Author Archives: Sarenka Smith

Wireless & Wearable Technology

October 27, 2016

A recent study at the 2016 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons confirms the burgeoning theory that wearable health technology, an innovation that has progressively gained traction in medical and consumer arenas, can positively affect healthcare and patient wellness.

By utilizing a wireless activity tracker, physicians now have the ability to monitor their patients’ postoperative recovery: the device is capable of detecting real-time changes in surgical patients’ functional recovery, states principal investigator Virginia Sun.

The simplicity behind wearing a fitness wristband, and any wearable health technology, can more easily help surgeons detect which patients are at risk for complications. The evidence-based study has demonstrated that the integration of wireless technology strongly correlates with ‘postoperative quality-of-life data,’ and reinforces research that surgeons should consistently track their patients’ results and quality of life.

These findings reaffirm the belief that surgeons have the capability to routinely measure patient-centered results–including anxiety, postoperative pain, and the ease with which patients can perform daily tasks and activities. While surgeons do not regularly practice this type of aftercare, and follow up on patients’ recoveries, this monitoring system establishes an exciting and inventive kind of versatility, portability, and ultimate healthcare awareness that should be incorporated and put into practice.

Learn about the latest emerging technologies of innovative medical equipment at MedTech Impact, a conference and exhibition that focuses on the latest trends in healthcare. 

Sexual Dysfunction: Progress and Advancement

October 25, 2016

While the field of sexual dysfunction is fluid and ever-changing, sexual problems continue to be exceptionally prevalent among both men and women. Approximately 10% of women suffer from HSDD—Hypoactive sexual desire disorder—which is characterized by a lack of desire for sexual activity.

Recent research has progressively developed in an attempt to understand both the epidemiology and diagnostic concerns of these conditions, in addition to providing new therapeutic possibilities.

Studies have shown that the Mediterranean diet can be advantageous in improving sexual function. Interestingly, the key factors of enhancing sexual health are maintaining a normal BMI (which reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease), improving overall heart health, and decreasing obesity.

Learn more about the ways that testosterone affects sexual function, the link between sexuality and nutrition, in addition to clinical studies and trials that have shed light upon sexual dysfunction and potential treatment options.  Deliver cutting-edge research to your patients while improving their lives, driving your own practices, and increasing revenue.

Register today for our upcoming workshop in Las Vegas: Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction. Save $100 and receive Dr. Jennifer Landa’s book “The Sex Drive Solution for Women” if you register by October 31st.

Sexual Health: STD Scares & Safety

October 24, 2016

According to the most recent STD surveillance report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, the United States is currently facing the most reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases—ever.

Between 2014 and 2015, the three most commonly reported STDs in the country—syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea—have reached an all-time high, rising by 19%, 5.9%, and 12.8%, respectively. This marks the second consecutive year that these rates have climbed, reversing previous downward trends. While the advancement of medical research and technology has the capacity to curb and treat many of these diseases and infections, there are still devastating consequences. The health outcomes of syphilis can include miscarriage, stillbirth, blindness, and stroke, while chlamydia can cause extensive damage to a woman’s reproductive system if left untreated. Research demonstrates that gonorrhea is rapidly becoming resistant to the antibiotics that once cured it.

Even more troubling are the populations that are the most at-risk, teenagers and young adults, and the lack of support they receive. In 2012, 20 health departments closed their STD clinics, and slashes to local and state budgets have further weakened the ability to support STD care and prevention programs.

Dr. Gail Bolan, Director of the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention, articulated that it is evident that most Americans are not receiving the preventive services they require. In order to address the massive upsurge in STDs, Bolan recommended improving surveillance systems that collect and analyze data on new STD cases, and urging for those with new diagnoses to receive access to treatment. Moreover, she reinforced the critical importance of continuing to study the risks and complications of STDs.

Dr. Jonathan Mermin, Director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, expressed potential ways to try and reverse the epidemic, while highlighting that prevention resources are “stretched thin,” and people are beginning to “slip through the public health safety net.” Ultimately, bolstering prevention efforts and addressing new challenges will reduce health disparities and improve wellness, in addition to saving billions of dollars.

Learn more about sexual health through our Sexual Health Certification. Through didactic and participatory/lab learning, modules focus on the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of sexual health disorders in men and women. Register today for our upcoming workshop in Las Vegas: Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction.