he new European guidelines for diagnosing and managing arterial hypertension maintain the previous classification system based on blood pressure  (BP) levels but recommends a harder-hitting initial treatment approach compared to the previous version, released in 2013. The 2018 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Society of Hypertension (ESH) guidelines document still categorizes patients with systolic/diastolic BP of 130 to 139/85 to 89 mm Hg as having “high-normal” BP. But new in 2018, the European guidelines recommend drug therapy to a systolic BP target less than 140 mm Hg for ..read more

Once the diagnosis of a splenic abscess has been made, the patient must be admitted to the hospital and treated. Treatment depends on the patient’s overall condition, comorbidities, and primary disorder (if any), as well as the size and topography of the abscess. [22] Empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy has a primary role in the initial management of splenic abscesses. The success of antibiotic therapy is not affected by the presence of multiple abscesses or by a polymicrobial flora. The choice of antibiotics is tailored to the culture results. Percutaneous drainage has gained acceptance ..read more

  If you’re looking for protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) without a prescription, condoms may be a good option to explore. They’re discrete, relatively inexpensive, and don’t involve any synthetic hormones. Condoms are also readily available at your nearest convenience or drug store. What are the safest condoms on the market? Here’s what you need to know. How Do Condoms Prevent Pregnancy? A condom creates a barrier between you and your partner during sex. It prevents your skin and fluids from coming into contact with that of the other person. This means th ..read more

A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an infection that’s spread during sexual contact with another person. This includes touching, since some STDs can be spread from skin-to-skin contact. In general, STDs are highly preventable. Almost 20 million new STDs are diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, a large number of those infections could be avoided if people made different decisions about their sexual health. The only guaranteed method to prevent STDs is to abstain from all sexual contact. However, most people d ..read more

What is an eardrum rupture? An eardrum rupture is a small hole or tear in your eardrum, or tympanic membrane. The tympanic membrane is a thin tissue that divides your middle ear and outer ear canal. This membrane vibrates when sound waves enter your ear. The vibration continues through the bones of the middle ear. Because this vibration allows you to hear, your hearing can suffer if your eardrum is damaged. A ruptured eardrum is also called a perforated eardrum. In rare cases, this condition can cause permanent hearing loss. CAUSES Causes of eardrum rupture Infection Ear infections are a c ..read more

What causes an ear infection? An ear infection occurs when one of your eustachian tubes becomes swollen or blocked, causing fluid to build up in your middle ear. Eustachian tubes are small tubes that run from each ear directly to the back of the throat. The causes of eustachian tube blockage include: allergies colds sinus infections excess mucus smoking infected or swollen adenoids (tissue near your tonsils that trap harmful bacteria and viruses) changes in air pressure RISK FACTORS Risk factors for ear infections Ear infections occur most commonly in young children because they have shor ..read more

Sydney based anesthetist Dr. Rob Hackett’s colleagues thought he was a little strange, a little bit off for his decision. Little did they know that his “awkward” decision to write his name and profession across the top of his scrub hat would lead to some beneficial safety changes in the world of medicine. “There were some side remarks, like ‘can’t you remember your name?’” Hackett told Daily Mail. Though it’s a small measure, Hackett says it helps to reduce the chance of delays and misidentification between colleagues who are wearing surgical scrubs in the operating room since their faces are ..read more

Applying for residency and awaiting matching results is probably the most stressful part of medical student’s life up to date, and we’ll probably add more pressure to some of them by compiling the list of 5 most competitive residency programs in US. Residency might not be med school graduate’s first true medical experience, but it’s definitely a start of one’s medical career. Most competitive residencies can be tough to get into – especially if candidate’s GPA and MCAT scores aren’t exactly strong. If med school graduates want to get a perfect match in highly sought after residency program of ..read more

As many Meddy bear’s readers know by now, last month Popular Mechanics published a list on their website of “25 Skills Every Man Should Know,” which included such esoteric talents as “frame a wall” and “extend your wireless network.” How these two made the list over such accomplishments as “find tickets to a Hannah Montana concert,” or “pass gas anonymously on an airplane flight” is beyond me, but then again I’m a doctor, not a popular mechanic. Just for fun I’d like to share my version of this meme, so without further ado here is a list of 25 skills every doctor worth his or her salt should b ..read more

The highest  paid doctor in NHS is earing $800,000 a year, according to new figures showing a $20,000 pay gap between male and female consultants. The statistics show just five out of the 100 top-earning NHS consultants in England are female, despite women making up a third of the total workforce. And six times as many men as women were paid the highest bonuses, worth more than $80,000 each. Best paid of all was a male doctor who earned almost $800,000 in 2016/2017, according to the figures obtained by the BBC. The figure is two and a half times the earnings of the highest paid woman. Male ..read more