Medical latest news Artificial intelligence-based risk score improves personalized care for women with heart attacks

Heart attacks in women are more likely to be fatal than in men. The reasons are differences in age and in comorbidity burden which makes risk assessment in women a challenge. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now developed a novel artificial intelligence-based risk score that improves personalized care for female patients with heart attacks. Heart attacks are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and women who suffer a heart attack have a higher mortality rate than men. This has been a matter of concern to cardiologists for decades and has led to controversy in the medical field about the causes and effects of possible gaps in treatment. The problem starts with the symptoms: unlike men, who usually experience chest pain with radiation to the left arm, a heart attack in women often manifests as abdominal pain radiating to the back or as nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are unfortunately often misinterpreted by the patients and healthcare personnel - with disastrous consequences. Risk profile and clinical picture is different in women An international research team led by Thomas F. Lüscher, professor at the Center for Molecular Cardiology at the University of Zurich (UZH), has now investigated the role of biological sex in heart attacks in more detail. Indeed, there are notable differences in the disease phenotype observed in females and males. Our study shows that women and men differ significantly in their risk factor profile at hospital admission." Thomas F. Lüscher, Professor at the Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich When age differences at admission and existing risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes are disregarded, female heart-attack patients have higher mortality than male patients. "However, when these differences are taken into account statistically, women and men have similar mortality," the cardiologist adds. Current risk models favor under-treatment of female patients Related Stories Sacubitril/valsartan does not change cognitive function in patients with heart failure AI proves to be more accurate in diagnosing cardiac function than sonographers Using human tissue models to improve treatment and diagnosis of heart attacks In their study, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, researchers from Switzerland and the United Kingdom analyzed data from 420,781 patients across Europe who had suffered the most common type of heart attack. "The study shows that established risk models which guide current patient management are less accurate in females and favor the undertreatment of female patients," says first author Florian A. Wenzl of the Center for Molecular Medicine at UZH. "Using a machine learning algorithm and the largest datasets in Europe we were able to develop a novel artificial- intelligence-based risk score which accounts for sex-related differences in the baseline risk profile and improves the prediction of mortality in both sexes," Wenzl says. AI-based risk profiling improves individualized care Many researchers and biotech companies agree that artificial intelligence and Big Data analytics are the next step on the road to personalized patient care. "Our study heralds the era of artificial intelligence in the treatment of heart attacks," says Wenzl. Modern computer algorithms can learn from large data sets to make accurate predictions about the prognosis of individual patients - the key to individualized treatments. Thomas F. Lüscher and his team see huge potential in the application of artificial intelligence for the management of heart disease both in male and female patients. "I hope the implementation of this novel score in treatment algorithms will refine current treatment strategies, reduce sex inequalities, and eventually improve the survival of patients with heart attacks - both male and female," says Lüscher. Source: University of Zurich Journal reference: Wenzl, F.A., et al. (2022) Sex-specific evaluation and redevelopment of the GRACE score in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes in populations from the UK and Switzerland: a multinational analysis with external cohort validation. The Lancet. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01483-0. Be the first to rate this article

Medical latest news Increased incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in young Americans

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), which include preeclampsia, eclampsia, and hypertension, are leading causes of mortality and morbidity in pregnant individuals. As a result, HDP has become a significant health crisis among pregnant individuals in the United States. Recent data indicates that HDP is an important risk-enhancing factor of cardiovascular disease. HDP has been shown to increase the risk of heart failure by two- to four-fold in pregnant women. Study: Association of Birth Year of Pregnant Individuals With Trends in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in the United States, 1995-2019. Image Credit: Compoo Suriyo / Shutterstock.com Background In the past decade, the rate of HDP has almost doubled to 8% of pregnant women. The highest incidence of HDP has been reported among non-Hispanic American Indians, non-Hispanic Black individuals, and Alaska Native individuals. Although pregnant individuals’ age at their first birth is a risk factor for HDP, a recent study has shown that women of all ages are increasingly affected by this condition. This observation strongly indicates that factors aside from age contribute to the incidence of HDP. A recent JAMA Network Open study performed an age-period-cohort analysis to investigate the independent relationship between the age of pregnant women at delivery, the birth year of pregnant individuals (cohort), and year of delivery (period) with new onset of HDP among nulliparous individuals. About the study A total of 38,771,194 nulliparous individuals between the ages of 15 and 44 were identified between 1995 and 2019. Individuals without enough relevant data on HDP and pre-pregnancy hypertension were excluded from the cohort. Finally, 38,141,561 individuals were included, of which 20.2% were Hispanic, 6.5% non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander, 0.8% non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaskan Native, 57.8% non-Hispanic White, and 13.9% non-Hispanic Black. Study findings The cohort analysis revealed that the incidence of new-onset HDP was higher in pregnant women of an older age at delivery, in more recent periods, and in more recent birth years of pregnant individuals. Compared to nulliparous pregnant individuals born in the 1950s, those born in the 1990s and 2000s had a higher incidence of HDP, even after adjusting for age at delivery. A persistent occurrence of HDP, irrespective of age, birth cohort, and delivery period, was observed among self-identified non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black individuals. In addition, a significant increase in HDP incidence in these groups was reported from 2010 to 2019. The study findings add to previously published data by establishing an independent relationship between a birth cohort of pregnant women and the incidence of HDP among nulliparous individuals in the U.S. between 1995 and 2019. Although the current study did not identify factors responsible for the incidence of HDP in younger pregnant women, it highlighted some possible contributing factors. For example, pregnant women with a history of cardiovascular disease were at an increased risk of developing HDP. This factor also increased mortality and morbidity rates, as well as the risk of cardiovascular health issues for the offspring. The cohort analysis also revealed a tendency for greater onset of new HDP among older and non-Caucasian pregnant individuals at delivery. A previous Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Study reported that individuals with a cardiovascular health issue at a mean gestational age of 28 weeks are nine times more susceptible to developing preeclampsia as compared to those without cardiovascular disease. Among cardiovascular health-related issues, the incidence of obesity has significantly increased from 6.2% between 1976-1980 to 32.7% between 2017 and 2018. However, the population-attributable fraction for HDP associated with obesity has not changed considerably between 2011 and 2019. This suggests that obesity could partially contribute to the incidence of HDP. More research using pregnancy-specific cohorts with long-term follow-up is needed to understand the association between obesity and HDP better. Study limitations The potential misdiagnosis of new-onset HDP from the National Vitals Statistics System (NVSS) records were noted. However, due to the inclusion of individuals who experienced preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, issues associated with the change of HDP definition were sorted. As the study is ecological in nature, the potential risk factors for HDP were not identified. Conclusions Elevated rates of HDP in younger pregnant individuals from more recent generations have increased the urgency to develop effective strategies to prevent adverse clinical outcomes. Studies such as the current one have increased awareness among practitioners about the prevalence of HDP in younger generations to ensure that proper preventive measures are advised. Early assessment of cardiovascular health and the initiation of effective treatments prior to an individual’s first pregnancy could be an effective strategy for reducing the incidence of HDP. Multidisciplinary experts, including primary care physicians, obstetrician-gynecologists, and cardiologists, must work together to develop strategies for the optimal management of HDP risk factors before, during, and after pregnancy. Journal reference: Cameron, N. A., Petito, L. C., Shah, N. S., et al. (2022) Association of Birth Year of Pregnant Individuals With Trends in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in the United States, 1995-2019. JAMA Network Open 5(8). doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.28093 Be the first to rate this article Posted in: Medical Research News | Medical Condition News | Women's Health News Tags: Cardiovascular Disease, Eclampsia, Heart, Heart Failure, Hyperglycemia, Misdiagnosis, Mortality, Obesity, Pregnancy, Primary Care, Research Comments (0) Dr. Priyom Bose Written by Dr. Priyom Bose Priyom holds a Ph.D. in Plant Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Madras, India. She is an active researcher and an experienced science writer. Priyom has also co-authored several original research articles that have been published in reputed peer-reviewed journals. She is also an avid reader and an amateur photographer.

