Heartburn or GERD can Kill

Heartburn is a common annoyance. The busy lifestyle, quick meals, fatty or spicy foods all contribute to the occasional need of a chewable pain reliever. The acceptance of heartburn as an inconvenient, but natural, part of the daily grind can blind you to the warning that a severe heartburn symptom can bring.

Heartburn as a Disorder

Heartburn can be a symptom as well as a disorder. Simple heartburn or GERD can be controlled and dealt with. However, heartburn can signal the presence of a much more serious problem. If it’s heartburn, you will have a burning sensation in the chest usually after eating. There may be a spread of the burning to the throat, sometimes accompanied by a bad taste, difficulty in swallowing, belching, coughing, hoarseness and/or wheezing.

It can become worse by lying down or bending over or by eating. Relief can come from an antacid. While the more severe heartburn symptoms may be mistaken for a heart attack, simple heartburn is usually not made worse by exercise. If there is any concern that the pain may signal a heart attack, get help quickly.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Impact of LMS Training on the Medical Field

By Russel Simons

Have we forgotten what those ancient Greeks taught us? "Know thyself," they said. In this day and age when all we'd ever like to know is just a few computer or smart phone keystrokes away, it seems like we would know a little more about ourselves. LMS training and online courseware also makes acquiring knowledge simple. But how familiar are we with our own bodies?

Unless you're a medical student or practitioner, you're probably unfamiliar with at least half of the hundreds of activities that are taking place in your body as you read this article. Personally I know I'm one of those people.

Online medical courses include those in nursing, pharmacy, radiologic science, and food and nutrition. Medical students often use LMS training only to complement real-life experience, but individuals can also benefit from such courseware.

LMS training is a versatile tool in the medical community, and can serve a number of purposes.

For instance, cultural sensitivity training can be deployed using LMS training platforms. Aetna is one health insurance provider that uses online courses to train doctors and nurses in cross-cultural issues. Any clinician who is part of the Aetna network, or who has filed a claim with the insurance company, can take the online course in cultural sensitivity free of charge.

In part due to the scenario in which many Latinos in the U.S. immigrate from countries whose governments provide free or low-cost health care, chronic diseases affect the Latino demographic to a disproportionate degree.

Also, strong doctor-patient bonds and communication are prevented by language barriers.

In response to this situation, LMS training can provide doctors and nurses with ethnic diversity videos and Spanish resources which cover various medical issues.

Just like any training program, whether it's LMS training or face-to-face, rewards are important to ensure student success. For instance, Aetna provides credit for continuing education requirements to those who complete the training.

Tools offered by a robust LMS include video, audio, and podcast-creating tools, as well as demo and screen-recording features. Course creators can design and customize their own learning material for any kind of training necessary. LMS training is simple, efficient, and low-cost. Thanks in part to online resources and courseware, people both inside and outside the medical field are coming to feel confident helping not only themselves, but each other.

About the Author:

No comments: