“Losing your head” is a figure of speech; losing a limb is a life split into before and after. Between surgical miracles, human error, and the uncanny places our minds can take us, the history of amputations is stranger than most fiction shelves. Here’s a tour of jaw-dropping cases—equal parts sobering and surreal—that say a … Continue reading Strange, True & Totally Unsettling Stories About Amputations
4 Surprising Facts About Nurses You’ll Want to Share
Nurses are the unsung superheroes of everyday life, hustling behind the scenes to save lives and keep things running smoothly in healthcare. But you know what? Their world is filled with incredible stories and surprising facts that totally deserve some attention. Here are four awesome tales about nurses that’ll make you appreciate them even more! … Continue reading 4 Surprising Facts About Nurses You’ll Want to Share
5 Essential Facts About Back Pain
Back pain remains a leading cause of disability worldwide, with Americans spending upwards of $300 billion annually on treatments. This prevalent health issue affects millions, yet misconceptions about its management persist. Here are five key facts that shed light on the realities of back pain: 1. Walking’s Protective Effect: Engaging in regular walks, about three … Continue reading 5 Essential Facts About Back Pain
Uncovering Five Unbelievable Realities About U.S. Healthcare
The United States’ approach to healthcare has often sparked heated discussions and remains central to policy reform dialogues. The complexity of this system has unfolded some truly unbelievable scenarios. Let’s uncover five such interesting realities: 1. Journey for Cost-Effective Treatment: A growing number of Americans, particularly those residing close to the Mexican border, are traversing … Continue reading Uncovering Five Unbelievable Realities About U.S. Healthcare
5 Unbelievable Facts About Tomorrow’s Doctors
The Affluence Connection: Recent studies shed light on the surprising link between affluence and medical students. An analysis of the Association of American Medical Colleges data compared with the U.S. Census reveals that medical students are often from households ranking in the nation’s top 5% income bracket. This was particularly notable among Black and Latino … Continue reading 5 Unbelievable Facts About Tomorrow’s Doctors
North Dakota’s Law Promotes Local Ownership of Pharmacies
North Dakota has effectively eliminated corporate chain pharmacies by implementing a law that mandates pharmacies to be owned by licensed pharmacists. This means that corporations owning pharmacies must be majority-owned by licensed pharmacists. It is worth noting that this law was enacted in 1963 as a response to concerns about the unethical practices of chain […]
A man robbed a bank for $1 in order…
A man robbed a bank for $1 in order to get sent to prison and receive treatment for pancreatic cancer. However, once inside he learned he did not have cancer, and struck a deal with prosecutors for an early release after one year in prison.
The post A man robbed a bank for $1 in order… appeared first on Crazy Facts.
People Share Their Best Medical Tips That Everyone Should Know
Medical science has come a long way in the last few decades—to say nothing of the last century.
The rapid innovations and near-constant shifts in the field have left some struggling to catch up.
So Redditor ATOM-Tomzej decided to get some quick tips and facts about medicine in our modern age.
Of course, just as with anything else medical, please refer to your doctor and not an entertaining Reddit list for advice.
He asked:
“What’s a medical fact or tip everyone should know?”
Do not attempt!
“Please, don’t give an unconscious diabetic insulin.”
“You’re probably going to kill them if you do.”~733094
Also,
“When I complained about physical problems my parents often dismissed it.”
“Don’t ignore physical pain of yourself or others and listen if someone complains about pain.”
“I’ve walked around with a broken bone in my foot for multiple weeks as a child before getting medical attention and later had bells palsy and didn’t say a thing.”~Koroit_
Remember to really push.
“ER/ trauma nurse here.”
“When performing CPR, the compressions are substantially more important than the rescue breaths.”
“If you aren’t comfortable and properly trained in CPR, stick to compressions only.”
“And, you should go ~2 inches deep into their chest with each push.”
“You will be TIRED if you do it right.”~theperipateticnurse
Spotify to the rescue!
“The New York Presbyterian Hospital has a playlist on Spotify called ‘Songs to do CPR to’, which all have that kind of rhythm – it’s well worth a look, and a lot are very catchy!”~cortexaire
Some came with a list.