medical latest news Tattoos can induce bloodstream infections

A recent Medicina Clinica review paper describes the characteristics of systemic bacterial infections associated with tattoos. These adverse effects can be avoided by maintaining strict hygiene while performing a tattoo. Background The practice of tattooing has been documented in ancient literature since the Neolithic period. By the 18th century, tattoos were introduced to Western culture. According to recent estimates, over 20 million Americans and 100 million Europeans have tattoos. Tattooing is a painful process that involves the introduction of artificial pigment under the skin. If not performed hygienically, tattoos can induce various health complications, including immune and inflammatory reactions, infections, and chronic skin defects such as dermatoses. Between 2% and 27% of individuals experience some sort of discomfort after having a tattoo, with 0.5-6% developing skin infections. In the current systematic review, scientists screen and analyze tattoo adversity-related studies to identify the causative pathogens associated with severe or fatal systemic infections. Study design The scientists searched articles in the PubMed database that were published between 2009 and 2019. Any studies describing tattoo-related systemic infections in humans were included in the final analysis. The pathogens identified in these studies were compared with a literature search without year restriction. Tattoo-related systemic infection was defined as any pathogen invading the skin with or without spreading to other organs. Important observations The final analysis included a total of 17 studies. In contrast to the historical literature, none of the selected studies reported the development of systemic tuberculosis, syphilis, or viral infections after performing a tattoo. Related Stories Does Langya virus pose a spillover threat? UK survey reveals outlook of the public towards health information circulating during the 2022 monkeypox virus outbreak A leather-based in vitro model for determining the effect of cosmetics on skin microbes Several sporadic cases of Mycobacterium leprae, which is the bacteria that causes leprosy, were identified in India. Additionally, several cases of lymph node enlargement due to non-tuberculosis mycobacteria, which do not cause tuberculosis or leprosy, were identified. The most commonly identified non-tuberculosis mycobacteria included Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium abscessus, and Mycobacterium haemophilum. The majority of Mycobacterium haemophilum-induced systemic infections were identified in females after eyebrow tattooing, 50% of whom eventually required parotidectomy, which is the partial or complete removal of the parotid gland. Several studies reporting septic shock associated with cellulitis or necrotizing fasciitis were identified. Septic shock was primarily associated with pyogenic bacteria and occurred within two weeks after tattooing. Death occurred in one person with Vibrio vulnificus-related septic shock. Only one study reporting staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome was identified. This infection was observed after Samoan traditional tattoos or after tattooing in unhygienic conditions. Infective endocarditis was identified predominantly in young men. The condition was associated with fever, as well as lung or systemic embolisms, without local symptoms. In 50% of cases, valvular anomalies were present as a known risk factor. Massive embolization was detected in two cases, whereas leaflet perforation and perivalvular abscess were reported in two cases. Only one case with toxic shock syndrome was identified. Several studies reporting dermatophytosis were identified during the study period; however, none reported systemic infections. Study significance The current study reports that systemic infections might develop after having a tattoo. However, tattoo-related fatality is a rare event, with only one death reported in the past ten years. Historical evidence has extensively reported viral infections following tattooing. More specifically, several reports mention tattoo-related outbreaks of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B or C virus infections. Importantly, a shift in causative pathogens has been observed in recent times. In fact, non-tuberculosis mycobacteria have been identified as emerging bacteria causing systemic infections. A centralized reporting system should be developed to understand the epidemiology of the phenomena. Furthermore, proper hygienic conditions should be maintained while tattooing.

