A woman self-checks her blood pressure. Doctors warn of the impact of low quality home medical equipment on patients’ health. - Photo kinhtedothi.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Using low quality home medical equipment is having a serious effect on the health of people in Hà Nội, doctors have warned. Nebulizers, blood pressure monitors, glucose metres and electronic thermometres are some of the items often purchased by families in the capital for personal use. Several of them came from unclear sources. Having struggled with diabetes for five years, Trần Thị Xếp, 64, in Nam Từ Liêm District had to go to hospital frequently for checkups. Weary of the long distance from her house to the hospital and medical procedures, she decided to buy a glucose metre at VNĐ1.2 million (US$51) to check her glucose level at home. After using it for a month, she realised the machine showed the same results at different times in one morning. Taking the results to see her doctor, Xếp learned the … [Read more...] about Fears over home treatments
Medical treatment for high blood pressure
Swine flu victim discharged from Đắk Lắk hospital
Đắk Lắk’s Department of Health discharged a patient from hospital yesterday who had been diagnosed with swine flu A/H1N1 10 days ago.— Photo dantri.com.vn ĐẮK LẮK — Đắk Lắk’s Department of Health discharged a patient from hospital yesterday who had been diagnosed with swine flu A/H1N1 10 days ago. Lê Thị Kim Trang, 41, from Cuôr Knia Commune in Buôn Đôn District, was hospitalised on June 3 suffering from stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhoea. She was diagnosed with a gynaecological disease and transferred to Từ Dũ Hospital in HCM City for treatment, where she contracted A/H1N1. Phạm Văn Lào, director of the Đắk Lắk Preventive Medicine Centre, said that Trang was quarantined and treated based on health and safety regulations. Cần Thơ General Hospital also announced yesterday that it has been treating the first swine flu A/H1N1 in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta this year. The 84-year-old patient was taken to hospital on June 8 after five days of treatment for high blood pressure … [Read more...] about Swine flu victim discharged from Đắk Lắk hospital
Many patients in critical condition due to H1N1 flu
Many patients in critical condition due to H1N1 flu The Saigon Times Daily A doctor checks up a male patient, 51, who is infected with the H1N1 influenza virus and receives medial treatment at Bach Mai Hospital - PHOTO: VNA HCMC - Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital recently admitted many patients infected with the H1N1 bird flu, who were all in critical condition. One week prior to the Tet holiday, a flu-infected pregnant woman succumbed to acute respiratory failure and pneumonia and died along with her twin fetuses in the hospital, Nguoi Lao Dong Online reported. The 31-year-old, who was 24 weeks pregnant, was earlier admitted to the hospital with common flu symptoms such as a running nose and sneezing. Her condition quickly deteriorated despite two weeks of intensive medical care, said Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co, head of the Intensive Care Department at Bach Mai Hospital. Two other male patients who tested positive for the H1N1 virus are reportedly in critical … [Read more...] about Many patients in critical condition due to H1N1 flu
Click risk: Dr Google’s not an ideal physician
Many people check out health care information and ask for advice on medical problems on Google. — VNS Photo M was not in good health. She suffered from body pain, swollen joints and gastric haemorrhage. One day, she started vomiting blood and was rushed to the HCM City Medicine and Pharmacy University from An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta. The 42-year-old woman was treated at the hospital and sent home with medicines, prescriptions and an appointment for follow-up. However, after taking the first batch of the prescribed medicines, she did not return to the hospital for the scheduled check up. Based on advice from a neighbour and information that she found on the Internet, she chose a different drug made, ostensibly in Cambodia. It eased her pains in the beginning but after three months of regular use, she was back in the hospital, her symptoms worse. Dr Cao Thanh Ngọc, who treated M, said she was suffering from Cushing’s syndrome, a side effect of treatment with … [Read more...] about Click risk: Dr Google’s not an ideal physician
76-year-old undergoes kidney transplant at HCM City hospital
Doctors from HCM City’s Bình Dân 115 Hospital successfully performed a kidney transplant on a 76-year-old patient. — Photo nld.com.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Doctors from HCM City’s Bình Dân 115 Hospital have successfully performed a kidney transplant on a 76-year-old patient. The elderly man is the oldest kidney transplant patient in the hospital and in Việt Nam, so far. Kidney functions of patient Đào Ngọc V., from the southern province of Đồng Nai, returned to normal two weeks following the transplant. He was discharged from the hospital in stable heath, head of the hospital’s Kidney and Transplantation Immunisation Department Tạ Phương Dung said. The patient faced a high risk of fatality following the kidney failure at a late stage. He had already received peritoneal dialysis treatment for more than a year. He was also diagnosed with a number of other health issues, such as high blood pressure, diabetes type 2 and heart problems. To prepare for the transplant, V. was … [Read more...] about 76-year-old undergoes kidney transplant at HCM City hospital
