Symptoms of a Brain Injury

A traumatic injury is one where only a particular area of the brain is affected, that area where the external blow was applied. Often, it may result in damage only to the area controlling the speech, sight or any such particular function of the body. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury are: * Unconsciousness is [...]

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Hypoxic Brain Injury

Hypoxic brain injury a condition that refers to a severe decrease of oxygen supplied to the brain, even though there is sufficient blood flow. This condition may be caused by a blockage in the respiratory tract or airways brought about by strangling, suffocation or choking, conditions such as head trauma, cardiac arrest, carbon monoxide poisoning [...]

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Anoxic Brain Injury

Anoxic Brain Injury occurs in cases of severe lack of oxygen to the brain. This usually happens when blood is unable to flow to the brain due to certain injuries or bleeding. There are three types of such injury: anemic anoxia (blood doesn’t carry enough oxygen), toxic anoxia (caused by toxins that block oxygen in [...]

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Alcohol Abuse Symptoms, Effects of Alcohol Abuse

February 27th, 2011 admin

Alcohol is a stimulant which addicts often resort to help them get over some form of depression or problems, like break up from relationships or marriage, loss of loved ones, job loss, etc alcohol here is seen as the solution to forgetting these problems and situations. Addicts always want to have their ways in any given issue or matter even when they are wrong. These are signs of an alcohol abuse effects.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages is for many a relaxing and enjoyable pastime. There are many social gatherings where drinks are served and everyone has fun socializing and sharing the time together. Sometimes there are those with a predisposition to alcohol abuse and these people gradually develop a dependence on the substance. Those who are victims of alcohol abuse cannot control the urge to drink.

The term “alcohol abuse” is used to describe a state less severe than true alcoholism. As an alcohol abuser, you may drink to excess and suffer social and health consequences, but never completely lose your control over the substance as you would in full-fledged alcoholism.

People who clearly drink too much on a regular basis are known as Alcohol abusers or problem drinkers. These so called Alcohol abusers can present a danger to others, when they reach a state called alcoholism they looses control on the amount of alcohol they drink and they cannot stop using alcohol despite the severe physical and psychological consequences of excessive drinking.

The drinking of alcohol should be control weather you are an addict or not so as to reduce the risk of health hazards. Addicts should be encouraged and empowered to develop the will and courage to go for rehab and get treatments immediately.

Alcohol affects the brain and the nervous system by slowing down the drinker’s reactions and making him feel tranquilized and relaxed. Alcohol dulls the brain. When someone takes alcohol, his inhibitions are lowered making him more aggressive and hostile. When taken in higher dosage, alcohol can cause mental block out, impairing the person’s concentration and ability to judge situations properly. This will also create distorted coordination and emotional reactions.

Many people wonder about recognizing the early signs of alcohol abuse. These can include: sneaking drinks, gulping first drinks, frequent memory blanks while engaging in drinking, unwillingness to discuss drinking habits, and feelings of guilt over drinking. An alcohol abuser will demonstrate a pattern of excessive drinking and usually sets out to drink in order to feel the “high” that excessive alcohol ingestion brings.

Other common alcohol abuse symptoms can include: often turning up late for work or school due to hangovers, frequent injuries that occur during times of excessive drinking, trouble with the authorities for drinking and driving or aggressive behavior. Physical signs of alcohol abuse are drunkenness, drowsiness, slurred speech, short attention span, uncoordinated movements, memory problems, and aggression.

The Complexities Of A Traumatic Head Injury

February 27th, 2011 admin
5285378977 9945aff514 m The Complexities Of A Traumatic Head Injury

A traumatic head injury is one of the most complex physical problems a person can go through. This is because every aspect of our lives hinges on the functioning of the brain. If it was an arm or leg that was injured, the body would adapt and eventually become just as efficient as before. With the brain, it’s more than a physical problem. A traumatic head injury will affect everything from intelligence to personality to mood swings, speech, body control, feelings and emotions through to basic bodily functions.


Any sudden jolt, blow or penetrating head trauma that causes the brain to move violently within the skull is classed as a traumatic head injury. Shaken baby syndrome is a typical example of the way the brain is susceptible to trauma by rapid moves of the head.