Genetic and molecular insights into dangerous tick bite-related meat allergy revealed

Scientists have revealed the genetic and molecular structure of key molecules linked to the sometimes life-threatening mammalian-meat allergy brought on by tick bites. The study, led by researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, details how antibodies interact with the sugar molecule galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal/α-gal), which is produced by all mammals, except humans and higher primates. It further confirms the role of α-gal as the key molecule for this unique allergy. When humans are exposed to α-gal, through bites of certain tick species -- such as the paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus endemic to Eastern Australia -- the immune system can flag it as harmful and instigate an allergic response, sometimes with near-fatal consequences. Lead author Professor Daniel Christ, Head of Antibody Therapeutics and Director of the Centre for Targeted Therapy at Garvan, says the molecular analysis showed that a particular antibody type (3-7) has a natural pocket into which α-gal snugly fits. "We have more than 70 types of antibodies and this one is significantly overrepresented with α-gal recognition. We seem to be genetically predisposed to being sensitive to this sugar," Professor Christ says. The new study, published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), paves the way for potential therapeutic candidates for treating the rare allergic response. Evolutionary benefit to immune reaction to α-gal Scientists analysed the blood of patients with mammalian-meat allergy to determine which antibodies were produced: the 3-7 type was found frequently in response to α-gal. The data points to an evolutionary benefit of having an antibody response that can mobilise against α-gal. "Humans lost the capacity to produce α-gal throughout evolution, but we don't know why," says Associate Professor Joanne Reed, co-senior author of this study, from the Westmead Institute. "The suspicion is that it has to do with protection against infectious disease." Professor Christ points to recent research on malaria, which shows the Plasmodium parasite has an α-gal coating on its surface. A rapid immune response to α-gal could destroy the parasite before it takes hold, protecting a person from malaria. NSW is a global hotspot for tick-induced mammalian-meat allergy Sydney's northern region is a global hot spot for mammalian-meat allergy, with more than 1800 cases reported and the highest prevalence in the world. The Sunshine Coast hinterland around Maleny in Queensland is also another hot spot. The paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) is found in those areas. Professor Sheryl van Nunen, an allergy specialist at Sydney's Northern Beaches Hospital, and a co-author on the paper, was the first clinician to link tick bites with mammalian-meat allergy. "There isn't a week go by that I wouldn't see two people with this allergy," she says. Why some people develop anaphylaxis and others never respond is unknown. Professor van Nunen says it could be related to the number of tick bites, how much saliva is injected or genetic sensitivity. Exposure happens when α-gal, present in the saliva of certain tick species, is injected during a bite, says Professor van Nunen. About one-third of people who have developed a sensitivity to α-gal will exhibit symptoms of an allergy to mammalian meat, she says. And another bite can more than double the allergic response. Some people with severe allergy can be affected by the presence of meat products in food, like beef broth, soft cheeses such as feta or goat's cheese, or even gelatin. Story Source: Materials provided by Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference: David B. Langley, Peter Schofield, Damien Nevoltris, Jennifer Jackson, Katherine J. L. Jackson, Tim J. Peters, Melanie Burk, Jacqueline M. Matthews, Antony Basten, Christopher C. Goodnow, Sheryl van Nunen, Joanne H. Reed, Daniel Christ. Genetic and structural basis of the human anti-α-galactosyl antibody response. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022; 119 (28) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123212119 Cite This Page: MLA APA Chicago Garvan Institute of Medical Research. "Genetic and molecular insights into dangerous tick bite-related meat allergy revealed: Key molecules involved in mammalian-meat anaphylaxis have had their structure revealed, paving the way for future treatments." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 July 2022. .

