Understanding Occult Blood Test
The fecal occult blood test (FOBT), aka Stool Hemoglobin or Stool Blood, is a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) that qualitatively detects human hemoglobin from blood in fecal samples. It is often referred to as FIT.
This is a useful screening aid for detecting primarily lower gastrointestinal (G.I.) disorders that may be related to iron deficiency anemia, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, polyps, adenomas, colorectal cancers or other G.I. lesions that can bleed. It is recommended for use by health professionals as part of routine physical examinations and in screening for colorectal cancer or other sources of lower G.I. bleeding.
Colorectal cancer is… Continue reading
Arthritis Infographic
Arthritis affects one out of every five Americans – an estimated 52.5 million people – and is the leading cause of disability in the nation. The condition itself can make it difficult and painful to conduct even the most mundane daily tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, using a computer, or brushing your teeth. The term “arthritis” encompasses over 100 rheumatic conditions that impact the body’s joints, causing pain and inflammation to those who suffer with it.
Arthritis facts, statistics, and warning signs of this disease, as well as practical methods of treatment and exercise to stay limber and reduce… Continue reading
AHCA Secretary and FALA CEO Visit LabFlorida
On July 1, 2014 we had the honor of giving a tour of LabFlorida to AHCA Secretary Elizabeth Dudek and the CEO of Florida Assisted Living Association Shaddrick A. Haston, Esq.
From left to right: Shaddrick Haston, CEO of FALA; Andrei Leonov, President/CEO of LabFlorida; Elizabeth Dudek, AHCA Secretary; and Roberto Rodriguez, VP Operations and Marketing of LabFlorida.
LabFlorida is a leading provider of diagnostic laboratory services to ALFs and home health agencies in Tampa Bay and Central Florida. As an active FALA member we are committed to enhancing the quality of healthcare for ALF residents and our patients by… Continue reading
Why Blood Cultures Are Important
Because every patient with suspected sepsis deserves to be treated following best practices.
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection. Sepsis occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight the infection trigger inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation can trigger a cascade of changes that can damage multiple organ systems, causing them to fail.
If sepsis progresses to septic shock, blood pressure drops dramatically, which may lead to death.
Anyone can develop sepsis, but it’s most common and most dangerous in elderly people or those with weakened immune systems. Early treatment of sepsis, usually with antibiotics and large amounts of intravenous fluids, improves chances for survival.
Sleep Apnea Fact Sheet
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that pauses the breath of a person while they are asleep. The soft tissue at the back of the throat reclines and obstructs a person’s airway while they sleep. It affects people of all ages, however, sleep apnea occurs most often in adults over the age of 60. In fact, over 20% of all older adults in the United States are affected by this disorder.
Not only does sleep apnea affect the quality of a person’s sleep, but also impacts other areas of their health and quality of life, causing headaches, memory problems, and… Continue reading
Multivitamins: To Use or Not to Use?
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer says “Not to Use” in this video brief about recent studies, which clearly demonstrate that vitamin supplementation provides no benefit for the prevention of chronic conditions. There are, however, a few exceptions. Watch now.
Blood Test to Predict Alzheimer’s
A blood test has been developed that can predict with 90 percent certainty whether a senior will suffer from dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease within the next few years.
The test relies on levels of 10 lipids, or fats, in the bloodstream to estimate the chances of either mild cognitive impairment – which involves memory loss and a decline in thinking ability – or the beginnings of Alzheimer’s disease.
Low levels of these 10 blood fats can predict impending dementia symptoms with remarkable accuracy, said the study author Dr. Howard Federoff, executive dean of the Georgetown University School of Medicine.… Continue reading
Old and Poor: America’s Forgotten
While the Census Bureau’s official poverty measure shows 9 percent of seniors nationally live in poverty, the share climbs to about one in seven seniors (15 percent) under the Bureau’s alternative Supplemental Poverty Measure, which takes into account out-of-pocket health expenses and geographic differences in the cost of living. Produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Old and Poor: America’s Forgotten provides a portrait of seniors who are living in poverty, in both urban and rural areas across the United States.
This video shows the difficult challenges that low-income seniors face in making ends meet; every day, they juggle… Continue reading
FALA Mini-Conference
Immunology in the Gut
Take a fascinating trip through a human gut. The gut mucosa hosts the body’s largest population of immune cells. Nature Immunology in collaboration with Arkitek Studios produced this animation unravelling the complexities of mucosal immunology in health and disease.
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