnosing cancer and have questions about the quality of the medical care you received please call Silberstein, Awad & Miklos' cancer malpractice attorneys for answers. Together we will continue our fight against FRIVOLOUS DEFENSES and DECEPTIVE DEFENSES. We offer free consultations to clients with Manhattan cancer malpractice, Bronx cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Queens cancer malpractice and Long Island cancer malpractice cases.

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Enlarged Area of the Brain Linked to Autism

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina has found that toddlers with autism are more likely to have an enlarged amygdala than children without the disability. The amygdala is a region of the brain associated with emotions and facial recognition, as well as other functions. The research team, led by Dr. Joseph Piven, found that this enlargement of the amygdala is linked to a person’s ability to share attention and experiences with other people. For the study, Piven and his team performed MRI scans on 50 children with autism and 33 children without the condition. At 2 and 4 years of age, the children involved in the study had brain scans and researchers tested certain behavioral components of autism. Piven and his team found that at 2 years old, autistic children were more likely to have an enlarged amygdala. When the researchers followed up with the children at 4 years of age, they found that this brain abnormality was stable over the period of time since they were last evaluated.

Researchers also found an enlarged amygdala was associated with joint attention, an ability where a child would be able to take cues from an adult, such as following a gaze or pointing gestures, to observe an object or event. A child’s development of joint attention occurs between 9 and 15 months of age, with most autistic children never developing this ability, resulting in a dysfunctional in social behavior and language problems. Researchers found no link between the size of a child’s amygdala and other social behaviors, including social gestures and repetitive behavior. The findings of the study, which were published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, may allow for earlier detection and intervention of autism. If you believe your child's autism was caused by a doctor's negligence, call or e-mail the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. Our Manhattan birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Queens birth injury and Long Island birth injury attorneys will evaluate your case at no charge to you. Call or submit and instant inquiry today for your FREE consultation.

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Whites More Likely to Experience Stroke Risk Factor

A recent study has found that atrial fibrillation, a stroke risk factor where the upper two chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating normally, is more likely to occur in whites than blacks. However, risk factors such as high blood pressure are more prevalent among blacks. The study, led by Dr. Kan Fang, looked at data on 110,333 white patients, 65,657 black patients and 20,114 patients whose race was not specified. Each of the nearly 200,000 study participants had made at least two clinical visits in 2007 to the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Of the black study participants, about 42 percent had high blood pressure, while about 29 percent of white participants had high blood pressure. About 17 percent of blacks involved in the study had diabetes, a risk factor for the heart arrhythmia, compared with about 12 percent of whites. Although both high blood pressure and diabetes were more prevalent among blacks, they still experienced a 50 percent lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation, with 1.2 percent of blacks and 2.5 percent of whites experiencing the arrhythmia.

Atrial fibrillation, which is one of the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmias in the United States, is experienced by about 2.2 million people in the country. The heart arrhythmia is a risk factor for stroke because it creates an abnormal rhythm which causes the heart to beat less effectively. This decrease in the heart’s performance allows blood to pool and clot in the two upper chambers of the heart, known as the atria, increasing the risk of stroke. The risk of atrial fibrillation is higher in men and increases with age. High blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are also risk factors for the heart arrhythmia. If you or a loved one has been the victim of stroke malpractice in New York as a result of a delay in diagnosis or treatment, call or e-mail the malpractice lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. Our firm serves clients with Brooklyn stroke malpractice, Bronx stroke malpractice, Manhattan stroke malpractice, Queens stroke malpractice, Nassau stroke malpractice and Suffolk stroke malpractice cases. Call today for your FREE consultation.

