Colonoscopies Help Millions of People Annually, But What Can Go Wrong?
There are over 14 million colonoscopies performed annually. This can be a life-saving procedure for many individuals. Colonoscopy exams allow doctors to go inside the large intestine and the colon with flexible tubing attached to a small video recorder. The purpose is usually to use the video image from the recorder to identify polyps, ulcers,...
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National Teen Driver Safety Week Starts This Weekend
According to the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death of young people between the ages of 15-19. It is extremely important to speak with young people in our community about the importance of practicing safe driving behavior at all times, and National Teen...
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Maryland Elementary School Students Exposed to Lead Due to Contaminated Water Pipes
Lead contamination and lead poisoning continue to be major health and safety issues impacting children and families throughout Baltimore and the state of Maryland. Recently, an elementary school in Landover Hills, Maryland was forced to hand out bottled water to students following the discovery of dangerous levels of lead in many of the water fountains...
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NHTSA Reports a Sharp Increase in the Number of Traffic Fatalities in 2015
Traffic fatalities continue to be a widespread public safety issue across the U.S., causing thousands of preventable deaths each year. In the first half of 2016 alone, traffic-related fatalities rose by 10.4% compared to last year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To read more about these shocking statistics, click here. The 2015...
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Misuse of Pitocin Can Cause Birth Injury and Uterine Rupture
Not every woman’s labor is ideal. Some women need medication to help start (induce) labor or manage the length of time the woman is in labor. It is relatively common for pregnant women to be administered Pitocin (or its generic, oxytocin) to manage labor. Pitocin stimulates the uterus, helping to produce contractions. The problem is...
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People Are Injured Every Day Due to Distracted Driving Across Maryland
Distracted driving is a selfish decision that thousands of Americans make every day. When drivers choose to be distracted on their phone instead of concentrating on the road, they are not only putting their own lives on the line, but also the innocent lives of motorists and pedestrians around them. Looking at Maryland specifically, it...
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Sleep Apnea Sufferers Have a Higher Risk of Hypoxia During Surgery
Sleep apnea is a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts while the individual is asleep. Since it is a disruption to REM sleep, those affected often feel fatigued during the day or wake up with headaches and have difficulty with irritability and paying attention. It is also uncontrollable, which can make it potentially dangerous...
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Medical Professionals Often Fail to Diagnose Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States, where it is estimated that at least 100,000 Americans die of PE every year. Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs, where it gets stuck and blocks blood flow, causing fluid and pressure buildup, damage to lung...
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Prince George’s Hospital NICU Shut Down After Infants are Exposed to Dangerous Bacteria
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, MD has been shut down following the discovery of a dangerous, and potentially deadly, form of bacteria. Infants at the NICU are currently being transferred to other hospitals in an effort to prevent the spread of bacterial infections. At this time, nine...
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Recent Study Finds Medical Errors are Third Leading Cause of Death in the United States
Even though medical professionals strive to provide the highest standard of care to their patients, thousands of medical mistakes take place every day in the US. Medical mistakes occur regularly due to communication breakdowns, diagnostic errors, poor judgment, and inadequate skill. These mistakes can directly result in patient harm and death, and are not identified...
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