Medical Equipment and Supplies Blog - QuickMedical

Examples of Aerobic Activities

Being active is essential to health. Aerobic activities are a key part of keeping your blood pressure normal. In some cases aerobic exercise can even lower high blood pressure. Aerobic exercise is an important type of exercise that should be a part of any regular exercise plan. Aerobic exercise is any extended activity that makes you breathe hard while using the large muscle groups at a regular, even pace. Aerobic activities help make your heart stronger and more efficient.

Before civilization humans walked for long distances, sometimes days at a time, to hunt and gather food. It's assumed that humans actually walked all the way from what is now Russia to South America in search of food. It was rare for early humans to die of diabetes or heart disease. Humans seem to be built more for activity than non-activity. However with the advent of civilization and technology, humans find themselves in an increasingly sedentary situation.

Aerobic exercise improves the efficiency of the heart, lungs and blood vessels as well as the efficiency of the metabolic enzymes that regulate the conversion of stored energy in muscle cells. So you probably don't have time to walk from Russia to South America, but you do need to make time for aerobic activities. What are some examples of aerobic exercises? Click ahead to find out.

Mystery Monday: Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes

Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the soccer pitch in front of a stadium packed with spectators last month. Around the same time 30 year old distance runner Claire Squires collapsed during the 2012 London Marathon. Muamba recovered, but Squires did not. Both were considered to be in excellent physical condition, but both were afflicted by a sudden cardiac arrest. University College London sports scientist Richard Weiler said in an interview with Reuters ,"There's so much we don't know." He continued, "We don't know what triggers sudden cardiac death. We don't understand the risks in different sports, we don't understand whether race and genetics have an impact, and we don't know why many cases of sudden cardiac death remain unexplained." To read more about this mystery click ahead.

Naturally Lower Your Blood Pressure

May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month. If you've been diagnosed with pre-hypertension use this opportunity to start participating in your life in ways that will help you feel better. Be pro-active in your own healthcare. It will increase the quality and length of your life. First, start to keep tabs on your blood pressure. Home blood pressure devices have advanced enough in technology so that you can check your blood pressure by yourself easily in a matter of minutes. A wide variety of home blood pressure monitors exist including automatic, manual, pediatric, and even talking blood pressure monitors.

You can lower high blood pressure naturally by making lifestyle changes. Naturally lowering your blood pressure isn't easy, but it can be done with care and attention. Click read more to learn how to lower your blood pressure naturally.

National Nurse Week 2012

National Nurses Day, also called National RN Recognition Day is always celebrated on May 6th and opens National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. National Nurses Week is an important time to recognize the accomplishments and work of nurses across the nation. It's also an important time to remember there is actually a shortage of nurses.

Registered nurses, also called RNs, are professional nurses who often supervise the tasks performed by LPNs, orderlies, and nursing assistants. They provide direct care and make decisions regarding the care for healthy, ill, and injured people. They have a diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree in nursing at entry level, and after passing state board examinations, are granted the title registered nurse. Regardless of degree, RNs have many hours of clinical experience before graduating.

RNs are the largest healthcare occupation in the United States, with an estimated 2.3 million people employed as registered nurses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Spurred by various economic and demographic factors, demand for nurses is projected to increase for the foreseeable future (an increase of 23% between 2006 and 2016, according to the US Department of Labor).

QuickMedical supplies nurses with the medical equipment and supplies they need to do their jobs. Medical equipment and supplies for nursing applications is important. If you are a nurse and you need medical equipment and supplies click around QuickMedical and visit often for promotions. You're sure to find the medical equipment and supplies you need.

Click ahead to read the interesting statistical breakdown of nursing professions growth by percentage.

QuickMedical's Employee of the Month: Karl

Karl is Employee of the Month!

This month's Employee of the Month is Karl, the Administrative Manager Of Government Sales. QuickMedical's government sales division, QuickMedical GS is a major component of QuickMedical's continued success and Karl's sales and administrative skills are a major component of QuickMedical GS. A fellow employee writes, "He has a positive attitude, a smiling face, and is ALWAYS willing to help out...and he has a cute dog." Karl is great to work with and he's a pretty good actor, too! On behalf of the QuickMedical management and staff, we'd like to thank Karl for all his hard work and congratulate him as this month's Employee of the Month.

Brewer Power Exam Table Video and Power Promo

Brewer power exam tables are ideal for hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices and specialty clinics that require infinite positioning ability. The Brewer AssistPRO 7500 can be programmed with up to four preferred table positions, including supine, left lateral prone, lithotomy, and proctology. This new video from Brewer shows the state of the art AssistPRO in action.

Until June 30th, 2012 you'll save $2,000 instantly when you buy the 7500 AssistPRO Power Table. This excellent promotion from Brewer is already factored into the QuickMedical online price for your convenience. Also there's free dock to dock shipping on all Brewer AssistPRO 7500 Power Procedure tables in the continental United States and Canada.

Dental Therapy: Pros and Cons

Oral health is an important part of staying healthy. But today Americans are having trouble accessing the dentist. Not only is there a shortage of dentists and dental equipment and supplies but the cost of dental insurance is often too high.

Many dentists won't treat Medicaid patients and reimbursement rates in the federal-state program are extremely low.

Now a new type of dental practioner might be available for patients. Dental therapists. Dental therapists are limited practitioners who are trained to do "basic" dental work, including X-rays, preventative care, filings and extractions. In the countries where they practice today, most of them are carefully supervised by fully licensed and trained dentists.

Are dental therapists in your future? Some states are planning to regulate dental therapy, but the American Dental Association actually disagrees.

National Lab Week 2012

April 22-28 2012 is National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, "National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week is an annual celebration of the medical laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in every aspect of health care. Since they often work behind the scenes, few people know about the critical testing they perform every day. Lab Week is a time to honor the more than 300,000 medical laboratory professionals around the country who perform and interpret more than 10 billion laboratory tests in the US every year."

To celebrate the American Society for Clinical Pathology held a video contest with the theme "Testing the Limits." Those over-acheivers at Johns Hopkins aren't just operating a world-class hospital, they also have superb filmmaking skills.

Lab results constitute a whopping 70% of a patient's medical record and are vital to the diagnosis and treatement of illness and disease. QuickMedical has applicators, face masks, QM Elite nitrile gloves, spin lift stools, and many other medical products that are integral to pathologists, phlebotomists, and other lab professionals.

If you know a lab professional, tell them thanks for their work in the treatment and diagnosis of disease. And if you are a lab professional, QuickMedical would like to thank you for everything you do. If you have a story or comment about any laboratory product you bought from QuickMedical please post it below in a comment in the 'read more' section below.

Sterilizing Filthy Surgical Instruments

A recent report by the Center for Public Integrity details several dangerous ongoing problems in hospital sterilization practices. Medical equipment and devices must be carefully cleaned after use. Many health professionals are actually unaware of the sterilization techniques used in their facilities and take sterile medical equipment for granted. Some new complex medical devices are very hard to clean. Sometimes human error causes a piece of medical equipment to be improperly cleaned. The author of the report, Joe Eaton, told MSNBC, "We really don't know how many people end up with infections from surgical instruments. Studies that have looked specifically at dirty devices have shown that there is definitely a problem. A study at the University of Michigan, for example, looked at 350 suction cups that had been cleaned and sterilized. They found that every one of them contained blood, bone, tissue, even rust. If the devices are dirty it's not only gross but potentially dangerous, since there's a potential for passing on infection."

Having the right sterilization equipment for your hospital is the extremely important first step in making sure that medical equipment is kept hygienic. Medical autoclave sterilizers by Tuttnauer are the trusted standard in medical equipment sterilization. While not all medical equipment is autoclavable, many surgical, procedure, and examination devices are, and care should be taken to ensure that the autoclave process is done correctly to ensure clean instruments.

Currently if your clinic or facility orders a Tuttnauer EZ9, EZ10 , or EZ10k Autoclave they can receive a $400 rebate or a free Ultrasonic Cleaner with ss basket. Click read more for details.

Video: QuickMedical is Your Stadiometer Source

QuickMedical.com is your online source for medical equipment, supplies and specifically stadiometers. The stadiometer definition, according to Wikipedia and the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is a piece of medical equipment used for measuring height. It is usually constructed out of a ruler and a sliding horizontal headpiece which is adjusted to rest on the top of the head. Stadiometers are used in routine medical examinations and also clinical tests and experiments.

QuickMedical is the online expert in stadiometers. We sell the trusted gold standard in digital stadiometers the 235A Heightronic Digital Stadiometer which is used by endocrinology clinics around the globe and in important pharmaceutical studies for its ease of use and accuracy.

This video of the 235A Heightronic Digital Stadiometer shows briefly how to assemble the stadiometer for height measurement.

Prevent Falls With Brewer LiftMate

Patricia C. Dykes, R.N.D.N.Sc. of Partners HealthCare System, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston wrote in a 2010 study on fall prevention at hospitals, "Falls are a public health problem worldwide. Hospitalization increases fall risk because of the unfamiliar environment, illnesses, and treatments. Patient falls and fall-related injuries are devastating to patients, clinicians, and the health care system. A single fall may result in a fear of falling and begin a downward spiral of reduced mobility, leading to loss of function and greater risk of falls. Older adults are more likely to be injured from a fall. Injurious falls increase hospital costs and lengths of stay." In the study Dr. Dykes and her colleagues investigated whether the use of fall prevention screening and a fall prevention toolkit would decrease overall falls in hospitals. They found that screening each patient carefully with a fall risk assessment decreased overall fall rates.

Brewer now offers an innovative new medical technology that should be added to the fall prevention toolkit of health facilities that handle patients at risk for falls. In hospitals, approximately 3 to 20 percent of inpatients fall at least once during their stay. The Brewer 3000 LiftMate Low / High Patient Lift may become an indispensible part of the fall prevention toolkit of the future and help lower that frightening statistic. The Brewer 3000 LiftMate Low / High Patient Lift assists patients onto exam tables, beds, and procedural surfaces without the dangers of manual assistance. For the millions of Americans that have difficulty getting onto and off of an exam table the LiftMate offers the perfect solution. Click ahead to learn more about the Brewer 3000 LiftMate Low / High Patient Lift.

Buy Affordable Medical Equipment With Confidence

The cost of operating a medical clinic is skyrocketing. Both older and younger doctors agree. When doctors leave medical school they are often in deep debt. The cost of maintaining an office, staff, and medical equipment is dwarfed by the cost of malpractice insurance, administrative costs, and fees for specialists in insurance provider "red-tape." Doctors who were trained in school as scientists and healers are thrown into an unfamiliar system of bureaucracy, advertising, marketing, consulting, and legal minutiae. Small mistakes in complex regulations and standards can quickly turn into big mistakes. While the availability of quality health care remains high in the United States compared to the rest of the world, both doctors and patients agree that there are serious flaws.

If you're a student of history, you might remember that the first tinkering with health care began in 1965 with the introduction of Medicare. In 1973 President Nixon signed a bill that made it possible for hospitals and doctor's offices to become for-profit business entities. The Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 paved the way for advancements in medical technology and care while also leading to the organization of several large health insurance and health provider conglomerates. These two important pieces of legislation on the medical industry laid the groundwork for the American health care system as it exists today.

In 2010 compromise health care reform was passed by Congress. The controversial new legislation is currently under judicial review by the Supreme Court which will ultimately decide the fate of the new laws. Meanwhile costs for medical clinics and facilities continue to rise.

With this in mind, it's not self-serving to say affordable medical equipment is important. As your source for medical equipment and supplies, QuickMedical understands that in a changing system it's important to have some things you can count on. We aim to be that-- a simple online resource you can buy from with confidence no matter what legislation or regulations are enacted. Doctors who run clinics and offices can always come to QuickMedical for the affordable medical equipment they need. For instance the ADC Pro Combo II Colorful Aneroid Blood Pressure Kit is selling at QuickMedical for 50% off the retail price. For a clinic that needs high quality, affordable, but also fun and colorful medical equipment, ordering is simple. Just point, click, and the affordable medical equipment is delivered right to your door.

We have an entire page of professional medical equipment sales and promotion items. Get the best medical equipment from a trusted source-- QuickMedical.

Peripheral Artery Disease and ABI Testing

The American Heart Association encourages early detection of peripheral artery disease with regular ABI testing for at risk patients. Peripheral Artery Disease or PAD is a general term that refers to artery disease anywhere outside of your heart, including the arteries that supply blood to your legs, arms, brain, kidneys, and other organs. The most common form of PAD is found in the patient's legs.

The L450VA Vista ABI (Automated ABI System) is a full-featured ABI system designed to make the ABI exam faster and easier to conduct, interpret and document. The system features an on-screen guide with a convenient hand-held controller to ease the ABI exam. The Summit Doppler Vantage ABI Vascular System is ideal for clinics, medical offices and hospitals.

(Pictured on left is an illustration of how PAD impairs blood flow in the legs.)

The system includes automatic cuff inflation and deflation, three modalities Doppler, PVR, and arterial PPG, Automatic ABI & TBI calculation, a built-in printer for waveforms, pressures, and index printed on adhesive-backed label paper, graphic waveform display with step-by-step instructions, and a software package with full page reporting, exam storage, and download capability to EMR systems in .pdf or .csv format.

Currently at QuickMedical, all ABI Systems receive a 2 Year Warranty for free. A recent article from the UK on ABI tests stated, "Although regarded as a routine test, a great deal of further work is required before a consensus can be reached on a standardized technique for ABI. A practitioner should be familiar with the evidence around the theoretical basis for the ABI test in order to make evidence-based interpretations of the results. In particular, practitioners need to be aware of the technical limitations of using ABI and how variations in ABI methodology can affect the findings." With this in mind, it's important to choose the trusted standard in ABI testing-- Summit Doppler.

Hot Products: QM Elite Nitrile Gloves

QuickMedical's new QM Elite nitrile exam gloves really aren't new anymore. The soft comfortable blue nitrile gloves are a proven success for physicians and manufacturers. Having been used for several months by a variety of customers who use the nitrile gloves for activities ranging from specialized medical procedures to gardening, the blue nitrile gloves have become a customer favorite. QM Elite nitrile exam gloves offer exceptional protection, superior puncture and chemical resistance, and five size options.

Click read more below for the coupon code to get a great discount on these blue nitrile gloves for sale.

QuickMedical's Employee of the Month: Jayme

This month's Employee of the Month is Jayme, our promotions coordinator. Jayme's been with QuickMedical for a while now, but has recently taken over new responsibilities in managing the numerous promotions that QuickMedical and our suppliers both offer. Her attention to detail and positive attitude on promotions projects have benefited everyone at QuickMedical. Her promotions management has especially benefited this blog! With her assistance, outstanding promotions on medical equipment and supplies are now far more easily channeled from the QuickMedical blog to the online social media universe. Working with suppliers, sales, product team, and marketing, Jayme ensures that our customers are getting some of the best online deals on medical equipment and supplies.

Warren congratulates Jayme.

Thanks Jayme, from the management and staff for all you've done for QuickMedical. Please leave a comment below if you'd like to share an anecdote or offer a congratulatory comment.

Medical Stools and CPR

Amy Norton writes for Reuters Health, "When a hospital patient goes into cardiac arrest, doctors and nurses perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, which includes chest compressions that need to be deep enough to move blood out of the heart and toward the rest of the body. But when the rescuer is short and the victim is on a hospital bed there's a problem: It's hard to get enough leverage to press down on the chest, and the rescuer has to rely on upper-body strength. It would seem logical that giving rescuers a boost with a step stool could help."

Could a low-tech piece of medical equipment be a key to life-saving?

In a study lead by Dr. Dana P. Edelson of the University of Chicago Medical Center, several CPR experts experimented with medical step stools and foot stools to learn whether these step stools actually improve CPR quality.

Do sturdy, high quality medical step stools actually improve CPR quality?

Neuro 7: Physician Testimonials

The Neuro 7 is the state-of-the-art neurological instrument for today's physician. The device is a light-weight compact tool that incorporates a reflex hammer, light-touch brush, sharp-dull tool, wartenberg wheel, variable two-point discriminator, plantar stimulation tool, and light source for pupillary reflex into one revolutionary, hand-held device.

With the Neuro 7, a medical practitioner can perform a general neurological exam in a few minutes, and with all tools retracted within the Neuro 7, you have what you need safely and conveniently clipped in your pocket. But what do doctors say about the Neuro 7? Here are some recent testimonials from physicians who use the device.

"I have been using the Neuro 7 for over 3 months now, and it has become an essential part of my neurological exam. I no longer have to carry around multiple tools in my pockets, or search the drawers in my office for Q-tips and safety pins. On numerous occasions I have been able to run into the emergency room and see a patient without lugging my medical bag. The Neuro 7 conveniently allows me to perform a thorough and reproducible sensory exam. The Neuro 7 is a neurologist equivalent of a Swiss army knife."

----Dr. Ian Stein, Neurologist, Brooklyn, NY.

"I am a Board Certified Pain Physician [and have been] using the Neuro 7 for the last 3 years. It is an excellent tool for neurological examination. This tool saves me [from carrying] 6 or 7 [pieces of] equipment [to] each of my examination rooms. I can move with the Neuro 7... The Neuro 7 is an excellent tool for pain practitioners, neurologists, and neurosurgeons. I recommend the Neuro 7 to all practices."

----Dr. Hani Gabriel MD, Gabriel Pain and Spine Center Pittsburgh, PA.

Buying an Affordable Exam Table

Finding the right medical equipment for your clinic, practice, or hospital can be a challenge. If you're looking for medical exam tables for sale, you're in the right place. QuickMedical is your online source for medical equipment and supplies, including affordable medical exam tables. Buying an affordable medical exam table is tricky. The first step is determining what type of exam table you need and your budget.

Do you need a basic exam table or do you need drawers or storage space? Do you need a pediatric themed exam table? Do you need a power exam table that can tilt and rise easily? There are many different styles available and they are all available at QuickMedical.com.

After you've decided what type of medical exam table you need, it's time to determine what options are appropriate for your facility. Options vary depending on what style exam table you choose. Power exam tables feature options like foot controls, drawer warmers and pass drawers (drawers that slide through both sides of the exam table for easy access). Pediatric exam tables usually offer features like raised edges for infant safety, step stools for easy access and child themed table bases and accessories. Standard exam tables offer different drawer configurations, heights, storage space, padding and head rests. Treatment tables and recovery couches are generally basic and ideal for places like the nurse's office at school. Typically these tables are lower to the ground, feature a simple frame and have little storage. Make sure you understand the size of the exam table and the size of the space the exam table will be used in. Even if your new medical exam table fits in the room, make sure it fits through the doors in the building. It's the simple things that are the most important. Speaking of which-- what about color? You can check color on the QuickMedical website, and you can also request color swatches directly from QuickMedical. It's important to get the right color, not just for aesthetics, but for your patients' comfort.

Prices vary from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, so make sure you know your budget before you start. Do your research and don't be afraid to call and ask questions or shoot over an email. Make sure you know exactly what you are buying, so you aren't surprised when the exam table arrives. The distributor would rather help you from the start so you can get the correct table in a timely manner, rather than helping you with the return process because the table wasn't what you expected.

Currently QuickMedical has some limited time offers on medical exam tables. Until June 30th 2012, clinics can save $1,000 on the Brewer Assist 7000 Power Procedure Exam Table, $250 on the Brewer 6000 Access High Low Exam Table, $500 on the Brewer 6500 Access High Low Exam Table, and $2,000 on the Brewer 7500 AssistPRO Power Procedure Table. The Brewer AssistPRO 7500 Power Procedure Table is the most technologically advanced power exam table in the industry. The 7500 Power Table is programmable and infinitely adjustable to meet any procedure needs. All of these power exam tables are ideal for ease of patient positioning and make both patients and health care providers confident and secure during treatments and procedures.

With the cost of operating medical facilities on the rise, you can buy from QuickMedical with confidence that you're getting the highest quality and most affordable medical equipment online. Contact a trained sales specialist today to arrange an in facility demo, or to learn more about any particular medical exam table on sale.

Diabetes Alert Day

Today is the American Diabetes Association Alert Day. March 27th is a one-day "wake-up call" asking the American public to take a diabetes risk test to find out if they're at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Are you at risk for developing diabetes? Click ahead to find out!

QuickMedical Questions: How do I Know if I Have Heart Disease?

Often customers or casual web surfers will send us questions, via Facebook, Twitter or email, about medical equipment and supplies. Since we're not doctors, we can't offer you specific health advice. If you're really concerned, you should always consult a health professional. Here's another QuickMedical Question:

Dear QuickMedical,

You have a great deal of health information on your site. I come to your site and others online to get answers to medical health questions . I understand you're not just a medical question website, but I'd like to know how to get an answer online to my medical questions.

My biggest question is how do I know if I have heart disease? Heart disease is such a common problem and no matter how much I research online, I can't seem to find an answer to my problem. How do I know if I have heart disease?

Concerned Online

Thanks for writing we're glad you're reading and concerned, Concerned. Unfortunately, our answer might make you more concerned, because the answer is we definitely don't know. Click ahead to learn why.

Upgrade your CardioChek PA

You can upgrade your phone, why not your professional blood testing equipment from CardioChek?

Physicians know the fast, portable, and accurate whole blood test system by Polymer designed to give patients and doctors blood component information almost immediately is an indispensible tool for monitoring health. The CardioChek PA is capable of lipid screening and monitoring for diabetes and other diseases. The CardioChek PA memory can store up to 30 results of each chemistry and 10 results of each control test. The analyzer allows review of the results of each control test in order from most recent to oldest. Results stored in memory are not deleted when the batteries are changed. Point of Care lipid panel testing is proven to help physician offices and occupational health facilities improve patient management.

Currently if you have an older white CardioChek PA model, you can easily upgrade at QuickMedical for only $165 to the new Silver CardioChek PA and save 10% on test strips from Polymer. It's important that you return the old white model to CardioChek to receive the upgrade and receive the savings. The CardioChek PA Silver is the latest version of the trusted portable blood testing equipment.

Until March 31st, 2012, when you purchase 25 packs of Lipid Panel Test Strips (PROMO 673) or 30 Packs of CHOL+HDL+GLU Panel Test Strips (PROMO 674), you receive a CardioChek PA absolutely FREE, plus FREE shipping. Click here to see all the great promotions from CardioChek.

Upgrade today!

Medical Supplies for Nursing Homes

There is a culture shift happening in the long term care industry. Nursing homes are moving away from the hospital model and moving towards becoming actual homes for residents. In the U.S. a few nursing homes are beginning to change the way they are managed and organized to create a more resident-centered environment, so they are more "home-like" and less institutional or "hospital-like." In these homes, patient units are replaced with a small set of rooms surrounding a common kitchen and living room. The staff giving care is assigned to one of these "households." Residents have far more choices about when they wake up, when they eat, and what they want to do during the day.

Nursing home jobs are some of the most demanding health care jobs in the health care industry. Nursing homes in Maine, nursing homes in Ohio, nursing homes in Indiana, and nursing homes throughout the United States are changing the way they operate to accommodate patients, but also health care providers. It's not just the patients who benefit from a "home-like" atmosphere, but also the care providers.

Whether the nursing home is more institutional or more home-like it requires a variety of medical products that we associate with long term care and assisted living products on the QuickMedical website. To read more about a few of these necessary supplies for nursing homes click read more below. Finding medical supplies for nursing homes on QuickMedical is as easy as A-B-C.

