While the prospect of a blood pressure-lowering drug with fewer side effects is exciting, it is important to remember that this was a very small study.
As only 18 people took the drug for just four weeks, and the quadpill was not compared to full strength blood pressure pills, we don't know yet if it is a "miracle" or just a useful option.
although variation in stroke service provision and outcomes have been previously investigated, it is less well known what service characteristics are associated with reduced short- and medium-term mortality. Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
This document summarises the evidence-base on asthma: medicines optimisation priorities (previously titled: high-dose inhaled corticosteroids in asthma). It is a key therapeutic topic which has been identified to support medicines optimisation. It is not formal NICE guidance.
This document summarises the evidence-base on multimorbidity and polypharmacy. It is a key therapeutic topic which has been identified to support medicines optimisation. It is not formal NICE guidance.
Objectives: To evaluate the evidence for stepping down inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) treatment in adults with well-controlled asthma who are already receiving a moderate or high dose of ICS.
Two new reports from the National COPD Audit Programme[1] offer new insight into the clinical effectiveness of COPD care in general practice and highlight many areas for improvement. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
People with intellectual disabilities have greater health needs than the general population, however they also experience greater inequality in accessing healthcare. Registered intellectual disability nurses (RNIDs) have a primary role in supporting these patients to access adequate healthcare and experience optimal health. Asthma affects many people with intellectual disabilities. This article gives an overview of the condition and discusses RNIDs’ role in supporting people to manage their own condition. Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you requesting.
Health Psychology36.2 (Feb 2017): 122-132.
Objective: Although gratitude has been identified as a key clinically relevant trait for improving well-being, it is understudied within medical populations. The current study addressed this gap and extended previous and limited cross-sectional research by examining the longitudinal associations of gratitude to depression in 2 chronic illness samples, arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Recent research suggests that memantine may have a beneficial role in treating chronic pain in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). This study wished to assess whether patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and FMS prescribed memantine have improved pain control to those patients not receiving memantine.
To understand how two types of aerobic exercise affect upper-extremity motor recovery post-stroke. Our aims were to (1) evaluate the feasibility of having people who had a stroke complete an aerobic exercise intervention and (2) determine whether forced or voluntary exercise differentially facilitates upper-extremity recovery when paired with task practice. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
A high intake of cured and processed meats is linked to worsening asthma symptoms, with four or more weekly servings having the biggest impact, new research suggests. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
In this paper, a first in a Series of two, we look at the evidence for an association of post-traumatic stress disorder with incident cardiovascular disease risk and the mechanisms that might cause this association, as well as the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder due to cardiovascular disease events and its associated prognostic risk. We discuss research done after the publication of previous relevant systematic reviews, and survey currently funded research from the two most active funders in the field: the National Institutes of Health and the US Veterans Administration. We conclude that post-traumatic stress disorder is a risk factor for incident cardiovascular disease, and a common psychiatric consequence of cardiovascular disease events that might worsen the prognosis of the cardiovascular disease. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Being diagnosed with and treated for cancer is highly stressful and potentially traumatic. An extensive literature has evaluated the prevalence, predictors, and correlates of cancer-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnoses. In this qualitative review of cancer-related PTSD literature, we highlight conceptual, methodological, and diagnostic issues, and identify clinical implications and areas for future research. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
This professional resource outlines how providers and commissioners can reduce the population average blood pressure through improved prevention, detection and management.
This study found people whose asthma could not be confirmed, despite a recent diagnosis, were less likely to have had objective tests of their lung function.
About one-third were able to safely stop taking asthma medicines under medical supervision.
In the UK, guidelines recommend doctors use spirometry tests in patients with symptoms that might be asthma when the doctor is not sure. A spirometer is a device that measures how much air you can breathe out of your lungs.
When pulmonary rehabilitation is undertaken by people with COPD in a group format (typically in a hospital gymnasium), it reduces dyspnoea, improves exercise capacity and improves quality of life. However, pulmonary rehabilitation is only delivered to a small percentage of people with COPD, with transport to the venue being a common barrier to participation. Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation may be an effective alternative method of delivery. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Inhaled short-acting anticholinergics (SAAC) and short-acting beta₂-agonists (SABA) are effective therapies for adult patients with acute asthma who present to the emergency department (ED). It is unclear, however, whether the combination of SAAC and SABA treatment is more effective in reducing hospitalisations compared to treatment with SABA alone.