Unlike most other organs within the body, the brain has a degree of free movement within the skull. This is essential as there are times during illness when the brain is subject to swelling and without this freedom of movement, a brain would not survive any swelling.


Traumatic head injury is a common occurrence in soldiers when they are engaged in active warfare. When an explosion occurs nearby, the soldier may appear relatively unscathed but the impact on the brain can be anything from severe enough to end his life or unnoticeable until ‘normal’ life is resumed, when a character change emerges.


The complexities of traumatic head injuries are such that when an injured party or their family want to claim compensation for the resulting disability, a specialist brain injury lawyer is needed. No run of the mill lawyer could possibly understand all that is involved with a brain injury. It takes a great deal of acquired experience to have any sort of understanding as to what the long term effects on a head injury victim will be.


Often, the effects will be life-long and a brain injury lawyer will need to be adept at determining these possibilities by deciphering all the medical jargon and making this information simple to understand in a court of law. If a brain injury is due to clinical negligence, then the case becomes ever more complicated. It takes a good deal of medical understanding to get to the bottom of a doctor’s report when he or she doesn’t want to admit liability.


Fighting through the medical and legal jargon can take a long time. A specialist brain injury lawyer will often spend years on a case, determined to get to the bottom of it and secure financial compensation and future monetary support for the victim. A sufferer will frequently need assistance from carers and if the head injury was severe enough to limit physical movement, they will also need equipment to assist them through normal day to day activities.


To predict to what degree a person will recover from a head injury is virtually impossible. Some people are more resilient than others. Brain injuries are sometimes widespread, affecting various parts of the brains activity, physical functioning and character changes and others will be localised having a much more predictable effect. Even the years of knowledge and training that a brain injury lawyer builds up will not be able to foretell what the future holds for an individual any more so than a doctor.


However, they will make a much better case than an inexperienced lawyer and can build a case that leaves no stone unturned as to the possibilities of what lies ahead.

How To Get The Compensation Claim You Deserve With The Help Of An Injury Lawyer

February 27th, 2011 admin
4930790569 176614522b m How To Get The Compensation Claim You Deserve With The Help Of An Injury Lawyer

An injury lawyer refers to an expert legal professional that specializes in handling cases where the clients have sustained physical or emotional injuries due to the negligence of other parties. Such cases may even include slip and fall accident. If you are visiting someone else’s building and if the floor of that building is so slippery that you fall and get injured, you can file a lawsuit against the owner of that building. Likewise, dog bites cases are also tort law cases. If a dog bites you and you have to undergo medical treatment, you have the legal right to get monetary compensation from the owner of that dog.

Specialization
     

The specialization of the injury lawyer you hire plays a very important role. As per the law, lawyers are allowed to take up all types of cases under their jurisdiction. However, the best attorney for you is the one who specializes only in personal injury cases. Though it will be very difficult to find attorneys specializing only in dog bites or slip and fall cases, as even top lawyers like Howard Kornberg take up all types of injury cases, including nursing home abuse, motor vehicle accidents, worker’s compensation, discrimination, class actions, medical & legal malpractice, construction site accidents, civil rights claims, toxic exposure cases, bad faith denial of insurance benefits, product defect, brain injuries, burn injuries, paralysis, fractures, slip and fall injuries, bicycle accidents, and even dog bites. 

Conditional Fee Agreement
  
An injury lawyer often charges contingent fee. You do not have to make any upfront payment. In most cases, you will have to sign a conditional fee agreement with the lawyer of the law firm. As per this agreement, the lawyer agrees to take your case with this understanding that if they lose your case, they will not be paid anything as part of their fee. If they win, they will charge as per the provisions of the agreement, which is often a certain percentage of the total amount of compensation you win plus the amount of legal charges that were incurred during the court proceedings. That is the reason why this type of fee arrangement is also termed as “no win no fee”.

Basic Preparation    

Before you hire an injury lawyer, there are some basic things that you must do. For example, in case of a dog bite, you should note down the name, address, and other details of the owner of the dog. Besides that, you should also write down the contact details of those who witnessed the accident, especially those who are willing to come to the court to testify in your favor. Next, you must seek immediate medical attention. Keep copies of all medical documents. Your lawyer will use them to strengthen your case.

