Charlie Louvin

A group of London doctors have discredited a study that hinted at a possible connection between the combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) and Autism published by Dr. Andrew J. Wakefield in 1998.

Dr Wakefield’s published study had triggered a wave of debate and research on the actual cause of the childhood disorder. His conclusions were drawn from the results of tests conducted on 12 children.

It stated that Thimerasol, the mercury-based component once used as a preservative in the vaccine, was a suspected link to autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study drew much criticism from doctors, medical scientists, and greater speculation from the public, especially, parents of children diagnosed with the mental disorder. Now conclusive results have trashed that theory.

Last year, a team of researchers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London compared the differences in the responses to the MMR jab to see if there were any abnormal responses that could have triggered autism. Tests were carried out on 240 children between age 10 and 12. Three groups-children with autism, those without and children with special educational needs, had their antibody levels increased and their blood samples analysed.

After numerous tests, Dr. David Brown said they found no evidence indicating that MMR caused autism.

The Centers for Disease Control had also disputed Wakefield’s study stating that there was no scientific evidence to support his conjecture and that the MMR vaccine was completely safe. It stressed that the vaccine was developed to protect children from many fatal …

A new Consumer Reports tool allows users to compare hospitals online. Your Hospital Stay lets website members punch in a state and city then review information about the most expensive and the cheapest hospitals in the area. The tool for comparing hospitals uses information based on the 2016 Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, a study conducted by John Wennberg, M.D., Elliott Fisher, M.D., and colleagues at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Health insurance often pays for only a portion of hospital-related costs. Learn more about the new tool that provides information about the most expensive and the cheapest hospitals to help save money on healthcare.

Using the Online Hospital Comparison Tool

The online hospital comparison tool provides information about average costs of hospitals by metro area, making it easy to find the most expensive and the cheapest hospital care online. The website also provides information about aggressive vs. conservative treatment available from regional hospitals. The Consumer Reports hospital comparison tool defines “aggressive” as having more days in the hospital and more visits from attending physicians. A side note on the website explains that aggressive care isn’t always better. The note states that in cases of life-threatening chronic conditions, more aggressive treatment in the hospital doesn’t always improve patient outcomes and can shorten life.

Most Expensive and Cheapest Hospitals in Portland, Oregon

Plugging in Portland, Oregon into the online tool to compare hospitals in the area netted some interesting results:

• Legacy Good Samaritan

Home Health Care is a brilliant facet of modern medicine. After 22 days in the hospital with a life threatening illness, I was sent home with scheduled visits for home health care. I was still on IV antibiotics via a PIC line and had a 10cm open wound on the side of my neck. HHC came in that first day and taught my husband how to administer the antibiotics and when, and scheduled further dressing changes. At this point I had a wound vac dressing, but that was soon discarded as the area was problematic for that therapy. I was consistently impressed with the professionalism of the nurses that visited me. They were obviously educated and specifically trained to home care and most of them were personable and respectful to me and my husband. I especially liked the ones who told me what they were doing every step of the way, and who listened to my concerns and questions and answered them particularly. It is so necessary to quiet fears and present listening is the best way to do that, from a patients point of view.

I had a great rise in peace of mind being able to leave the hospital and go home; it felt like such a victory. It also facilitated my husband being able to return to work and those caring for my home and pets to return to their lives. If home health care had not been available, these milestones in my recovery would have been …

Health Coach Nico Vazquez received his Bachelors of Art’s in Exercise Science from Warner University. He played four years of baseball at Warner and led the Florida Sun Conference both junior and senior years in stolen bases. Later, he played professionally with the Toronto Blue Jays baseball organization. Nico currently resides in Los Angeles, and has been a Health Coach for two years.

How did you get involved in becoming a Health Coach?

I began as a health coach when I first moved to L.A. While looking to make some extra income. I heard about the Herbalife opportunity became a HERBALIFE distributor-health coach

Is this the same as a Fitness Trainer?

Negative. There are “fitness trainers” who also do the health coaching work but, as a health coach we do of course focus and encourage a healthy active lifestyle but mainly focus on the nutrition aspect.

What are the common mistakes people make when they set out to, “get in shape?”

1. Cut calories (eat less) and workout more. Yes it is important to keep your calorie count under your RMR (resting metabolic rate/ the amount of calories your body burns at rest) when trying to lose weight, but it is more important that our bodies are receiving the right amount of nutrition or fuel for the body to function properly. When people start eating less to keep the calories low they are also depleting the nutrition value the body is getting.

2. Don’t eat anything- big mistake. Again, the …