MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA
[pronounced “mer-sa”] has been receiving a
considerable amount of press of late. Many schools
have indicated they had found the bacteria and were
closing for a day or two so that the school could be
cleaned thoroughly. People hear the word and they
allow themselves to get into a frenzy. What many
people are not aware of is that while it can be a
dangerous infection it is also something that many
people have on their bodies. It may be part of the
normal flora of their skin. So long as people wash
their hands thoroughly after they are dirtied or after
they touch someone of something, and they do not touch
their mucous membranes-eyes, mouth, nose-then they
most likely will not get the bacteria into their
bodies and thus will not get sick.
Additionally, there are different forms of MRSA. Some
strains are more virulent and resistant to antibiotics
and others are not as problematic to get rid of if you
were to get sick.
The frenzy that many people may get into when they
hear the word MRSA may lead them to panic. Illness is
like anything else in life-you need to keep a level
head and be calm. Then you can make better choices for
yourself and your loved ones. Lastly-Wash Your Hands!

UMHS Press Release: MRSA
http://med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2007/mrsa.htm

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Who's Ur Doctor..??

Do You Have A UM Doctor?

Living in the south-eastern portion of Michigan you may hear the radio or TV commercial for Beaumont Hospitals that asks, “Do you have a Beaumont doctor?”
I have nothing against Beaumont or any other hospital. I’m not writing this to “dis” Beaumont. But there is a joke at the hospital I work at that goes something like-“We train Beaumont Doctors!”
To continue that tangent there is a recent publication that lists many of the University of Michigan Health System physicians as America’s Top Doctors.
So I guess I’ll ask …Do you have a UM doctor?

UMHS Press Release: Best Doctors lists include hundreds from U-M
http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2007/bestdocs.htm

Monday October 15th, 2007

Are You Tired Too?

I know that many people come to work, school, or go out with friends and family and consistently say that they are “tired”. I’ve been tired for what seems like weeks at this point. I have been thinking it’s because I work an odd shift-midnights-and have to sleep during the day. Even on my days off I tend to be up most of the night and sleep through part of the day. I’ve talked with co-workers in t he past and asked them how do they deal with sleeping during the day? Some have their ways of getting around the sunshine and day time. One of my friends has to have it completely dark, so that not a bit of sunlight gets in to her room. Another told me that he drinks a glass of wine to relax himself before going to bed in the AM.
Even if you’re NOT a midnight worker, many Americans today simply do not get enough sleep. Between single parents working and running their kids around between school, day-care, sitters and soccer practice. Or single people who work two jobs to pay their bills and try and have a social life. To young people and old alike who simply cannot get to sleep at night, wake up during the night or can’t get back to sleep.
Now this is NOT an online add for some OTC or prescription medication to help you fall asleep. I recently read an online press article from the UMHS-University of Michigan Hospital System’s Web Site about how up to 40% of Americans do not get enough sleep and are fatigued, not simply tired but fatigued and have difficulty in completing their daily activities at home and work. It can be so bad that some cannot function or even do not act like they normally would because they are so tired. In a previous position I held we termed this behavior “ICU-Psychosis”. It’s not an easy thing to necessarily diagnose and not an easy thing to over come. It sounds easy to over come-just get MORE sleep. Doing that is not always easy though.
And to close-I wish each of you a good night’s rest!
Crossing the line between tired and fatigued
http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2007/hmfatigue.htm
Wednesday September 19th, 2007