Once an injury lawyer takes your case, they will also do thorough investigation. For example, they will try to get the vaccination records and licensing information from the dog owner. They may also contact the local animal control authorities to find out if the dog was a stray. 

California Pedestrian Accident Statistics

February 27th, 2011 admin
5108328806 4db082d4b7 m California Pedestrian Accident Statistics

When cars collide with pedestrians, there is high potential for serious injury. Pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents are a serious problem throughout the world. The United States has a particular problem with pedestrian deaths and injuries. About 5,000 pedestrians are killed and another 64,000 are injured in motor vehicle accidents every year in this country.


The following represents pedestrian accident statistics for the United States according to the National Highway Traffic Association and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.


- Pedestrian fatalities account for 11 percent of motor vehicle fatalities.

- Over 180,000 pedestrians have been killed in motor vehicle accidents between 1975 and 2005.

- Pedestrians comprise the second largest category of motor vehicle accident deaths following occupant deaths.

- On average, a pedestrian is injured in a traffic accident every 8 minutes.

- On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic accident every 111 minutes.

- In 2005 a total of 4,881 pedestrian were killed in motor vehicle accidents.

- In 2005, the per capita pedestrian death rate was 1.6 per 100,000 people.


Generally, pedestrian deaths rates are higher in urban areas. There is a higher ratio of deaths to injuries in rural areas because of higher impact speeds on rural roads. However, pedestrian accidents occur most frequently in urban areas because pedestrian activity and traffic volumes are greater compared to rural areas.


The National Safety Council estimates that 85.7 percent of all non-fatal pedestrian accidents in the United States occur in urban areas and 14.3 percent occur in rural areas.


- Almost two-thirds of all pedestrian fatalities occur on urban roads.

- In 2005, 72 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred in urban settings.


Although a substantial number of pedestrian injuries occur at intersections, the majority of pedestrian accidents occur at locations other than intersections. This is due to higher vehicle speeds and the fact that drivers are not expecting any stops.


- Over 40 percent of the fatalities in 2002 occurred on roads without crosswalks.

- In 2003, 65 percent of accidents involving pedestrians occurred at non-intersections.

- In 2005, 71 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred on major roads, including interstates and freeways.


Statistically, males are more likely to be involved in a pedestrian/motor vehicle accident than females.


About 69 percent of pedestrian fatalities are male, and the male pedestrian injury rate is approximately 58 percent higher than for females.


- In 2005, 70 percent of pedestrian deaths were comprised of males.

- In 2003, the male pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 population was 2.27 – more than double the rate for females which was 1.01 per 100,000 population.


The vast majority of fatal pedestrian/motor vehicle collisions occur on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in later evening hours.


In 2005, the proportion of pedestrian deaths was much greater on Friday and Saturday. Also, 45 percent of the pedestrian deaths in 2005 occurred between 6 pm and midnight.


- In 2005, 49 percent of all pedestrian fatalities occurred on Friday (17 percent), Saturday (18 percent), or Sunday (14 percent).

- In 2005, 24 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred from 6 pm-9pm and 21 percent occurred from 9pm-midnight.


Young children and the elderly are the most vulnerable for pedestrian accident related injuries. Based on population, children under the age of 16 years are most likely to be struck by motor vehicles.


- In 2003, nearly one-fifth of all traffic fatalities for victims under the age of 16 were pedestrians.

- In 2003, almost one-forth of all traffic fatalities for children between 5 and 9 years old were pedestrians.

- In 2002, 40 percent of all pedestrians under the age of 16 occurred between 5 pm and 9 pm.


Elderly pedestrians, although struck less frequently than children, are more likely to die after being struck by a vehicle. This group accounts for 16 percent of all pedestrian fatalities and 6 percent of all pedestrian injuries.


- In 2005, the rate of pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people was about twice as high for people age 70 and older than for those younger than 70 – 2.9 per 100,000 population.

