Multitasking is a Myth

Ours has become a society of multitaskers under the delusion that they are completing more and becoming more successful. The image of the multitasker is a memorable one: frazzles, distracted, tired, and detached. Their accessories include cell phone, lists, pens, datebooks, and coffee. They believe they get more done in a day than most people accomplish all week, but is that really the case?

Are Kids Today Less Resilient than their Parents?

A quick glance at headlines on any given day lends credence to the belief that children today are less resilient than previous generations. The headlines tell stories of kids who are bullied to the point of suicide, smoking and drinking whatever they can get their hands on, and behaving in all sorts of unbecoming ways. The more notorious headlines reflect the hatred and disillusion these kids have toward society, so much so that they choose the path of mass murder.

The Friendly Neighborhood Nurse Practitioner

Even as many nurse practitioners are opening their own clinics and are taking active roles in patient care, too many people are still unaware of who the nurse practitioner is and what he or she can do.

Nutrition Labels 101

A lot of hoopla is put on the use of nutrition labels, but the prevailing fact is that most people don’t know how to use the information on these labels. We're going to talk about the basics today.

Prescription Drug Use on the Rise

If you follow statistical numbers from healthcare at all, you've known what is quickly becoming apparent to others in the United States: prescription drug use is on the rise. According to the CDC, in 2007-2008 the percentage of Americans who took a prescription medication in the past month jumped up from 44% to 48%. This translates to 1 out of every 5 children or 9 out of 10 older adults.

Some other interesting numbers from the CDC:

1. Based on data, women were more likely to take prescription medications than men.

2. Prescription drug use increases with age

3. Non-Hispanic whites had the highest rate of prescription medication use while Mexican-Americans had the lowest rate of use.

4. Americans with access to medical care, insurance, and insurance with prescription drug benefits had higher rates of prescription drug use.

5. The most commonly used prescription medications among adolescents 12-19 years old are central nervous system stimulants.

What do you think about these numbers? Are they problematic or troublesome?

Do Americans rely too heavily on prescription medications?