In October of each year, participating insurance companies publish the Medicare Part D (drug benefit) plans that they will offer…
The H1N1 virus, referred to as “swine flu,” is a relatively new influenza virus that is causing illness in humans around the globe. It was first detected in the United States in the spring of 2009 and was initially thought to be similar to a virus occurring in pigs in North America (hence the name swine flu); but further study has shown that the H1N1 virus is very different from what normally circulates among North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses normally found in pigs in Europe and Asia, but it also has avian genes and human genes; in other words, it is a “mixed-bag” virus, referred to as a “quadruple reassortant” virus. The new term for swine flu, novel H1N1 is 2009 Influenza A (H1N1).
Ah yes, I hear the humming noise of wasps and bees lurking in the woods. It’s a familiar sound and…
“Mom, why do you have Cheerios on your forehead?” Let me begin by saying that I am VERY right-handed. My…
No excitement or helicopter rides to report, just back-to-basics articles,– although I may let it slip that Dr. Bob has been dumpster diving at the pharmacy. I had a Vitamin D and calcium article written and ready for the November Health Matters column. Boy was I surprised when I saw his article on Vitamin D in the October issue! However, Vitamin D is still a hot topic; so I’ll try to build on Dr. Bob’s excellent article.
Have you ever seen the San Juan Islands from the air? They really are beautiful. It’s almost like flying around in a postcard. I recently took in the panorama from an Airlift NW helicopter. It probably would be more relaxing to view it from an airplane, but if you are in the middle of an emergency, Airlift NW is the way to go.
Here’s a revelation: the picture of healthcare is changing. Modern advances in medicine have brought about a quicker and more accurate diagnosis of many of the diseases and health-related problems that we face each day.