“First aid”
“Someone’s having a seizure – don’t restrain them, or put anything in their mouth, just move any objects away from them, and place some padding under their head.”
“Once the seizure stops if they’re still not fully responsive, then put them on their side into the recovery position.”
“Someone swallowed chemicals/poison – don’t encourage them to be sick.”
“This can make things far worse as you cause additional burns on the way back up, or they start choking on it.”
“Call an ambulance, try to identify the chemical/poison, and follow any instructions they give.”
“Injured people who can’t move themselves should be left where they are unless there’s an immediate threat to their safety.”
“Motorcyclists helmets – if they’ve been in an accident then as long as they can maintain an open airway and breathe leave the helmet on.”
“Only remove it if it’s causing airway or breathing difficulties.”
“Nosebleeds – you tilt the head forward now, not backwards.”
“This advice changed many years ago but the amount of people I still see saying to tilt head back is frustrating.”~GrumpyOldDan
And,
“Top four:”
“Vaccinations”
“Vaccinations again, because it’s that f*cking important”
“Not shitting in your drinking water”
“Washing your hands”~kjata
Learn the signs.
“Signs of a heart attack in women are not your typical ‘tight chest, arm pain’ symptoms as in men.”
“Women typically experience stomach upsets and cramping first.”
“Likewise, many people experiencing heart attack symptoms do not seek emergency treatment because they are in denial.”~Jay1313
Drink Wisely.
“On an alcohol note, alternate your booze and water. A hangover is your brain being dehydrated.”~I_SH*T_A_BRICK
See the answer clearly.
“If you are drinking enough water, and are still getting massive headaches, get your eyes tested.”
“There’s a good chance you can’t see right and it’s strain headaches.”
“This is how I found out I needed glasses.”~Smecomposers
Always communicate.
“Don’t be afraid to speak up.”
“Learned early on in my Husbands treatment that the Dr.s etc. had what I started calling ‘the go to drugs’ (and I’m not speaking of the chemotherapy ones).”
“Long story short…we had the majority of his drugs changed to benefit HIS goals…he was lucid enough to spend quality time with his family before he passed.”
“Priceless.”
“Don’t be afraid to monitor, question etc.“~f*kcancr
Tests that you can’t study for are still important to take
“Pap tests and prostate exams are harmless and very important.”
“They can save your fertility, can save you from a lot of pain, they can even save your life.”
“And they are so simple and easy.”
“Yes, there is some discomfort.”
“But something tells me cancer causes much more discomfort.”~Lactiz
Always follow the prescription!
“If you’re taking antidepressants, or you know someone who is, and you feel better, IT IS NOT A REASON TO STOP TAKING THEM.”
“You are feeling better because of them.”
“They are not bandaids, they are long haul drugs that really rejig your brain’s chemistry.”~Releaseform
Baking soda fixes everything.
“Mix water and baking soda (small amounts of each/till soupy) and put it on any kind of sting.”
“It soothes and removes some of the poison if there is any.”
“Not sure if everyone already knows this but I have not seen any of my friends do it when they got stung.”
“Your welcome people of Reddit.”~ImThe_RealDirtyDan
There are no shortcuts.
“Calling 911 and going by ambulance is not a fast pass to the front of the line!”
“Only call in a real emergency not for a stubbed toe at 3 in the g*d d*mn morning!”
“Hospitals will still send you to triage and you’re left with a wait to get in and a super expensive bill for a ride that could have cost you a thousand times less by taking Uber.”~jesus-christ-of-ems
There are better ways to lose weight.
“Don’t buy popular diet teas that guarantee weight loss.”
“It’s just a laxative and you’ll spend less money if you just get a laxative from the store.”
“Also don’t use laxatives for weight loss.”
“It can cause bad nausea, and massive stomach cramps that leave you curled up on your bathroom floor and wondering what end sh*t is gonna come out.”
“Only use laxatives as directed.”~volcanic-sass
Medical science has come a long way.
While there are plenty of nuggets of truth in this list, always remember to consult your own doctor for your own medical questions.
But without a doubt, laughter is the best medicine.