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Knowing the Difference Between Heartburn and Heart Attack

When a person has heartburn, they experience a burning sensation below or behind the breastbone from stomach acid that moves up into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort. Heartburn sufferers usually take either antacids or H-2-receptor blockers, such as Zantac, Pepcid and Tagamet, to get relief from their symptoms. However, many people are not completely sure if they are simply experiencing heartburn or something more serious, like a heart attack. For those who have been diagnosed with heart disease and also have heartburn, it is difficult to determine whether they should see a doctor or just take a heartburn medication for their symptoms. Patients with frequent heartburn should consult a doctor to make sure that is what is really occurring, find what is causing the problem and rule other heart-related problems. Since heartburn and heart trouble such as a heart attack can have similar symptoms, it can be tricky to tell one from the other. It may be helpful for a person to pay attention to their pattern of heartburn and figure out what foods or other factors cause symptoms. Knowing what triggers their heartburn will help them rule out other causes for the symptoms they are experiencing. People that experience heartburn and have not consumed any of the foods that normally cause their symptoms should be seen by a doctor to exclude heart problems as the cause of what they are feeling.

Another way a person can know when heartburn is the cause of that burning sensation is by paying attention to when they experience heartburn. In most cases, heartburn sufferers are affected 30 to 45 minutes after eating a meal or after consuming specific foods or drinks. So, if something that feels like heartburn occurs around these times, that is probably all it is. If heartburn becomes severe enough to interfere with a person’s quality of life, they should seek medical treatment for their symptoms. If a person experiences difficulty or pain when swallowing, loss of appetite, or throws up blood, they should see a doctor immediately, since these symptoms can be indicative of esophageal damage or cancer. For those who have no past history of heartburn and begin experiencing heartburn for the first time, an evaluation by a doctor should take place to rule out other problems, especially if that person has high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a family history of heart problems, diabetes, or smokes cigarettes. A doctor should also be seen if heartburn is experienced during exercise or physical exertion, comes with other symptoms such as arm pain or shortness of breath, or if severe heartburn does not lessen or go away after taking medication. If you or a loved one has experienced a delay in diagnosis or treatment of a serious heart problem, please call or e-mail the personal injury attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. We serve clients with Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice, Manhattan medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice and Long Island medical malpractice cases. We also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

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Preventive Measures to Avoid Head and Neck Injuries

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year almost 1.5 million people in the U.S. are treated in emergency rooms for head injuries and almost 12,000 are treated for neck fractures. Although most head injuries are minor and do not require hospitalization, severe head trauma affecting the brain can result in permanent impairment and even death. Neck injuries can also result in temporary or permanent disability, depending on the seriousness of the damage. Many injuries to the head and neck are caused by sports or other recreational activities where contact with other people or equipment is involved. However, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), these types of injuries can also result from outdoor products used on an regular basis, including playground equipment, lawn mowers, ladders, garden hoses, sprinklers and garden ornaments. Aside from sports-related injuries, the top ten causes of outdoor head injuries included:

• Ladders
• Porches, balconies or open sided floors
• Swings and swing sets
• Fences and fence posts
• Workshops (including hand and power tools and supplies)
• Playground climbing equipment and monkey bars
• Trampolines
• Slides, seesaws and teeterboards
• Other playground equipment
• Garage doors
  

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons suggest several easy ways to prevent head and neck injuries from these common causes. The association recommends that people remove debris from walkways, driveways, porches and yards, and from lawns before mowing or gardening. The AANS also advises people to store outdoor equipment and tools properly, make sure ladders are stable and secure before use and avoid using tools and equipment that are broken or not working properly. Installing outdoor handrails can prevent falls on stairs, porches and balconies, especially if children or elderly adults live in the home. Children should be kept off of playgrounds with hard surfaces and should not take part in activities that are too advanced for their age range. As a basic rule, parents or adults in charge should always supervise young children at all times to avoid potentially dangerous situations. To avoid head and neck injuries related to swimming pools, adults and children should not dive into above-ground pools or into water less than 12 feet deep. Children should also be required to wear helmets when riding a bicycle, rollerblading, skateboarding or doing some other sport on wheels. Helmets should also be worn when riding on all-terrain or other powered recreational vehicles. If you or a loved one have been seriously hurt by a delay in diagnosis or treatment of a traumatic head or neck injury, call or e-mail the brain injury attorneys in New York City at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. for your free case evaluation. We serve clients with Bronx medical malpractice, Queens medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Long Island medical malpractice and Manhattan medical malpractice cases.

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