05/26/2015 |

Crowdfunding for a cure

With World Digestive Health Day just around the corner on May 29th, we look at how technology and the social media networks can also be an effective ally for researchers of coeliac disease and the patients they seek to help.

From Twitter to the Apple ResearchKit to the multitude of mobile apps on the market,in previous posts we have looked at ways that technology and social media can encourage medical information sharing for the benefit of more and more people around the world.With World Digestive Health Day just around the corner (May 29th) it is therefore the perfect time to look at how technology and social media can also be an effective ally for researchers – and ultimately patients- when it comes to raising both funds and awareness for coeliac disease. An elusive diagnosis can mean years of suffering Due to its Read more
05/05/2015 |

Tweeting the way to better asthma control

a crowd of people under internet and social media icons

The UK has one of the highest rates of asthma in Europe, with 5.4 million people (1 in 11 children and 1 in 12 adults) affected. As many as 3 people die every day due to asthma, yet approximately 90% of asthma deaths are preventable[i]. With this past 2nd marking World Asthma Day, we look at how the social media giant Twitter is making a difference for asthma sufferers.

An incurable condition, vulnerable to environmental triggers Asthma is a chronic condition that cases narrowing, irritation and inflammation of the lung’s airways in the presence of certain triggers, such as allergens or pollution. This creates symptoms such as of wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing. The chances are that most of us know someone who has asthma, or we might well suffer from it ourselves. Indeed, in the developed world, "occupational asthma" is the most commonly occurring work-related lung condition, responsible for causing or exacerbating at least 9% of adult asthma cases.[ii] For the 18th annual World Asthma Day, the Global Initiative for Read more
11/06/2013 |

When the Internet makes the diagnosis instead of our specialist

According to a study carried out by The Information Standard, thousands of people are said to be taking unnecessary risks with their health by relying on self-diagnosis via unreliable medical information found on the Internet.

The Information Standard is a British organisation that is responsible for certifying (with its seal) information related to health and various medical problems that a user can find online. As a result, it is possible to avoid a large number of cases in which the patient could make wrong decisions and the consequences can be fatal.

Some worrying data Based on the study carried out by this stated body, one in two patients currently searches Google in order to check out their symptoms before consulting their doctor. Some of the patients surveyed even reported that they did this so as not to waste the physicians´ time. As has been echoed in previous posts on this blog, there is no denying that Internet and social media offer the user/patient great sources of information. It is vital that we handle the data responsibly so that they do not end up becoming a serious problem for our health. In the face of Read more