Maybe.
A Former Executive of One of the Biggest Health Insurance Companies Talks About How They Lie and Trap People
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act – also known as Obamacare – became law. It not only got millions of people health insurance, but it also made that insurance more affordable to consumers.
Right?
According to former VP of CIGNA Wendell Potter, it’s not quite so straightforward. And we’ve got good reason to believe him – the insurancer’s former VP now considers himself a whistleblower against the industry.
It may seem strange that someone would go against the company they once worked for, but Potter has good reasons to take his stand. Medical debt and bankruptcy is an enormous problem in the United States, and the ACA hasn’t really helped.
The ACA was supposed to decrease the cost of health insurance and, eventually, medical debt. Unfortunately, a February 2019 study shows that levels of medical bankruptcy stayed roughly the same despite the reforms.
Here’s what Potter wrote about the subject.
As Potter explains it, the industry had to redefine “choice.”
Lately I’ve noticed some Democratic politicians defending the current healthcare system by saying it preserves “choice” for Americans. As a former health insurance exec who helped draft this talking point, I need to come clean on its back story, and why it's wrong and a trap 1/11
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
When I worked in the insurance industry, we were instructed to talk about “choice,” based on focus groups and people like Frank Luntz (who wrote the book on how the GOP should communicate with Americans). I used it all the time as an industry flack. But there was a problem. 2/11
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
He goes on to explain how health insurance companies manipulated perceptions of choice.
As industry insiders, we also knew most Americans have very little choice of their plan. Your company chooses an insurance provider and you get to pick from a few different plans offered by that one insurer, usually either a high deductible plan or a higher deductible plan 4/11
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
Potter explained how employer-based insurance really works.
Another problem insurers like mine had on the “choice” issue: people with employer-based plans have very little choice to keep it. You can lose it if your company changes it, or you change jobs, or turn 26 or many other ways. This is a problem for defenders of the status quo 5/11
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
Next, he admitted that the industry used gaslighting techniques.
Knowing we were losing the “choice” argument, my pals in the insurance industry spent millions on lobbying, ads and spin doctors — all designed to gaslight Americans into thinking that reforming the status quo would somehow give them “less choice.” 6/11
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
Then he exposed some campaigns used to sell “choice.”
An industry front group launched a campaign to achieve this very purpose. Its name: “My Care, My Choice.” Its job: Trick Americans into thinking they currently can choose any plan they want, and that their plan allows them to see any doctor. They’ve spent big in Iowa 7/11 pic.twitter.com/E45OwBuYzS
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
And there’s more.
This isn’t the only time the industry made “choice” a big talking point in its scheme to fight health reform. Soon after Obamacare was passed, it created a front group called the Choice and Competition Coalition, to scare states away from creating exchanges with better plans 8/11
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
He also explains why things are different now.
The difference is, this time *Democrats* are the ones parroting the misleading “choice” talking point. And they’re even using it as a weapon against each other. Back in my insurance PR days, this would have stunned me. I bet my old colleagues are thrilled, and celebrating. 9/11
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
Then, Potter discusses one reason Medicare For All would work better for the public.
The truth, of course, is you have little “choice” in healthcare now. Most can’t keep their plan as long as they want, or visit any doctor or hospital. Some reforms, like Medicare For All, *would* let you. In other words, M4A actually offers more choice than the status quo. 10/11
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
The last tweet provides useful guidance.
So if a politician tells you they oppose reforming the current healthcare system because they want to preserve “choice,” either they don’t know what they’re talking about – or they’re willfully ignoring the truth. I assure you, the insurance industry is delighted either way 11/11
— Wendell Potter (@wendellpotter) December 16, 2019
Whew! That’s a lot of great (though disheartening) information for anyone who wants to understand why the US healthcare industry runs the way it does.
What it comes down to, like always, is money.
Was there anything on this Twitter thread that stood out to you? Feel free to let us know.
The post A Former Executive of One of the Biggest Health Insurance Companies Talks About How They Lie and Trap People appeared first on UberFacts.