- In 2005, 35 percent of pedestrian deaths among people 70 and older occurred at intersections, compared with 21 percent for those younger than 70.


Speeding is a major contributing factor in motor vehicle accidents of all types and has serious consequences when a pedestrian is involved.


At higher speeds, motorists are not as likely to see a pedestrian. At higher speeds, motorists are even less likely to be able to stop in time to avoid hitting a pedestrian.


- A pedestrian has an 85 percent chance of death when involved in a motor/vehicle collision at 40 mph, a 45 percent chance of death at 30 mph, and a 5 percent chance of death at 20 mph.

- In 2005, 78 percent of pedestrian deaths in rural areas occurred on roads with speed limits of 40 mph or higher.


When a pedestrian is involved in a motor vehicle accident they are at risk for countless serious injuries. Pedestrians’ head, legs, and arms are the most vulnerable in an accident. Often, pedestrians endure extreme bodily injuries such as:


- Traumatic brain injury

- Spinal cord injury

- Paraplegia

- Quadriplegia

- Coma

- Fractured bones


Most pedestrians are struck by the front of a passenger vehicle. The initial contacts are with the vehicle bumper and/or the front edge of the hood, depending on the shape of the vehicle structure. When pedestrians are struck by taller vehicles such as SUV’s or pickup trucks, the initial contacts are higher on the body.


In an NHTSA pedestrian accident study, 40 percent of pedestrian injuries resulted from contact with the vehicle, 32 percent resulted from contact with the ground, and 26 percent resulted from contact with unknown objects.


- For a young child, the bumper will strike the thigh, and the front edge of the hood will strike the torso.

- For an adult male, the bumper will strike the knee area, and the front edge of the hood will strike the thigh.


There are numerous common factors that contribute to pedestrian accidents. Negligence is one of the most common factors. Motorists have a responsibility to adhere to the laws of the road and drive in a safe and observant manner at all times. Pedestrians are killed every day due to a driver’s negligence.


Some common negligent practices by motorists include:

- Inattentive or pre-occupied drivers are potentially very dangerous for pedestrians.

- A driver’s failure to observe posted speed limits can add to the severity in a pedestrian/motor vehicle accident.

- A driver’s failure to yield the right of way to pedestrians at marked cross walks can increase the chance of being involved in a pedestrian/motor vehicle accident.

- A driver’s disregard for traffic control devices can also increase the chance of being involved in a motor/vehicle accident.


There are many things that can be done to reduce pedestrian collisions. Improving the design and materials of roadways and implementing educational and community programs have great potential.


Some of the most important categories of engineering changes that can be made to roadways include separation of pedestrians from vehicles by time or space, measures that increase the visibility and conspicuity of pedestrians, and reduction of vehicle speeds. Separation countermeasures reduce the exposure of pedestrians to potential harm on the roadside and when crossing the street.


Some effective separation countermeasures include:

- Sidewalks

- Overpasses

- Underpasses

- Refuge islands in the medians of busy two-way streets


Increased illumination and improved signal timing at intersections can be effective in increasing the visibility and conspicuity of pedestrians.


Some measures to increase the visibility and conspicuity of pedestrians include:


- Increased intensity of roadway lighting

- Diagonal parking

- Relocation of bus stops at traffic signals from the near to the far side of the intersection


Because traffic speeds affect the risk and severity of pedestrian accidents, reducing speeds can reduce pedestrian deaths.


Some effective engineering measures to reduce vehicle speeds in urban areas include:


- Construction of modern roundabouts in place of stop signs and traffic signals

- Traffic calming devices such as speed humps

- Multiway stop signs


Educational and community-based programs could greatly reduce the number of pedestrian collisions.


Educational messages that instruct children about street crossings could particularly reduce neighborhood accidents involving children darting out into the street.


Community-based programs could contribute by building and refurbishing playgrounds in urban areas to reduce the number of children playing in the streets. The establishment of supervised recreation programs would also reduce the number of children playing in the streets.


Long-term data shows a declining trend in pedestrian/motor vehicle collisions. Since 1975, pedestrian deaths have declined from 17 percent to 11 percent in 2005.


The rate of pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people decreased from 3.5 in 1975 to 1.6 in 2005. Even though the annual number of pedestrian accidents is slowly decreasing, the fact remains that there are 69,000 pedestrian accidents annually.


Young children and the elderly have always held the highest risks of pedestrian death and injury. Change and progress must be a priority for as long as it takes to eliminate pedestrian collisions altogether.

Brain Activity Evident In Vegetative Patients

February 27th, 2011 admin
3376908363 d91e8768e5 m Brain Activity Evident In Vegetative Patients

Brain activity has been detected in patients in a vegetative state due to a traumatic brain injury, according to a recent study conducted by a group of neuroscientists.

The study examined patients who have been diagnosed in a vegetative state where they are alive, but are void of any sense of awareness. Around 20,000 Americans are considered to be in a vegetative state. Between 100,000 and 300,000 Americans are afflicted have been diagnosed with a minimally conscious state, that, although less severe, still causes patients to have intermittent or impaired awareness.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, compared brain-injured patients’ brain activity to a normally functioning brains when placed in a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). Through careful instructions, patients were told to imagine playing tennis or exploring their home. Although most patients did not display any brain activity, a significant number of patients mirrored the brains of healthy individuals.

The research found that some patients – one man in particular – could answer detailed questions about his life prior to his brain injury by alternating his thoughts – thinking of exploring a home when responding “no” or envisioning playing tennis when answering a “yes” question. Patients were able to correctly answer simple yes-or-no questions in spite of being unable to communicate physically.

Adrian Owen, a lead neuroscience researcher from the University of Cambridge, found the study to be incredible because of the possible implications associated with the research. The results could greatly impact future diagnosis and brain injury treatments. Modern technology could allow some patients the ability to communicate, even if to signify discomfort or pain, although Own maintains that additional research is needed.

The study rehashes the case of Terry Schiavo, who was left in a vegetative state due to oxygen deprivation – however the researchers found the brain activity was only apparent in patients whose injuries were sustained from head trauma. Schiavo became headline news in 2005 when a family dispute to remove her feeding tube turn required congressional intervention.

Family members worldwide have bombarded researchers with requests to study vegetative loved ones, however Own cautioned that the studies are only conclusive if they patient is conscious during the test. Additional research is needed to provide more accurate diagnoses for patients who were unable to respond because the researchers were unable to determine if the patient was sleeping or able to hear the questions.

Cerebral Palsy and Other Brain Dysfunctions: – Language and Communication Development

February 26th, 2011 admin
3156832874 26c5a89c45 m Cerebral Palsy and Other Brain Dysfunctions: Language and Communication Development

 

Parents understandably want their child not only to be able to understand them, but to be able to communicate with them too. Interaction is fundamental to humanity, – in a way I think it defines who and what we are. We are the only species which uses the symbolism of language and when a human being cannot, it causes immense distress. So why does the language and communication development of children with cerebral palsy so often fail? Let’s examine some of the major reasons.

 

(1). Many difficulties with the development of language and communication begin very early on, when the parents bring the child home from hospital after birth. The parents being so weighed down by the worry and the crippling stress of having to cope with their child’s unexpected problems and reeling from the shock of being informed that their child has this problem known as ‘cerebral palsy,’ do not then interact with their child as they would have done had he been an uninjured baby. They may miss the communicative signals given out by the child and may not supply baby with input appropriate to the development of language. This is no fault of the parents, who are invariably doing a heroic job in caring for their baby’s needs and helping him to survive despite sometimes overwhelming difficulties; – it is merely a set of circumstances produced by the extremely stressful situation in which the parents find themselves.

 

So, having missed the early communicative opportunities provided by normal parent – child interactions, baby’s language and communicative skills fail to develop. Instead, baby sometimes completely fails to develop a communicative understanding with Mum and Dad, with the consequence that an understanding of language fails to develop. In the absence of an understanding of language, the child also fails to produce language. In other cases, where some appropriate but incomplete interaction has taken place between parents and baby, a partial understanding of language develops, with little or no production of language.

