Baby-brained Lynn—a reference to present uterine cf. cerebral capacity—has tagged me to propagate a blog meme.
Continue reading 'A meme of eight random things'
Tag archive for 'health'
We took a couple of days between Anzac Day and the weekend to make a short holiday on the Wanganui River. At the place we stayed we were presented with meals that were impossibly huge, a diet that would super-size us in no time. In 2002-2003 one in three adult New Zealanders was overweight (excludes obese) and one in five adults was obese (MOH). Some people are quick to ascribe their weight problem (if they identify it as such) to extrinsic factors, such as genetics, time or financial constraints, marketing, or poor social support. However you rationalise it, being overweight or obese comes down to simple mathematics. The only certainty among all the theories is that energy and mass are interchangeable.
Continue reading 'Obesity arithmetic'
Public health doctors are apparently "hopeless" at using traditional media (BMJ 2003;327(7422):1056); it's probable that their use of new media is even worse. WhoIsSick have come up with the idea to use Google Maps to track illnesses in local communities. Perhaps this is something that public health physicians should explore as a means to both inform populations about disease patterns and for encouraging their participation in reporting?
Continue reading 'Google maps and public health surveillance'
As reported by the BBC, a general practice in Wales has begun using YouTube to distribute health information videos. The Builth and Llanwrtyd Medical Practice has thus far uploaded videos relating to inhaler technique and spacer devices in respiratory disease, having a smear, and blood sugar testing in diabetes.
Continue reading 'YouTube health videos'
I'm overdue for a rant, damn it—I've got intermittent explosive disorder (IED) don't you know? Oh, and while we're on the subject of your knowledge, you do realize it's your fault, doctor, that since you won't give me codeine I have to steal to do drugs? I know I smoke doc, but what are you going to do about my chest? But I don't eat too much. I hit her because I was having some sort of seizure—can you give me something for it? Well, it's like this: I can't afford to keep my house tidy. I've had a bad day; can I have Prozac? Familiar?
Continue reading 'The medicalisation of (anti-)social behaviour'
As reported by the BBC, the Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust are providing MP3-based first aid advice on how to deal with common and potentially serious situations (such as fits, collapses and resuscitation). This joins first aid advice available as a podcast on the iTunes Music Store by St. John's Ambulance.
Continue reading '999 advice on your iPod'