A Woman With a Sick Husband Talked About the “Cheapest” Health Insurance Plan Available to Them
It’s no secret that the United States has a very expensive healthcare system. Insurance costs can easily eat up or exceed a person’s paycheck, and there are over 100 million Americans struggling with medical debt.
That number is so enormous, it’s hard to even conceptualize, which is why we need personal stories to really feel the impact. Stories like this Twitter thread.
Lori, or @iCounterSpin, shared a screenshot of the costs of healthcare plans available to her sick husband. The reality is devastating: Lori’s husband needs to stay covered so he can stay alive. But how can they afford coverage with prices like these?
I'm in tears. My husband is so sick, our debt costs more than we make each month and here's the best (cheapest) plan available to me to keep my husband alive this coming year. There is no way I can afford this. No way. pic.twitter.com/578Ab9l5z1
— Lori (@iCounterSpin) December 15, 2019
As you can see from the screenshot, the only plans available to her are not only expensive, but they involve sky high deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses as well.
$18,600 a year premium with a $13,000 deductible. Are you freaking kidding me???
— Lori (@iCounterSpin) December 15, 2019
Lori did everything she could to try to find ways to save. She tweeted out one her ideas:
One of my sons is also sick. But not as sick as my husband. Maybe if I just leave the two of them on the app and remove my other two kids and myself it will be better. Stay tuned.
— Lori (@iCounterSpin) December 15, 2019
Healthcare and illness are a sensitive topic in the United States today. Lori’s thread elicited plenty of responses from people who face similar struggles.
Understand your horror completely. I’m chronically ill and had to pay $858/mo prem, $7000 OOP with high copays JUST FOR ME last year. Not much better for 2020 either.
—
barkway
(@barkway) December 16, 2019
I’m going through this same with my parents this year, while my dad is going through treatment for pancreatic cancer. This system is rigged. And I cannot support anyone who wants to keep it.
I’m so sorry for what you’re going though.
— Rob (@robdaemon) December 15, 2019
Others promptly tried to help her find solutions.
See if you can get your kids on Medicare. You need to talk to the hospital social worker.
If you can afford (air quotes) that monthly plus the cost of the out of pocket, consider if you can pay 2x the premium to get much lower out of pocket. You may end up much better off.
— Kathleen Barry (@NotoriousKBJ) December 15, 2019
Another well-wisher tried to impart advice as well.
You have to pick a silver plan to receive tax credits if your family’s income qualifies! I hope that helps a little:( I’m so sorry this is happening to you and that our system is so broken.
— Sofia Labrecque (@SofiaLabrecque) December 15, 2019
I’m sorry I haven’t read through all but what about CHIP for the kids? Are any potentially Medicaid eligible? Through any of the waivers? Husband potentially eligible for any other programs? Call your local Social Services or Health Department. They may be able to help.
— dogma (@DogmaKinja) December 16, 2019
Others wanted to find ways to pitch in more directly.
Please open up a fundraiser.
— Lav (@Yrvinwastaken) December 15, 2019
People from other countries also showed their concern.
Wow I’m so sorry to hear this. How can this continue on? I don’t know why people in the USA are afraid of socialized medicine. A lot of misinformation probably? Health care should be a right, not a privilege. Wishing you well.
—
MinuteInTheLife
(@minuteinthelife) December 15, 2019
Though the subject of Lori’s thread was serious, she chose not to accept offers to start a crowdfunding page. Instead, she encouraged people to support presidential candidates that have discussed their desire to change healthcare policies in the U.S.
People have asked about a gofundme. As tempting as that is, just read through the threads here and you see I’m not alone. We need to raise awareness and keep fighting for Medicare for All. So donate here! Not me, Us. https://t.co/3VJ8wQQGra
— Lori (@iCounterSpin) December 16, 2019
Airing out grievances can be a hit or miss on Twitter, but once again, people on social media showed that they have compassion and just want their fellow people to be OK. Good on Lori for sharing her story so others can understand how the backwards U.S. healthcare system truly affects people.
What are your thoughts on Lori’s thread? We’re all ears in the comments section!
The post A Woman With a Sick Husband Talked About the “Cheapest” Health Insurance Plan Available to Them appeared first on UberFacts.