 

Another reason for the failure of language to develop is because the child is experiencing sensory distortions. The brain injury which produces what we understand as cerebral palsy can adversely affect the functioning of several structures within the brain, which are responsible for the processing of incoming sensory information from the environment. Obviously we all know that successful language development is dependent upon successful auditory development, quite simply if the child’s ability to process sound is poor, then his language development will be poor. – If his ability to process sounds is non – existent, his language development is likely to be non existent. It is quite simply a matter of successful sensory reception leading to successful motor output (language is an output skill after all). – In other words it is a sensory – motor loop, the successful development of the motor part of the loop being dependent upon the successful development of the sensory part of the loop. So if we have a child who hears nothing, we are likely to face NINO situation (Nothing in – nothing out), or if we have a child who is experiencing sensory distrotions, whose hearing is hypersensitive, or hyposensitive, or who is experiencing difficulties in regulating his auditory attention, we could well be facing a CICO situation, (Chaos in, – chaos out).

The third factor which will affect language development is direct injury to the left hemisphere of the cortex, around the regions known as Wernicke’s area (responsible for our ability to understand language) and Broca’s area, (responsible for our ability to produce language). The connotations for injury in these areas is obvious and does not need to be discussed in depth here.

When a child suffers a brain injury, invariably the ability of his brain to process information is slowed down. As a consequence he may simply not be able to process the content of meaning of of interaction quickly enough and if he does, he might be unable to respond quickly enough. This can be very frustrating for a child who is desperately attempting to interact as he quite simply keeps missing his turn and as a consequence, in frustration he may simply stop trying.

 

The question is, what can we do to assist the language development of the child with cerebral palsy, or other types of brain dysfunction, such as autism, dyspraxia, learning difficulties and specific language impairment?

 

What we do is to treat these four major factors sequentially.

 

First of all, we take parents and their child back to the patterns of initial interaction, which they have possibly missed. We teach parents to look for communicative signals given by their child and we teach them how to respond to those signals in order to give encouragement to their child to repeat them and to further expand them. Very often, these simple procedures can ‘kick start’ language development and we can then guide the child through the next stages.

 

Secondly we address any sensory distortions the child might be experiencing. This might mean the construction of an ‘adapted developmental environment’ as a temporary measure in order that we might train the parts of the brain which are responsible for sensory processing to ‘re-tune’ their activity to a more normal level. Again this can often provide a boost to language development.

 

The third problem, which involves direct injury to the areas of the brain involved with language comprehension and production can be more problematic, but is certainly not hopeless. The reason these areas of the brain are not functioning correctly is the fact that out of the millions of neural networks involved with these functions have lost cells due to injury. Therefore individual networks are operating without their full complement of brain cells. The effect of this is that they operate less efficiently and language comprehension and production is constrained. We can however use stimulatory techniques to train these networks to operate more efficiently and can utilise the concept of sprouting (dendrites forming new connections, thereby enhancing neural network funtion), and the concept of neurogenesis (the production of new brain cells), in order to encourage neural networks to recruit new cells.

 

The final problem, the one of slower speed of processing is perhaps the most easily addressed. Quite simply, children must be given more time to process information, more time to plan a response and more time to respond. In this way they will not miss their turn in an interaction and will not withdraw into themselves in frustration at their failure.

 

If your child has issues with language and communication, or indeed if you are an adult who has suffered a brain injury and you are interested in Snowdrop’s approach to treating language and communication difficulties, go to our website at http://www.snowdropcerebralpalsyandautism where you will find our contact details.

 

Are Men & Women Created Equal In Studies?

February 26th, 2011 admin
4485190116 535219da07 m Are Men & Women Created Equal In Studies?

Men’s and women’s brains are different. According to the author of “The Male Brain”, men’s dorsal premammillary nucleus is bigger, making them more territorial. Their amygdala is bigger too, making them more alert to threats. Men’s sexual pursuit area of the brain is 2.5 times bigger than women’s. Add to that the 200%-250% testosterone increase from pre-adolescence and you get “man trance” – that glazed-eye look men have when looking at attractive women. Nevertheless, male brains fall in love as hard and fast as female brains – stopping their brain waves from waving at other women.

Obese men have a higher risk of injury in head-on car accidents. In a study published in the online journal Public Library of Science Medicine, fat crash dummies were used in a crash simulator; and the findings confirmed data from the National Automotive Sampling System on approximately 11,000 head-on crashes. Obese male drivers had a higher risk of serious injury and of injuries to the head, face, chest and spine. Overweight people had a lower risk of injury and women had more injuries to the abdominal area. In a perfect world this information would help drive down obesity.

Trans fats increase women’s risk of sudden cardiac death. After analyzing data from more than 86,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study, Harvard researchers found that women with heart disease whose daily calories exceeded 2.5% trans fats were 3 times more likely to die from sudden cardiac death than women whose daily calories didn’t exceed 1% trans fats. Trans fats are in processed foods and fried foods. They raise LDL, the bad cholesterol and lower HDL, the good cholesterol. They also increase heart disease risk, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Trans fats are put in food to extend shelf life – not human life.

However, there is good news for women. Walking reduces stroke risk. A study published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke involved approximately 39,000 female health workers in the Women’s Health Study. For 12 years the women, age 45 or older, were periodically asked about their physical activity. After taking into account age, aspirin use, smoking and other variables, women who walked for 2 hours a week – at any pace – had a 30% lower stroke risk. No links between more vigorous activities and reduced stroke risk were found, but another study is needed for men – maybe a “walkmen” study.

Medical Injury Claims Lawyer

February 26th, 2011 admin
4931384716 91bfa2d7a7 m Medical Injury Claims Lawyer

While undergoing medical treatment, one must ensure that the doctors are well experienced. Inexperienced doctors can indeed risk the lives of people. Hence, it is advisable to get treatment from capable doctors. If for any reason, any person becomes a victim of medical maltreatment, he or she can make a medical injury claim. Medical injury claims lawyer can help such victims get appropriate compensation.

A victim can approach such specialists for any concerns about medical treatment, medical conditions that one may have developed through work, or as a result of a personal injury in an accident. The information furnished by the claimants will be kept confidential. The specialists can guide a person and also undertake any kind of legal work. They will list out the alternatives that a claimant can make use of. No win no fee claims procedure can help get compensation without paying any fee. Irrespective of the fact whether a person wins or loses the case, one can get compensation. This type of claims procedure is very popular with victims of accidents.

Medical negligence can arise out of many circumstances. A victim of medical negligence can get suitable compensation for any kind of following injuries:

•  Delay in responding to signs of distress in childbirth- including cerebral palsy cases
•  Episitomy injuries
•  Failure or delay in the diagnosis of a condition
•  Failed Vascectomy leading to a pregnancy
•  Birth injury including
•  Dental negligence
•  Failure to diagnose or incorrect diagnosis of epilepsy
•  Brain injury
•  Obstetric cholestatis
•  Failed Sterilisation leading to a pregnancy

The solicitors can help make medical injury claims quickly. A person can also look online for instant help on making a claim. It is not difficult to get information on medical injury claims procedure. This will save a substantial amount of time and money of the borrower too. A person can benefit from the services of the solicitors who  specialize in representing injured clients who wish to make a claim for compensation as a direct result of having sustained a shoulder injury either at work, in the car or in a public place. Any person who has suffered an injury in the last three years which was not his fault, he or she can make a claim.

Often neck & shoulder injuries result due to a road traffic accident or any kind of physical exertion. Such people can make neck & shoulder injury compensation. A person can recover the losses suffered in such kind of injuries. The claims case must be substantiated with adequate proof of the incident either in the form of medical reports or eyewitness.

Brain Damage Lawyers

February 26th, 2011 admin
5285378977 9945aff514 m Brain Damage Lawyers

As a victim of an accident that results in brain damage, your future may depend upon the successful resolution of a legal claim.

The brain is our most vital organ. Destruction or degeneration of brain cells through an accident can seriously affect brain functions, bringing your life to a complete standstill.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident that has resulted in a significant head injury, you need to act as quickly as you can to make sure your rights are protected. In addition to contacting a medical professional to start immediate treatment, you should consider whether or not you have a potential legal claim that may result in compensation for your injuries. Here, the wise decision is to consult a Personal Injury Lawyer who has experience prosecuting brain injury cases.