Tomato Flu in India: As cases of viral disease rise in country, health officials on high alert

Tomato Flu Latest Update: Amid fears of the Monkeypox outbreak and the impact of COVID-19, several viral diseases are being reported across India. One such disease, Hand Foot and Mouth Disease commonly known as Tomato Flu is being detected among infants and schoolchildren in several states in India, particularly in the southern part of the country, over the past three months. On May 6, 2022, the first case of Tomato flu was reported in the Kollam district of Kerala. According to The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, as of July 26, 2022, more than 82 children younger than 5 years with the infection have been reported by the local government hospitals. The rare viral infection is in an endemic state and is considered non-life-threatening; however, because of the dreadful experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, the vigilant management is desirable to prevent further outbreaks,” the report published last month in the medical journal stated. Last week, the central government issued an advisory directing parents to ensure that their children avoid hugging or touching their peers. As of now, no death has been reported due to Tomato flu in India. What is Tomato Flu? Caused by Coxsackie virus A16 (a non-polio enterovirus), Tomato Flu is highly contagious and spreads through contagious secretions from the nose, throat, fluid from the blisters, and feco-oral route. According to doctors, several states are witnessing a drastic surge in cases of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. According to The Lancet report, the primary symptoms observed in children with tomato flu are similar to those of chikungunya, which include high fever, rashes, and intense pain in joints. The disease is called Tomato Flu as there are eruptions of red and painful blisters throughout the body that gradually enlarge to the size of a tomato. “This is a kind of enterovirus which is a common infection in children with less than 5 years of age. It can cause blisters in hand, foot, palm and mouth. Sometimes they cause red blisters which resembles with tomato and that’s why its named as tomato flu or fever,” Dr Sushila Kataria, Senior Director – Internal Medicine, Medanta Hospital told Financial Express.com. ALSO READ | What is Tomato Flu that has put health officials of Kerala and neighbouring states on high alert? Symptoms of Tomato Flu According to the Union Health Ministry, along with blisters, other symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, dehydration, swelling of joints, body aches, and common influenza-like symptoms. This disease usually affects children and flare-ups are usually seen in those attending kindergarten. Moreover, doctors advised that these lesions on the skin are highly contagious and should not be scratched. There may be striking ulcers present on the palate of the mouth. The initial symptoms of the disease resemble those of other viral infections and include mild fever, poor appetite, malaise and often a sore throat followed by fever, sores in the mouth and a skin rash. These sores are usually found on the tongue, gums, inside cheeks, palms, and soles. Officials have said if children show symptoms, they should be quickly isolated for 5-7 days to prevent the spread of infection to other children or adults. How Tomato Flu is diagnosed? According to experts, among children with symptoms, molecular and serological tests are done for the diagnosis of dengue, chikungunya, zika virus, varicella-zoster virus, and herpes. After Tomato Flu is confirmed, symptomatic treatment is required as there is no specific therapy. According to the Lancet Journal, if the outbreak of tomato flu in children is not controlled and prevented, transmission might lead to serious consequences by spreading in adults as well. It is noteworthy that children under five years of age are at high risk of getting infected. However, in the current outbreak Children up to the age of Nine years have also been infected with Tomato Flu in Odisha. Moreover, immunocompromised adults are also at a greater risk of getting infected with this viral disease. “It is a highly contagious virus and can spread through respiratory secretions from the nose and mouth and can cause transfer through faecal oral route that is through food and dirty hands. Children less than 5 years are more exposed and are at risk population for this flu,” Dr. Kataria said. Treatment of Tomato Flu Reportedly, precautionary measures are being taken by the Kerala Health Department at present to monitor the spread of the viral infection and prevent its spread in other parts of India. According to the Lancet report, as tomato flu is similar to chikungunya and dengue as well as hand, foot, and mouth disease, treatment is also similar—isolation, rest, plenty of fluids, and a hot water sponge for the relief of irritation and rashes. Moreover, supportive therapy of paracetamol for fever and bodyache and other symptomatic treatments are required. “Similar to other types of influenza, tomato flu is very contagious. Hence, it is mandatory to follow careful isolation of confirmed or suspected cases and other precautionary steps to prevent the outbreak of the tomato flu virus from Kerala to other parts of India. Isolation should be followed for 5–7 days from symptom onset to prevent the spread of infection to other children or adults,” the study revealed. “Hand foot mouth diseases usually are a common diseases in children and their occurrence becomes common during the summer and monsoon season. We can control the spread by maintaining proper hand hygiene, observing respiratory etiquettes, wearing mask, not sending the infected children to school,” She added. ALSO READ | Tomato flu in India: Uttar Pradesh issues advisory to parents of children in vulnerable age group The advisory released by the centre for the prevention of Tomato flu says that the recommended course of treatment is the same as for other viral infections i.e. isolation, rest, plenty of drinks, and hot water sponges to soothe itching and rashes. At present, no antiviral drugs or vaccines are available for the treatment or prevention of tomato flu.

