AHCJ Conference - Some of What I Learned

I had the great fortune of being in Boston last week, attending the Association of Healthcare Journalists (AHCJ) conference. There was so much information there that it was a bit overwhelming, but in a good way. I have been to other writers' conferences (ASJA and PWAC, specifically), but this was my first time attending one held by this organization. And, although I respect and get a lot from ASJA and PWAC, this was the best conference for me by far. If you write about health or medicine, I strongly encourage you to check out AHCJ for its resources and support.

So much information!

The problem with such conferences is you want to be everywhere, hear everything and meet everyone during that short period and you know that you can't. So, when you pick which sessions you will attend, you hope you are choosing the best option for you and that you'll be able to get the missed information from fellow attendees, from the organization's site, or as with some conferences, on a DVD or CD.

The first day, I attended some sessions on social media, reporting on clinical studies, and shaping complex ideas into stories. All three were eye opening in different ways.

I use social media regularly, but not to the extent at which it is possible. While the session didn't go as far as I would have liked, I did pick up some great tips and learned of some new people to follow, who could teach me much more through their use of SM. The clinical studies session was about how the numbers in studies can be very misleading - and purposefully so sometimes. There was explanation on how to ensure that you figure this out before being led astray and suggestions on how to prevent doing it yourself.

The biggest take-away for me was that the medical journals were never meant for public consumption. The journals that publish the latest studies and discuss medical issues were established so those who work in the field would have an outlet, a place where they can exchange information. However, general media picked up on their existence, and now these journals are fodder for news stories, sometimes "breaking" news stories, when perhaps they shouldn't be.

My third and last session for the Thursday was more on the art of writing and tips on how to make your stories more compelling.

Friday

Friday brought more sessions, the first for me was on shaping topics that happen throughout the world to fit in your corner of the world. The first speaker spoke of tuberculosis (TB) and how it affects everyone in the world, not just the countries with major issues and major outbreaks. That was interesting in itself, but I was most interested in something else that was brought up: counterfeit drugs. The cost in terms of lives affected by counterfeit drugs was astounding. To tell you the truth, I was so naive that it never occurred to me that this would be such a serious issue. I can't imagine deliberately causing such harm to so many people across the world.

The second speaker took another approach and spoke of his engineering students who could - in the course of one semester - make a difference in lives on another continent. He showed slides of how his students put together an oxymeter, a machine that measures the oxygen level in blood without taking blood, using an old cell phone battery. This device cost under 100.00, instead of the thousands a new, fancier oxymeter would.


In this day and age of invention, production, FDA approval and everything else that goes along with it, the sense of accomplishment from inventing something can be long delayed. But these students, who also work on other projects, like better weight-bearing crutches, can see almost instant results from their work.

This session was followed by a craft session (pitching ideas to editors).

Saturday

Although by Saturday, my brain was already exploding, there were more sessions to come. My first
was on hospital readmission rates and the efforts being made to lower them, followed by another craft session. My most interesting session of the day was after lunch. This was another session on clinical studies, discussing their necessity and how they worked. But the most interesting speaker on this panel was Linnea Duff, who writes the blog OutLivingLungCancer.com. She spoke about why she participated in Stage I trials and what it did for her.

The last session I attended was on Sunday morning, before heading home. It was how to use PubMed and associated sites more effectively - something I needed and it was very valuable to me.

As you can see, there was A LOT of information and I only got to participate in a small part of it. I still have so much to learn.

Conferences are pricey and do take a lot out of you. You miss work days, so you will have to work hard before you leave for the conference and harder when you get back. They're exhausting. But, you get so much out of them. Connecting with like-minded (and not-so-like-minded) people, meeting those you admire, learning new things, and just absorbing the energy, are all so necessary when you work in a often-solitary profession like writing.

I'm glad that I went. I almost didn't. But I did go - and that is what counts.

Could a Diet Change Help a Child With Autism?

Earlier this year, I wrote some short articles on health or parenting for SheKnows.ca. My latest piece is based on an interview with chef Alain Braulx: Could a change in diet help your child's autism?

What do you think? Leave a message in the comment section of the article if you like and maybe we can get a discussion going.

Stay Healthy While Traveling

Spring break, March break, reading week, whatever you call it, it's upon us. Traveling is big all year, but if you live in colder parts of the world, February and March travel are big. Really big. People are fed up with the cold and gray weather and they're in search for something fun to do in the sun.

But a vacation in the sun isn't limited to the beach. There are vacations to where you can golf, scuba dive, climb ancient ruins, or just check out the local culture, all while leaving the snow and gray skies behind. Wherever you choose to go, however, it's up to you to be sure that you stay as healthy as possible. Illness while away is inconvenient at the very least, and could be fatal at its worst.

Preparations

We can't prevent all illnesses from occurring, but there are many that we can avoid through vaccinations and using caution while abroad. Vaccinations are vital for some parts of the world and some countries won't let you in unless you can prove that you have been vaccinated. If you are in Canada, check this Health Canada link to see which vaccinations you should have before travel. If you are in the US, check out the CDC site. The World Health Organization (WHO) also has travel health information.

You should speak with your healthcare provider or visit a tropical disease clinic at least three months before your trip because some vaccines must be given in stages over the course of a few weeks.

Staying healthy

Now you've had your necessary vaccinations and you're on your way. How do you stay healthy? A lot of it is common sense. Washing your hands at home is one of the most important things you can do to help spread infection. The same holds true while you are on vacation and maybe more so as you may be touching more things than you might at home. Access to soap and water may not be always easy, so be sure to carry waterless hand cleansers with you so you can wash your hands frequently.

Traveling, particularly by air, can be dehydrating. Be sure you drink plenty of water to prevent drying out. Part of your defense against viruses, like colds, is your nose and its moist membranes. If your body dries out, the membranes can crack, allowing viruses to enter your body, making you sick.

If you are traveling in less developed countries, there are some rules to follow regarding your food and drink. In order to prevent illness, drink only drinks that come to you in a sealed bottle. Be sure the bottle is sealed or else tap water may have been used. Don't accept ice cubes as they may have been made using tap water. Do not eat any fruit that you can't peel and be sure that all cooked food you eat is thoroughly cooked - well done.

Bring your medications

If you take any prescription medications or regular over-the-counter medications, be sure to bring a full supply and some extra for the duration of the trip. Keep them with you, in carry-on luggage if you fly, so you know where they are. Not all medications are available everywhere and you could run into trouble if you run out.

It's also a good idea to bring along a fresh prescription with you, just in case something happens with your supply. Although it's not likely that a local pharmacy will/can fill your prescription, a doctor will be able to use the information to write a local prescription.

What to do if you become ill

The CDC has good information here regarding what to do if you do become ill while traveling, so it doesn't make sense to write it out again. Just click here for their advice. If you are from another country, just replace their references to U.S. embassies and consulates for your own country's.

If you are going away, playing it safe is not only smart, it's vital.

Prednisone: A nasty drug, but a life saver

Steroids. We hear about steroids all the time. We hear about dishonest athletes using steroids to gain advantage and we also hear horror stories about steroid-rage, where someone who has been taking large amounts of steroids (usually without medical supervision) and goes on a rampage. But what about the steroids that save lives?

Prednisone is a commonly medically prescribed corticosteroid and can be given to people living with illnesses from asthma to cancer. For some illnesses, the medication improves quality of life, with others, the medication is literally a life saver.

In Canada, prednisone has been in the news for the past day or so, since it was revealed that the Canadian Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, is living with bullous pemphigoid, a skin disease that can be treated with prednisone if other approaches don't work. This news may never have come out but the side effects of the predisone were becoming obvious to journalists and observers, so to quell misinformation and rumours, Mr. Flaherty chose to reveal what has been going on.

What is prednisone?

Prednisone has been around for a long time. It is a glutocosteroid that is used as an anti-inflammatory for many conditions, such as:

• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Arthritis
• Lupus

Prednisone is not a first-line medication. Physicians generally try other types of medications first, although in urgent or serious situations, they may go straight to prednisone to get things under control.

Steroid therapy is also usually needed in transplants, to prevent rejection. Sometimes, prednisone is among the medications chosen.

Side effects

While prednisone can be and is a life saver for many, it also can be very nasty with its side effects. This is why it must be used with caution. The most commonly talked about side effects include:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Increase in appetite
• Weight gain
• Mood swings
• Nausea (particularly if taken on an empty stomach)

More serious side effects can occur, especially if the prednisone is taken in high doses or over a long period of time. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)  has listed these as "serious" and if you experience them, they urge you to contact your healthcare provider:
vision problems

• Eye pain, redness, or tearing
• Sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or other signs of infection
• Seizures
• Depression
• Loss of contact with reality
• Confusion
• Muscle twitching or tightening
• Shaking of the hands that you cannot control
• Numbness, burning, or tingling in the face, arms, legs, feet, or hands
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Lightheadedness
• Irregular heartbeat
• Sudden weight gain
• Shortness of breath, especially during the night
• Dry, hacking cough
• Swelling or pain in the stomach
• Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Rash
• Hives
• Itching

Longer term prednisone can also make you more susceptible to contracting infections and lead to thinning of the bones, which can lead later to osteoporosis.

Taking prednisone

If your doctor has prescribed prednisone for you, it is very important that you take it exactly as prescribed to reduce the risk of side effects. If you are taking high doses temporarily, chances are you will be tapered off. This means that if you are taking 50 mg of prednisone every day, instead of just stopping, your doctor will bring down your dosage gradually, until it is low enough to stop. There is a good reason for this tapering as you could experience withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Joint pain and/or muscle pain
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Fever
• Low blood pressure

Other medications

Prednisone interacts with several types of medications, so be sure to speak with your doctor and your pharmacist about medications you are already taken. While doctors are knowledgable about what drugs to prescribe, pharmacists are the experts when it comes to drug interactions.

Don't ever take prednisone without a prescription, even if you have taken it before.

Prednisone is a life saver, but it has to be used with caution.