A wide variety of situations both within and outside the workplace can lead to accidents resulting in brain damage. Examples include accidents at construction sites, major impact automobile accidents, explosions, falls from significant heights or, unfortunately, the negligence of medical professionals. All can cause various types of brain dysfunction. While some brain injuries do not necessarily lead to long-term impairment or disability, even small or mild injuries are serious threats to your livelihood and require immediate attention.

If you have suffered a serious head injury in an accident caused by another’s carelessness, you need to contact an experienced Brain Injury Lawyer as soon as possible. The laws and legal procedures are constantly changing, so it is important that you act without delay to protect your legal rights.

GEKLAW is there to help evaluate your claim and to obtain fair and just compensation. As one of the leading personal injury law firms in California, we are experienced in handling brain injury cases and have earned a stellar reputation for obtaining excellent results for our clients. Though choosing a lawyer often seems like a daunting task, just a quick read through our success stories and testimonials will convince you that GEKLAW is a firm you can trust to provide solid, compassionate and high quality representation.

If you are in need of a brain damage attorney, GEKLAW is where you need to turn. You can learn more about us at www.geklaw.com.

Malpractice Involving Anesthesia Often Hard to Prove

February 25th, 2011 admin

Medical malpractice involving anesthesia currently accounts for a large number of medical malpractice in the United States. In any surgery with anesthesia involved, the risks involved with that surgery greatly increase. It is the anesthesia that is more dangerous to the patient at times than the surgeon’s blade. Death can result from any problem with anesthesia, patients can have very poor reactions, and there is little room for error in an anesthesia situation. For these reasons, allegations of medical malpractice are common in anesthesiology because problems are so common and the resulting outcome for the patient is generally poor. Medical insurance premiums for anesthesiologists are generally very high and substantially higher than most all other medical specialties.

The Brutal Facts

The following statistics provide a clear picture of just how frequent medical malpractice involving anesthesia really is:

· In 2002, 467 medical malpractice payments were made due to anesthesia-related malpractice.

· In 2002, 8,190 was the mean medical malpractice payment made due to anesthesia-related malpractice.

· Almost 6,000 anesthesia-related medical malpractice payments were made from 1990-2002, and in those years, 5,935 was the average payment for anesthesia malpractice.

While anesthesia injuries are most often thought of as occurring in the operating room, they can occur in a wide variety of settings including the pre-operative and recovery rooms, a procedure room, during labor and child delivery, during sedation for certain dental procedures, and during a wide variety of out-patient medical procedures in doctors’ offices and surgery clinics.

Who Can Be Responsible?

Contrary to popular belief, anesthesia medical malpractice cases are not limited to anesthesiologists since nowadays a great many medical practitioners administer sedatives and anesthetics. Having specialized training and certification is one way to reduce the risk to the patient, and it is highly likely that the seriousness and rate of complication increases substantially outside the setting of an operating room with an anesthesiologist present. Extremely severe complications and even deaths have occurred in surgery clinics and dentist offices during procedures that required general anesthesia; trained anesthesia staff were typically absent in the majority of these cases.

Potential defendants in anesthesia-related medical malpractice cases can include anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, nurses, surgeons, doctors, dentists, and residents. Demonstrating the negligence of the anesthesiologist or anesthesia staff is also among the most difficult since the plaintiff is often unconscious or sedated at the time of the malpractice, and unreliable and scant records are often the only source of information as to what actually happened.

Because the patient is sedated or unconscious at the time the anesthesia malpractice occurs, it is imperative that a record of the goings-on before, during and after the procedure be accurately kept and preserved. A serious injury or death will draw the immediate attention of all the medical professionals involved, and, unfortunately, medical records are often altered or even “lost” after mistakes happen. Only careful inspection of medical records will reveal any alterations; therefore, appropriate document analysts should be employed by your medical malpractice attorneys to help with your case.

Handling the personal injury case that arises from anesthesia medical malpractice requires the skill of an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Efforts to preserve medical evidence must be immediate, and a deep understanding of medicine with great attention to detail is imperative on the part of your legal representative.

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