Medical latest news How To Find A WSIB Physiotherapy Clinic That Performs Modern Day Miracles

“The quality of life is more important than life itself” Alex Carrel “Our job is improving the quality of life, not just delaying death.” Robin Williams If you’ve ever lost any functional aspect of your body due to injury, illness or age then you‘re familiar with frustration. When the ability to perform at a certain level is taken away from you it doesn’t just affect your body but also weighs on your mind. This can greatly affect your emotional state as well as any other aspect of life that your physical performance is tied into. Most people recognize that the ability to return from an injury is incredibly important to your career as a professional athlete. The truth is that the ability to recover from an injury is incredibly important to everyone-no matter what station in life you happen to occupy. Good physical health contributes to emotional health When you find a person who can facilitate restoring your physical health there are a series of benefits that topple into place like dominos. Once you see you’re not stuck in the land of physical dysfunction your confidence soars. You become hopeful, faithful, your stress reduces, your frustration subsides and your happiness grows. If you find a good physiotherapist that can effectively improve your physical condition, they become your personal modern-day miracle maker. When it comes to finding a WSIB physiotherapy clinic in any big city the competition is quite fierce. There are dozens of physiotherapy clinics within a 5-block radius in every direction. The real issue is not about availability, but about who to trust with caring for your body. Want to know how to find a great physiotherapist? Follow these guidelines to make the best choice when deciding which physiotherapist is right for you. Do they provide an effective Program of Care? Does the physiotherapist you’re seeing have a plan for each stage of your recovery? Despite the fact that each patient is different, a good physiotherapist will have an established Program of Care. For example, if you were looking for a physiotherapist in Toronto and happened to find Global Health Physiotherapy Clinic you would see its 5 Level Program of Care directly on the website. Manual Therapy Active Exercise Program Pain Control Program Educational Program Custom Home Exercise Program This is a general template for most systems of recovery. If your physical therapist doesn’t follow a system remotely close to this, consider it a red flag. A good physiotherapist is able to walk you through each step of your program. From the moment your injury or condition is diagnosed, there should be clear communication about what is causing the problem and how they intend to solve it. If you look at the Program of Care above, education and home exercise are a part of the system. If you don’t fully understand the problem or solution, how can you fully recover? If you’re left in the dark you run the risk of repeating the same mistakes and not doing your homework effectively. Make sure your physiotherapist is licensed Have you ever seen the first Batman movie, where Joker goes into a shady basement to have plastic surgery? Unfortunately, things aren’t always what they seem. Not all unlicensed physiotherapists work out of a dimly lit shady basement. You might not see it coming but it happens. In both Canada and the US, you have to be licensed to practice physiotherapy. This means that by law, you’re required to have graduated with a degree from a physiotherapy school. In Canada, physiotherapists are required to have passed the “Physiotherapy National Exam” AND you must be in good standing with the provincial College Of Physiotherapists. Doing a background check on your physiotherapist isn’t the first thing people think of but the truth is there are people out there practicing illegally. Who’s to say exactly why they don’t have their affairs in order. Maybe yours happens to be a physiotherapist. Do you really want to take that chance with your body? If you’re in Ontario you can find out whether your physiotherapist is registered and in good standing by going to this link and searching for their name. Is there more than one “great” physiotherapist in the clinic? When it’s possible to go to a clinic and be happy with any of the physiotherapists that work there, it’s a tell-tale sign of a high-quality environment. The best physiotherapists are genuine about their motivation to help and are effective at what they do. They generally surround themselves with other like-minded individuals. When you have a group of effective physiotherapists, they are constantly motivating each other and raising the bar for the standard of work they do. There’s a high possibility that they share their results and continue to learn from one another. A group of talented physiotherapists under one roof is an excellent place to be for recovery. Consider customer service a major aspect of your experience It’s not the first thing you think of when you’re looking for a good physiotherapist but nonetheless, it makes a big difference. If you have third-party insurance or are making a WSIB claim, you can get buried in the paperwork. This can leave you frustrated with the whole experience. If your physiotherapist knows the system and handles direct billing and WSIB claims it makes your life ten times easier. You only need to worry about restoring your health and can leave the rest of the paperwork headaches to the professionals. Check reviews for insight into the therapists quality of care We live in a transparent society. Everyone wants to know the truth. We appreciate and value the truth about the companies we buy from and the service providers who care for us. Reviews are an excellent way to get the inside scoop on the therapist you’re considering. Anyone can get a few good reviews. In fact, there is a lot of tampering when it comes to Google reviews, however, you can’t hide the bad ones! Any half-decent physiotherapist who has been around for a while should be able to accumulate a respectable cross-section of reviews. If t

Medical latest news 5 ways to support a friend or family member to move forward after a DUI

For everyone involved in a DUI, the event, the immediate impact, and the aftermath can all be pretty draining. Many will be unsure how they can help their friend or family member to properly move forward afterwards, tentatively trying to help but being entirely unsure if it will work. Here are five tried and tested ways to support someone to move forward after a DUI. Reserve judgment When it comes to crimes, whatever the magnitude, the person who has done the deed will know and understand that they did something wrong. Judging them and telling them how disappointed you are in them will serve zero purposes at all. In fact, doing so could prevent them from getting the help they truly need and moving on with their life in a positive way. Indeed, mental health challenges, including suicidal thoughts, are common when feeling like you have let everyone down. Encourage them to follow instructions It can be difficult to follow instructions and orders when it inconveniences you. However, if your friend or family member does not comply with what the court has ordered them to do, they may well find themselves in even hotter water. Not only is it imperative that they comply but doing so could even impact positively on their futures. For example, DUI classes at Cornerstone can support people to get their lives back on track and have healthier relationships with alcohol and drugs, for example. Offer to drive them Being without a driver’s license can be challenging, particularly when you rely on your vehicle to get to important appointments, your workplace or even to court. Without the support of friends and family members, the person on the receiving end of the DUI may feel tempted to jump behind the wheel of a car yet again rather than feeling as though they are putting others out by expecting lifts. However, in doing so, they are jeopardizing their good behavior expectations and putting themselves at risk of further court action. Rethink social occasions Meeting up regularly is still important, but it is also key to arrange things that are near your friend or family’s members’ house to make it easier for them to get there. Furthermore, it would be useful to consider the type of activity you do. If your usual meet would involve a few beers, perhaps relocate to a bowling alley or the cinema instead where there are fewer temptations. Rather than organizing things for the evening, why not meet in the afternoon and have a coffee instead of rum and coke? Or lace up your trainers, then go for a run or have a kick about in the park. Do not offer legal advice It can be ever so tempting to hop onto Google and research the DUI and ways in which you could get it overturned. However, offering legal advice could backfire, and it may result in your friend or family member getting their hopes up unnecessarily. Furthermore, seeking proper legal advice is definitely what they need rather than someone who has read a few websites.