City hospital sees spike in number of patients with tetanus
A patient diagnosed with tetanus uses a medical ventilator at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. — VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng Viet Nam News HCM CITY — More than 100 patients from southern provinces diagnosed with tetanus have been treated at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases since the beginning of the year, an increase of 50 per cent compared to the same period last year. Of the total, 25 patients on Thursday were admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) for adults and put on a ventilator. Dr Dương Bích Thủy, the ICU’s deputy head, told Việt Nam News Agency that many people were unaware of the importance of having a tetanus vaccine after a puncture wound, especially after stepping on a rusty nail. Many patients with such wounds do not come to medical facilities for treatment, Thủy said, adding that they often use herbs which can lead to severe infection and tetanus bacteria entering the body. A 52-year-old patient from HCM City, … [Read more...] about City hospital sees spike in number of patients with tetanus
Việt Nam faces serious shortage of qualified nursing care workers for elderly
Việt Nam is facing an alarming shortage of qualified nursing care workers for the elderly. Most elderly people are cared for by their relatives or domestic helpers with little medical expertise. – Photo laodong.vn HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam is facing an alarming shortage of qualified nursing care workers for the elderly. Most elderly people are cared for by their relatives or domestic helpers with little medical expertise, health experts say. At a conference on effectively training and using nursing care workers for the elderly on Monday, doctors said Việt Nam is among the five fastest-aging countries in the world. Currently, there are 10.1 million elderly people in the country, accounting for 11 per cent of the population. Dr Nguyễn Trung Anh, deputy director of the National Geriatric Hospital , said that most of the elderly are facing chronic diseases that require lifelong treatment, such as high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, cancers and asthma. Apart … [Read more...] about Việt Nam faces serious shortage of qualified nursing care workers for elderly
Viet Nam enhances diabetes screening
Doctors advise elderly patients about blood sugar levels and diabetes in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Vy Viet Nam News HCM CITY— Việt Nam has instituted many screening programmes for diabetes and pre-diabetes as part of efforts to reduce the rate of undiagnosed diabetics and protect people from cardiometabolic disorders which are intrinsically linked with diabetes and a major cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide, according to experts. Prof Ernesto Maddaloni of University Campus Bio-Medico in Italy cited an estimation by the International Diabetes Federation that in Việt Nam 53.4 per cent of diabetes patients were undiagnosed as of last year. Globally, one in two adults with diabetes is undiagnosed, according to the professor. “Diabetes is a silent disease … [without] any symptoms in the early stages,” he told Việt Nam News on the sidelines of an international conference on “Cardiometabolic disorders in clinical practices”. It is a devastating … [Read more...] about Viet Nam enhances diabetes screening
National Congress of Cardiology opens today
A doctor from Hoàn Mỹ-Đà Nẵng examines a child. More than 2,000 people including 300 speakers will attend the 16th National Congress of Cardiology in the central city on October 6-7. — VNS Photo Hoàng Ngọc Viet Nam News ĐÀ NẴNG — More than 2,000 people including 300 speakers will attend the 16th National Congress of Cardiology in the central city today and tomorrow. Chairman of the Việt Nam National Heart Association (VNHA), Dr Nguyễn Lân Hiếu said at a press conference the congress would hear reports on the latest therapies of heart diseases, cardiology treatment of pregnant women, hypertension control and prevention, comprehensive approach to cardiology for the elderly as well as nursing programme for cardiology patients. Hiếu said the event would also include sessions for young doctors to meet with foreign experts and doctors along with training sessions for local medical staff. “We offer prizes for the best reports of the young cardiologists at the congress with an … [Read more...] about National Congress of Cardiology opens today
Cause of woman’s death after childbirth clarified
Doctors perform a Caesarean operation. — VNA/VNS Illustrative Photo Viet Nam News BÌNH ĐỊNH — The health department of Bình Định Province yesterday sent a report to the Health Ministry to clarify the cause of a woman’s death after childbirth at the provincial general hospital. The death was determined to be a result of amniotic fluid embolism, resulting in respiratory distress syndrome and acute circulation collapse, the autopsy result showed. Lê Quang Hùng, director of the provincial health department, said the woman’s clinical indicators were normal before the sudden amniotic fluid embolism. Patients with amniotic fluid embolism can rarely be saved, according to Hùng. Relatives of the patient refused to take her body home and did not accept the explanation. They blamed the death on the irresponsibility of the doctors and filed a lawsuit against the hospital. The hospital has sent the lawsuit document to authorised forces for further … [Read more...] about Cause of woman’s death after childbirth clarified