What is The Most Common Durable Medical Equipment?

Our weekly Facebook trivia question was, "What is the most commonly requested durable medical equipment?" This is one of the harder questions we've asked because there are many conflicting answers reported by government agencies and medical equipment retailers. Even our own answer needs qualification. Our best selling durable item is CardioChek glucose test strips.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Diabetes affects over 8% of the population. With this in mind it's obvious that physicians need the ability to perform blood tests accurately and quickly during office visits. The CardioChekPA cholesterol monitor is intended for in vitro diagnostic use to test whole blood. A health care professional can quickly measure various blood components including HDL, LDL, and glucose from a small sample size. Physicians and patients can have test results immediately and be able to take action to bring their lipids under control on-the-spot.

Sometimes immediate results in the office are not enough. Especially with diabetes patients, regular blood monitoring is necessary. CardioChek glucose test strips are the most requested durable medical supply not only because of the professional model, but because of the quality of the CardioChek Cholesterol Monitor for Home Use .

Keeping Kids Calm in the Doctor's Office

Keeping kids calm in the doctor's office can be a challenge. It might be because children associate doctors' office visits with shots. It might be because a doctor's visit often means something is wrong. It also might be because doctors are adult strangers who become very intimate with children briefly and then aren't heard from again until the next visit. Whatever the reason, doctors and nurses are well aware of the anxiety that even routine check-ups can cause children. These bad feelings can often carry over into adulthood. A fear of the doctor in adulthood isn't childish, but it is unsafe.

It's not just about convenience, but building a lifetime of anxiety-free doctor's visits. How can you keep kids calm in a doctor's office? Let's go to the experts and find out. Click ahead.

Hiking with the Birchwood LiquiCell Shear Point Bandages

Currently Birchwood LiquiCell Shear Point Bandages from QuickMedical are 20% OFF until April 30th, 2012. These bandages can be used for a variety of medical applications in a many different facilities, including nursing homes and hospitals. The LiquiCell shear point bandages can also be used in a very different location-- the Great Outdoors.

Click read more for a true story about shear point bandages in use during a hike in the central Cascade mountains.

QuickMedical's Employee of the Month: Chad

When you place an order for medical equipment and supplies or just visit the QuickMedical website it works seamlessly because of the efforts of the web team. This month's employee of the month is one of the web team's key players-- Chad. Chad mainly works offsite from QuickMedical headquarters under the hood of the website. Although his job is in a sense behind the scenes, Chad's work is a big part of what happens at the QuickMedical office and most importantly forms online customers' first impressions of QuickMedical. An easy to use website is one of the reasons customers keep coming back to QuickMedical.

Warren and Chad pose for the Employee of the Month picture.

During this month's Employee of the Month announcement Chad took part via-teleconference. Thank you Chad for all your hard work on the QuickMedical site. Please click ahead and leave a comment for Chad below.

QuickMedical is Expanding

There's no doubt about it-- QuickMedical is expanding. We're still a small business by most standards, but we've come a long way from the garage we started in. From our new state of the art phone system by Shoretel , to the expanded sales floor, new marketing and executive atrium and the improved environment for our servers, the QuickMedical facility has changed quite a bit over the last few months.

Our business expansion can help your business expand, too. We're currently clearing our show room and demo studio of the medical equipment, medical furniture, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies that were lightly used during the filming of product and instructional videos for our website. The show room was featured prominently in our television commercial and a variety of promotional images and videos you might have seen. Currently, all the medical equipment and supplies from the showroom is on sale.

The costs for running medical clinics are skyrocketing. If you run a clinic or are associated with one you already know this disheartening fact. Using lightly used medical equipment from a respected supplier of some of the most respected brands, including Brewer, Tower Medical Systems, Bowman Dispensers, and others is a great way to lower costs.

Give it a look.

Who Was Henrietta Lacks?

Scientists often use 'immortalized cells' to perform research. Essentially an immortalized cell is able to reproduce infinitely in a lab setting due to certain mutations which have occurred to it. Cancer is often thought to be the biological equivalent of these immortal cells. The first and most commonly used 'immortalized cell' is a cell line called HeLa, which was discovered in the early 50s from a cervical cancer biopsy.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. It affects about 16 per 100,000 women per year and kills 9 of those women. In the 1950s far less was known about cancers than today, especially in women. Henrietta Lacks was as African American woman born in Virginia in the early 20s to a family only a generation away from slavery. She was raised by her grandparents after her mother's death and moved to Baltimore after marrying her cousin. In those days there was potentially more social freedom and higher wages in the booming steel mills to the north. Henrietta had 5 children before she was 31. When she was 30 Henrietta got sick.

In 1950 colposcopes and pap smears were not widely available and Ms. Lacks' access was probably limited because of her race. Her cancer had been undetected and had probably developed much earlier before symptoms began to appear. Cervical cancer is often asymptomatic until later stages.

QuickMedical's AED Installed

As your online source for medical equipment and supplies, QuickMedical sells AEDs . It's important for all public facilities to have AEDs available. We sell most of our medical equipment and supplies online, but we have a physical public location. Just because we have AEDs in the warehouse ready to ship doesn't mean they're ready to be used. Emergencies can happen at anytime. Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone. We installed this Zoll AED Plus Defibrillator to be ready at a moment's notice, for our employees, customers, and anyone who might encounter an emergency in our midst.

ZOLL AEDs don't just deliver a shock. They help the rescuer provide high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The Zoll AED Plus is the only AED equipped with Real CPR Help to help you perform proper compressions at the correct rate and depth. The Zoll Automatic External Defibrillator supports the complete chain of survival by providing support for ALL victims of sudden cardiac arrest, even those for which no shock is advised.

Use the AED that the online medical equipment experts use-- the Zoll AED Plus Defibrillator. Whether you're in our office, or just in our neighborhood, if an emergency happens we'll be prepared.

Prepare yourself-- use coupon code SPRING1506 for a 15% discount on this AED until April 15th.

This sign marks clearly that a Zoll AED unit is accessible at our location.

5 Heart Healthy Tips

As American Heart month winds down we'd like to share with the readers some heart disease prevention tips to assist in your heart healthy lifestyle. Six years ago only 66% of adults who visited their doctor had their blood pressure checked. While that number has increased, more than one in five people with high blood pressure still don't know that they have hypertension.

Tip 1. Have your blood pressure checked, regularly. It's not exactly new heart health news, but regular blood pressure readings from a health professional are the most important way to find out if you have hypertension or pre-hypertension.

For the next four heart health tips for preventing cardiovascular disease, click ahead.

Is The Stethoscope Still Relevant?

The stethoscope is one of the most recognizable pieces of medical equipment. It's used to listen to the heart, lungs, and other body parts. It was invented almost 200 years ago. In the early days of medical stethoscopes , the medical devices were monaural and not very versatile, as shown in the picture to the right. Doctors had to pay close attention and listen carefully to sounds from the human body. These very early stethoscopes were not the best stethoscopes, but they trained doctors to be very careful listeners.

Today with the prevalence of very sophisticated echocardiogram technology, stethoscope monitoring is almost a lost art.

According to a recent article from the Baltimore Sun, medical schools including Johns Hopkins are bringing back the lost art of cardiac auscultation to sharpen their students' diagnostic skills and cut costs from excessive high-tech imaging.

"Most people who do and teach this well grew up in an era pre-[echocardiogram], when they had to rely on it for making a diagnosis," said Dr. W. Reid Thompson, pediatric cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. "It's still a very quick, effective and powerful screening tool for many heart defects in children and a great way to follow patients with known defects to detect changes."

In a digital world of iPhone pedometers, and expensive MRI body scans, the medical stethoscope is still here. And it's still relevant and still an important piece of medical equipment for medical students and for practicing medical professionals.

QuickMedical's ADC Adscope 602 Cardiology Stethoscope offers a stainless steel combination chest piece with an extra deep bell for unsurpassed low frequency response. The Adscope 602 also features an ultra-sensitive diaphragm for greater amplification and crisp high frequency transmission. The 602 utilizes a non-chill bell and diaphragm retaining rim for patient comfort. For the medical professional, the stethoscope remains a vital medical device. Order today until April 15th with the code SPRING1506 and get a 15% discount on this medical stethoscope.

Hand Hygiene Quiz: Presented by QuickMedical and Germstar

QuickMedical and Germstar invite you to try answering these questions about hand hygiene. Hand hygiene isn't always as simple as just regular hand washing. Take this hand hygiene quiz, packed with hand hygiene and hand sanitizer facts and find out if you're a Hand Hygiene Hero or just a Germy Jerk.

1. After taking a patient's blood pressure, the doctor or nurse should wash their hands. True or False.

2. Wet or damp hands spread 1000 times more germs than dry hands. True or False.

3. In the 1960's rinsing hands with antiseptic was believed to be less effective than hand washing. True or False.

4. According to CDC the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others is to clean our hands. True or False.

5. Only 75% of female and 60% of male middle and high school students washed their hands after using the bathroom. True orFalse.

6. Hand sanitizer is not as effective in germ control as hand washing. True or False.

Do you know the answer to these questions? You've got a 50/50 shot! Don't cheat. Answer honestly and then click read more for the surprising answers on hand hygiene, hand washing, and hand sanitizers.

Cardiac Science Laptop Rebate

In 1983 Sharon Johnson wrote in the The New York Times, "The computer, which has revolutionized industries ranging from banking to transportation, is broadening its impact on a newer target: the American hospital. Able to handle pyramids of paperwork and to complete forms with lightning speed, computers are opening a variety of careers in hospital administration. Paired with other equipment that permits observation of minute parts of human organs, they have also given birth to a host of new titles and responsibilities for laboratory technicians. And as they streamline clerical and technical abilities they help hospitals contain increasing costs."

Almost thirty years later, Johnson's words are still valid. Computer diagnostic equipment in hospitals, including PC based EKG/ECG such as the CareCenter MD Diagnostic Workstation for ECG/EKG are widely used today and very important for care and diagnosis.

The CareCenter MD Diagnostic Workstation is designed as one single platform for ECG, with scalability for the option to add new modalities as they become available. The MD Diagnostic Workstation for ECG / EKG features a user friendly interface with simple, one button navigation and the online program allows for live consultations to be performed remotely. The Cardiac Science Diagnostic Workstation conveniently features wireless data acquisition between patient and workstation.

Cardiac Science is currently making it even easier to add computers to your clinical environment. Until March 31st 2012, if you purchase a CareCenter MD Diagnostic Workstation you can use this rebate form to receive either a $300 rebate on the purchase or a free laptop. This promotion will only last while supplies are available, so you must act promptly. Please note, the laptop option will take 3-4 weeks. The CareCenter MD Workstation in conjunction with a lightweight laptop will streamline your facility's work load with its advanced connectivity feature, providing access to complete test data across the network.

Heart Month at QuickMedical

February is American Heart Month. QuickMedical has products for cardiologists including stethoscopes, heart rate monitors and consumer products for heart health such as pedometers.

It's important to keep heart health in mind. Heart disease is a leading cause of death. It's also often preventable and treatable.

Knowing the warning signs for a heart attack for example, can save lives. The American Heart Association and actress Elizabeth Banks created this short film about a mom who takes care of everyone but herself to show the warning signs of a heart attack in an entertaining and humorous way.

Happy Valentines Day from QuickMedical!

Bed Sore Prevention Treatment with Birchwood LiquiCell Shear Reducing Mattress Overlay

Bed sores are a common but dangerous problem for people with limited mobility. Anyone confined for a long time to a wheelchair or bed should be on guard for bed sores. Bed sores are also known as pressure ulcers. They form because of pressure and friction being put on the skin for extended periods. Regularly checking for bed sores by inspecting the skin of at-risk patients should always be a routine part of patient care. Once a bed sore starts it's extremely hard to treat. The best treatment for bed sores is prevention.

A Stage one bed sore has the following characteristics. The skin is intact. The skin appears red on people with lighter skin color, and the skin doesn't briefly lighten when touched. On people with darker skin, there may be no change in the color of the skin, and the skin doesn't lighten when touched. The skin may appear ashen, bluish or purple. The site may be painful, firm, soft or warmer or cooler compared with the surrounding skin.

Doctors and nurses consistently agree that reaching a Stage one bed sore is unacceptable. Stage one is quickly followed by Stage two, which includes a shallow, basin-like wound, lost dermis, and potentially a fluid filled blister. To avoid the stages of bed sore formation, health professionals recommend medical supplies which will reduce their occurrence. A Birchwood 94211 LiquiCell Shear Reducing Mattress Overlay incorporates LiquiCell, a medical technology that assists in the prevention of stretched or torn skin tissue resulting in optimized blood flow. The ultra-thin LiquiCell cells contain a liquid that is in constant motion allowing the body to glide or float over the mattress. Eliminating pressure eliminates pressure ulcers. Eliminating pressure ulcers eliminates the wounds advancing to later stages.

Click ahead to learn more about the development of bed sores in Stage three and stage four and why using Birchwood LiquiCell technology is so important.

QuickMedical's How To Use GSA Advantage

QuickMedical serves the federal government as Veteran's Sales LLC DBA QuickMedical GS-- a service disabled veteran owned small business. QuickMedical GS sells medical equipment and supplies to a variety of agencies of the federal governement. QuickMedical GS specializes in medical devices, exam tables, X-Ray equipment, invitro testing supplies, medical cabinets, temporal thermometers, medical diagnostic instruments, and medical disposables.

For special government pricing, customers can call QuickMedical during regular office hours. Government customers also have the ability to use the GSA Advantage website. Orders can be placed on GSA Advantage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If it's your first time using GSA Advantage for buying medical equipment and supplies, watch this excellent Q-Tube video below which gives detailed instructions from QuickMedical's Government Sales Specialist on how to use GSA Advantage.

QuickMedical Call-In Special Discount

QuickMedical is offering a special call-in discount for a limited time only. PDI Super Sani Wipes are one of PDI's most popular medical products. Super Sani wipes are perfect for disinfecting non-porous hard surfaces and equipment. QM Elite nitrile exam gloves are an excellent glove choice for healthcare, dental, or laboratory applications. Both products are indispensable parts of healthcare facilities. Watch the video below for simple instructions on who to call for a 10% discount on case orders of both products.

The Healthy Super Bowl Party

The Super Bowl is a de facto American holiday. Taking place after the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest day for food consumption, just behind Thanksgiving, but ahead of Christmas and the Fourth of July. The Super Bowl is frequently the most watched television program of the year. The NFL claims that the use of the phrase "Super Bowl" implies an NFL affiliation, and on this basis the league asserts broad rights to restrict how the game may be shown publicly. For example, the league says Super Bowl showings are prohibited in churches or events that promote a message. Venues that don't regularly show sporting events aren't allowed to show the Super Bowl on any television screen larger than 55 inches. So we'll take a small risk, claim fair use, and tell you how to stay healthy on the day of the big game. Here's how to make sure your Super Bowl stays healthy.

QuickMedical's Employee of the Month: Filisi

In January an epic snowstorm hit the area where QuickMedical is located. Thousands of people were without power for days. Even QuickMedical lost power, briefly. But QuickMedical soldiered on and continued shipping medical equipment and supplies to the world. Filisi, as part of the warehouse team, made it to work every day during the storm, ensuring that all the orders shipped.

This month's employee of the month is Filisi. The staff and management would like to thank Filisi for all his efforts. His commitment to work through the snowstorm is commendable, but also his day-to-day duties are an important part of everything we do at QuickMedical. He's also great to work with! If you're a customer and want to share a story about Filisi, or a fellow employee, click ahead and leave a comment below.

An Affordable Dome Magnifier

According to the Department of Health and Human Services the United States population of citizens 65 and over increased from 35 million in the year 2000 to 40 million in 2010 and will likely increase to 55 million in 2020 (a 36% increase for that decade). By 2030, there will be an anticipated 72.1 million older persons, almost twice their number in 2008.

While this aging population will have access to unprecedented new health technology and home medical products that will be far advanced from the technology of just a few years ago, some complications of aging will remain the same. As you get older, your eyesight weakens. Sometimes this weakening is due to health conditions which are treatable and preventable, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, or macular degeneration. But presbyopia, the loss of the ability to read small print, is considered a normal eyesight loss and is expected with age. Reading glasses often fix the problem, but another solution are dome magnifiers.

Losing your eyesight with age is not inevitable, but it's very likely. A reading magnifier for text can be extremely helpful for an aging person who needs assistance briefly with certain printed materials.

Bierley Dome Magnifiers are precisely shaped to double the size of the text while capturing and focusing illumination. Bierley Dome Magnifiers glide effortlessly across surfaces without scratching or damaging it's optical clarity. The Bierley DM51 51mm Dome Reading Magnifier is designed to gather light with its unique dome shape. It uses no light bulbs or batteries to enhance and illuminate text. Each Bierley DM51 Reading Magnifier comes complete with a convenient drawstring microfiber bag for easy portability.

Bierley Dome Magnifiers are proudly made in the USA.

Circumcision: Pros and Cons

Around 60%-75% of newborn baby boys in America are circumcised in a surgical procedure soon after birth. Presently, many states are considering defunding the procedure as a way to cut health care costs.

To scalpel or not to scalpel? Circumcised versus uncircumcised. Why circumcise? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "there is no absolute medical indication for routine circumcision of the newborn."

The procedure is considered by many to be purely cultural. In San Francisco the city government sought to introduce legislation which would have banned circumcision on men under 18. The law failed before it could be voted on because it was judged to impinge on the constitutional right to free exercise of religion.

In an editorial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Aaron Tobian and Dr. Ronald Gray argue for the medical benefits of circumcising boys in infanthood, citing several observational studies and recent clinical trials that show it reduces the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, HPV and herpes by about a third in both men and their female sexual partners.

In opposition to these facts, circumcision increases the chance of meatitis-- an inflammation of the opening of the penis. Circumcisions often cause other infections and complications in infants. Cutting right to the heart of the matter, sometimes over zealous doctors snip a bit too much, and cause permanent damage.

Cervical Health Awareness Month 2012

The United States Congress has designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. January is almost over, but today on the QuickMedical blog we'll explore cervical cancer, HPV disease, and the importance of early detection. Each year in the U.S. approximately 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 4,000 lives are lost as a result. There are also many more women who have cervical abnormalities and abnormal Pap tests for reasons other than cancer, but who still undergo follow-up exams and treatments.

Cervical cancer is caused by specific types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common infection that almost everyone who is sexually active will have at some point. There are vaccines that block the types of HPV most often found with cervical diseases, and screening tests (such as Pap tests and HPV tests) can identify women most at risk. Cervical cancer can be prevented. Early vaccination (females and males ages 9-26 are eligible) and regular Pap tests beginning at age 21 are the best ways.

Click ahead to learn more about cervical health awareness and cervical cancer prevention.

QuickMedical Celebrates 6 Years with the Better Business Bureau

It's QuickMedical's 6 year anniversary with the Better Business Bureau. The folks at the BBB Facebook page notified us this morning with a congratulatory post on our Facebook wall.

QuickMedical has been a BBB accredited business since 9/19/2005. QuickMedical's A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau is based on a variety of factors. Most importantly, QuickMedical meets BBB standards which include a commitment to resolve customer complaints.

Customer service is why our customers come back. As a customer you can send us feedback by email, here on the blog, calling us directly, or even Twitter. We're proud to celebrate six years with the BBB.

QuickMedical Questions: Can I Use PDI Super Sani Cloth Wipes on Toys?

Dear QuickMedical,

I'm running a small daycare out of my home and need to start disinfecting toys. I want to use the same level of protection that a hospital or doctor's office would use. I saw you have a coupon code for PDI Super Sani Cloth Wipes . Is this the right product for my new day care center?

Thanks,

New to Daycare Dame

The quick answer. Yes. Click ahead for the coupon code and exactly why Sani-Cloth wipes are the ideal bactericidal, tuberculocidal and virucidal germicidal wipes for disinfecting and deodorizing hospitals. critical care areas, and even daycare centers.

R&B Wire Products and QuickMedical

R&B Wire Products are manufacturers of industrial laundry and linen transportation equipment. R&B is the industry leader and the standard in the laundry cart business. It's a unique company. In the present day when many companies manufacture overseas or have become cogs in larger international conglomerates, R&B has remained a private company for 66 years and still proudly builds all its products in the USA. Also setting R&B apart is the company's commitment to customer service. As stated on the R&B website, the company's, "Satisfaction Guaranteed policy is the backbone of [the] company." Simply stated, R&B Wire Products will correct or replace any product problem due to workmanship or quality that you encounter.

Based on this, it's obvious QuickMedical is a perfect partner and distributor for R&B's medical equipment hampers , including modern hampers for hospital use. QuickMedical isn't 66 years old, but our commitment to products made in the USA and most importantly to customer service make our match with R&B a perfect fit. Just like R&B, QuickMedical is committed to making sure our customers-- hospitals, doctors' offices, VA facilities, and others are completely satisfied, not only with their product, but their experience using our website or speaking with our sales team.

R&B Wire laundry hampers are made with quality tubular steel and are ideal for a variety of medical facility needs. Medium duty and deluxe triple leakproof hampers are available depending on your facility's volume needs. R&B Wire Hampers have sturdy metal frames, foot operated lids, caster wheels, and an assortment of laundry bag materials to choose from including nylon, duck canvas, anti-microbial fabric, and more. Like QuickMedical, R&B Wire Products is committed to innovation. R&B has expanded its product line over the years beyond its extensive line of standard and front-loading laundry carts. It developed the "Clean Wheel System" on laundry carts, which ensures quality and safety for medical facilities using large rolling laundry hampers.

When ordering medical hampers from QuickMedical, for easy access, mobility, and safety, consider R&B Wire Hampers .

The Importance of Hand Hygiene

Have you heard of Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis? Semmelweis was a Hungarian physician today known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. He discovered that childbed fever, which affects women during childbirth, could be drastically reduced by the use of hand disinfection.

Childbed fever was common in mid-19th-century hospitals and often fatal. In 1847 while working in Vienna General Hospital's First Obstetrical Clinic, Semmelweis was troubled that the doctors' wards had three times the mortality rates of midwives' wards. No one could figure out why there were so many cases of childbed fever in the doctors' ward. Semmelweis recreated the same conditions in both wards,but the doctors' ward remained a deadly problem. He couldn't figure out what was wrong with the doctors' ward. Then he realized that it might be something the doctors were doing outside the hospital.

What were the doctors doing outside the Obstetrical Clinic that was causing childbed fever?

Heavy D and Cardiovascular Health

You might have heard the sad news that musician Heavy D has recently passed away. He was one of the early artists who brought hip hop music to the mainstream. He rapped the theme song to In Living Color. He had several chart topping hits. He was also overweight and suffered from heart disease. You might assume that Heavy D's death was brought on by his unhealthy weight, but that's only partially true and just one part of the story.

What can you learn about your own health from the example of Heavy D? The answer might surprise you. Click ahead.

QuickMedical's Employee of the Month: Bobby

This month's employee of the month is Bobby. As I.T. Director Bobby is responsible for QuickMedical's computer and phone technology. It's an integral part of what we do. Bobby's job requires diverse skills and he wears several different hats to ensure QuickMedical is always moving forward. When our phone system or computers need assistance, Bobby is there with a solution. In December Bobby supervised a massive project which involved the creation of a completely new office phone system and a new customer service call center. Projects like this aren't for the faint of heart.

Warren and Eileen with Bobby

The staff and management would like to thank Bobby for all his efforts. It's not just the big projects, but the small daily ones that keep QuickMedical running at peak capacity. Without Bobby's efforts in making things run smoothly we wouldn't be here. If you've got a story to share about Bobby or just a quick comment, please post a comment below.

The History of Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the oldest known diseases. An Egyptian manuscript from around 1550 BCE mentions the phrase, "the passing of too much urine." Sushruta, an Indian doctor who lived 600 years before the birth of Christ identified the disease and classified it as "Medhumeha," which means "sweet urine disease." He further identified it with obesity and sedentary lifestyle, advising exercises to help cure it. The ancient Indians tested for diabetes by observing whether ants were attracted to the afflicted person's urine. Chinese, Japanese and Korean words for diabetes are all based on the same definitions which mean "sugar urine disease." In 1776 Matthew Dobson confirmed that the sweet taste comes from an excess of a kind of sugar in the urine and blood.

The Ancient Greek physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia in the 1st century CE noted the excessive amount of urine which passed through the kidneys and gave the disease the name "diabetes."

Diabetes was bad news in those days. Hippocrates doesn't even mention it, probably because he thought it was incurable. Aretaeus attempted to treat it but commented that, "life with diabetes is short, disgusting and painful." Definitely bad news. Things got better, however. While medical science stalled in Europe, in medieval Persia, a Canon of Medicine was being written which would influence later knowledge about diabetes.

Happy New Year From QuickMedical

Happy New Year from QuickMedical!

According to a very poorly researched book from the 70's, the ancient Mayan calendar ends in 2012, which somehow means that great changes are coming next year to our planet. Great changes occur every year, however. No one knows what the future holds because it's the future. It hasn't happened yet. And yet, it's happening all the time. William Faulkner wrote in one of his books, "It's all now." It's an exciting thought. Right now you are simultaneously living in both the past and the future, but with no ability (other than remembering) to access either.

Now that we've blown your mind, just think about how important 'now' is and make it count. That's what celebrating the New Year is all about.

If you found us from searching for 2012 or the Mayan calendar and you're wondering what QuickMedical is, feel free to click around. If you like videos, click this short video and learn about us.

The Anaphylaxis Protocol

Allergic reactions can happen at any time and can be caused by almost any substance. It's important to know and keep a record of your allergy triggers. The unfortunate kid with allergies in the picture has an allergic angioedema, which has caused his eyes to close up. It looks bad, but he's probably okay, since they had time to take a picture. In an allergic reaction the possibility of anaphylaxis is a real danger, however. Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid and may cause death. It typically results in a number of symptoms including an itchy rash, throat swelling, and low blood pressure. Common causes include insect bites, foods, and medications.

On a pathophysiologic level, anaphylaxis is due to the release of mediators from certain types of white blood cells triggered either by immunologic or non-immunologic mechanisms. It is diagnosed based on the presenting symptoms and signs. The child's angioedema could be a warning sign of anaphylaxis. However, by the time angioedema sets in, it may be too late. The primary treatment is an immediate injection of epinephrine.

Because worldwide 0.05-2% of people are estimated to have anaphylaxis at some point in their life and rates appear to be increasing, it makes sense that first-aid kits are equipped with measures to protect against a severe anaphylactic reaction. Teachers, parents, and young people should be aware of anaphylactic symptoms and allergic reaction symptoms. Often when these symptoms develop in young people it's the first time they develop. While adults or older children have a history of exposure and know how to manage or avoid exposure to known allergens, young children don't, or may be exposed to the allergen for the first time. This is especially true of allergic reactions to food.

Click ahead to learn the anaphylaxis protocol, or what to do during a severe allergic reaction.

Online Medical Equipment for the Holidays

As you're well aware, the holidays are here. On the ol' Interweb there's a great deal of fun, seasonal holiday things going on. For instance if you visit our YouTube page, you'll notice on video pages on the player a little snowflake which will create snowfall in the product video about medical equipment or medical supplies. We have hundreds of medical equipment and medical product videos and adding snow to them is fairly amusing.

But if you really want to live dangerously, don't type medical equipment and supplies into Google, type "let it snow". Or just click the link we've provided. This is the only legal high we're allowed to give you this Christmas, so use it wisely. Your whole screen will become a winter wonderland.

Google is really in the holiday spirit this year. You can arrange to have Santa call your kids through Gmail. Something tells me this is an insidious plot for Google to grab phone numbers, but maybe I'm just a cynical Scrooge.

Here on QuickMedical we added some holiday flair to our site, and we also have a great page filled with ideas for holiday gifts. A holiday gift of medical equipment or medical supplies can be extremely important for a person taking control of their health for the first time, or someone who is already committed to health and fitness.

As the year comes to end let's take this festive time to remember how good most of us have it. There are problems, sure, but really it's an incredibly beautiful world.

Happy Holidays from QuickMedical!

Facts About Harloff Medical Carts

The Harloff Company began as the Harloff Manufacturing Company in 1951 as the creator of the world's first Maid Cart. It's a strange but true fact that before Harloff carts, maids at hotels used to carry sheets and towels by hand back and forth to rooms. The Harloff Company continued to innovate throughout its history and branched out into specialty medical carts. Harloff has been producing high quality, professional grade medical carts with innovative features that have become industry standards. Harloff offers procedure carts, medication carts and other specialty carts for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and surgery centers.

Another strange but true fact-- did you know that Harloff steel carts weigh the same as many of their plastic cart equivalents? Many plastic carts, though advertised as a light weight option, in fact weigh relatively the same as Harloff stainless steel carts. Harloff carts are easier to clean and maintain, and are well known in the industry for their durability, quality and long life.

At QuickMedical we're proud to announce the addition of several aluminum medical carts by Harloff to our expanding online medical equipment and supply store. Click ahead to read more and watch a short video on Harloff.

Pediatric Hypertension and Profanity

The journal Pediatrics recently published a study about profanity in the media. In the small study of 223 kids at one U.S. middle school, researchers found that those exposed to more profanity-laced TV shows or video games tended to use blue language themselves. And kids who used profanity, in turn, reported more instances of aggression -- anything from throwing punches to spreading gossip. None of that proves that bad language in the media makes for bad kids, according to lead researcher Sarah M. Coyne, a professor of family life at Brigham Young University in Utah.

Extrapolating from the study, we could say that profanity-laced TV shows cause kids' blood pressure to rise. After all, if working blue also causes aggressive behavior, aggressive behavior can lead to higher stress, and higher stress can lead to high blood pressure. The rate of pediatric hypertension is definitely on an upswing.

However Dr. Coyne very diplomatically states, "This study shows a correlation ...[it] does not prove cause-and-effect."

Your child's hypertension is probably not caused by watching "South Park." More likely causes include poor diet, genetics, and an overall lack of physical activity. If you need to measure your child's blood pressure for any reason, QuickMedical offers pediatric blood pressure monitors for every budget.

Stay off Santa's naughty list and if he's making one, stay off the hypertension list, too!

Cotton Ball Christmas

Did you make a cotton ball Santa when you were young? Maybe you have kids and you'd like to make one with them as an activity during the winter break from school. Cotton balls look like Santa's beard or snow depending on your imagination. Click our Facebook link here, 'Like' us, then download and print the cotton ball Santa image. You'll need some cotton balls to complete the project. QuickMedical is your online source for cotton balls for all types of applications. Cotton balls are a very useful tool in crafts. But they're not just used for imitating snow or Santa's beard. Cotton balls can be also used to apply paint or glue, or help clean or spot clean projects.

The most common uses for cotton balls, however are medical or cosmetic. For medical purposes cotton balls and are used to stop or prevent bleeding from minor punctures such as injections or venipuncture. They are often secured in place with medical tape. For cosmetics, cotton balls are also used in the application and the removal of makeup and nail polish.

Cotton balls are an absolute necessity for doctor's offices, hospitals, and medical facilities. They are used everyday in routine procedures and must be conveniently accessible for doctors and nurses. Likewise they are required at spas and facilities doing cosmetics. Cotton balls must be plentiful, accessible, and affordable. Currently, QuickMedical is offering a great end of the year discount coupon code on cotton balls from Dynarex. Click ahead for the code.

What's the Difference Between Wound Dressing and Bandages?

Dear QM:

I notice you have sections on your website for dressings and bandages. I always thought they were basically the same thing. Is there a difference? What's the difference? Please clarify this!

It can be confusing, but dressings and bandages are different things, technically. Click ahead for the answer to this question from QuickMedical, your online source for medical equipment and supply questions and answers.

QuickMedical's Employee of the Month: Nita

Nita receiving the Employee of the Month letter

This month's QuickMedical Employee of the month is Nita, leader of the product team and content manager for all the products on QuickMedical.com. Supervising a growing staff of product team employees while managing 26,587 medical products (and counting) is no small task.

Nita's dedication and positive attitude keep things running smoothly, at the office and online for both our vendors and customers. If you've worked with Nita, have a story to share about how she helped you, or just want to congratulate her, leave a comment by clicking ahead. Thanks Nita!

Demo Showroom Clearance Sale

QuickMedical's state of the art medical equipment showroom is being renovated as part of a headquarters expansion.

The show room was featured prominently in our television commercial and a variety of promotional images and videos you might have seen. Currently, all the medical equipment and supplies from the showroom is on sale.

If your facility is looking for a great end of the year deal, click the medical equipment clearance link, now and scan the wide variety of items. To read about some of the great products on sale, click ahead.

Ergonomically Designed Medical Furniture

Medical professionals spend much of their workday on their feet. Doctors, nurses, dentists, and other personnel have to be mobile to meet the needs of their patients. It can be stressful, demanding, and tiring. When there's limited time to sit down, the chair you sit in is very important. The chairs that doctors and dentists use aren't just used for sitting, either. The medical chairs and dental stools in a doctor's office are an important part of their work. Brewer Design understands just how demanding a medical professional's day can be. The Brewer Design team understands the science of ergonomics and how important the proper medical equipment is for health professionals.

Click ahead to read more about the ergonomically designed medical furniture from Brewer Design.

Sign Up for QuickMedical News You Can Use

Are you looking for coupon codes, late breaking product information, and discounts on medical equipment and supplies? Sign up for our brand new email newsletter-- QuickMedical News You Can Use and receive direct email updates on the latest health and wellness news, breakthroughs in medical technology, and the best promotions and discounts on medical equipment and supplies.

Just visit here, enter your email and you'll start to receive the informative and educational newsletter. It's really just that easy. Make sure you mention you learned about the newsletter on the blog.

QuickMedical will never allow your information to be sold, traded, given, or otherwise shared with any outside party. You can opt out at any time if you decide you don't like the newsletter. But, if you want to stay informed about the latest in medical equipment and supplies and get QuickMedical coupon codes and promotions before the general public, subscribe today and keep watching your inbox.

Click here and sign up for QuickMedical News You Can Use, today!

Why Use Gauze?

According to Wikipedia, gauze is a thin, translucent fabric with a loose open weave. Originally, gauze was made of silk and was used for clothing. It's now used for many different things-- most importantly it's used for medical purposes. Gauze used as a medical dressing is usually made of cotton. Medical gauze is useful for dressing wounds where other fabrics might stick to the wound. Gauze can be coated with polymers that inhibit sticking even further. There are other types of specialty medical gauze with different properties that assist in healing patients. Click ahead to read more.

Finding a Scale

QuickMedical is the ultimate source for medical scales of all types. From Seca medical scales for facilities to bathroom scales for the home, QuickMedical has scales for doctors, scientists, and the average Joe or Jane keeping track of their weight during the active holiday eating season.

An individual tracking their BMI at home needs a different scale than a public gym facility. A general practitioner's office needs a different scale than a pediatric clinic. QuickMedical has medical weight scales for sale that include baby scales and BMI scales.

Thanksgiving is over, but it's only the beginning of the holiday season. There's more wining and dining and holiday celebration in our future. Overeating or eating less than healthy foods during this time of year can happen. Don't treat your health in a reactionary way. It's too late after the New Year's celebration to pay attention to the foods you eat. Make sure that during this exciting time you eat a balanced, healthy diet. With this in mind, you might also benefit from a new bathroom scale. To read about several models QuickMedical has on sale, click ahead.

The Customer Feedback Form

Have you visited the QuickMedical website recently and noticed something a little different? Yes, we have new holiday flair on the top of the page, but there's something even more important on site. Notice on the bottom right of every page, (yes, even this one!) there's a little triangle that says 'customer feedback.' Click that little triangle and immediately give direct feedback on the website, products, customer service, or your purchasing experience. It's that simple. Click ahead for more.

Flu Shot Myths

Getting a flu shot this fall? You might have heard a few rumors about flu shots that stopped you from getting one. Most of the rumors you've heard are myths. Click ahead to read 5 flu shot myths, the truth behind them, and what you can do to avoid getting sick this flu season.

QuickMedical Growth Chart used in Ethiopia

QuickMedical's medical equipment and supplies are used to assist doctors and patients all over the world. We recently recieved an email from Ethiopia with a picture of one of our medical products in use.

QuickMedical Growth Chart in use at a public health screening in Ethiopia

We're proud to see our products used to help people who really need them. Click below to read the email.

What Should be in Every Doctor's Bag

The Huffington Post reports: "For much of America's history, [home visits by doctors were] the norm. Home visits died when medical insurance replaced pay-as-you-go, and administrative costs and malpractice insurance fees forced doctors to abandon individual practices and join together in groups. By the early 1970s, fewer than 1 percent of doctors made house calls.

"Now, doctors visiting the sick in their homes seems to be in vogue again. The doctor still carries a little black bag, but a laptop bag, too."

The reason for the growing numbers of doctors willing to do house calls again is a Medicare policy change ten years ago that increased reimbursement for home visits. That change mostly involved house calls to the home bound. But having a traveling bag is a good idea for all doctors and nurses, even those who don't typically do house calls.

An EMT might need an ADC 1024 Nylon Medical Equipment Bag more than a family doctor, but an emergency can happen anywhere, at anytime. What should a doctor carry in his bag? What are the essential medical equipment and supplies for medical exams and more?

QuickMedical's Employee of the Month: Katie

The web team's fearless leader Katie is QuickMedical's November employee of the month. Katie's work on the QuickMedical website is an extremely important and valued part of what we do. She was QuickMedical's very first full time employee and was previously featured on the blog for her 10th anniversay.

Warren, Employee of the Month Katie, Scott, and Eileen

Let's congratulate Katie for her years of hard work, and latest honor. Leave a comment below.

Covidien Wound Care Products

The name Covidien comes from the Latin words 'co' which means together, and 'vi' which means life. This is appropriate because Covidien brings together several well-known and well-respected medical product brands to create positive results for life. These high quality wound care products are ideal for facilities caring for wound-prone patients, including patients with diabetes. Covidien medical supplies include the Kendall and Curity brands. Covidien medical products are designed to incorporate performance and cost-efficiency with high volume use.

Covidien is dedicated to offering innovative healthcare solutions through ethical behavior and professionalism during the manufacturing and engineering processes. Covidien's entire line of wound care products, are made in the USA and only for sale in the USA. QuickMedical now offers Covidien's entire line of wound care products. To learn more about how QuickMedical can assist your facility with Covidien, click ahead.

Buying Athletic Training Equipment

Intercollegiate athletics is a big business. From small private colleges to large state universities, athletics have become an important source of community building, publicity, and revenue for schools. As an athletic program grows, so does the need for an athletic training program utilizing high quality medical supplies, athletic training equipment and functional training equipment. Large Division I NCAA sports programs with student-athletes engaged in contact and high intensity sports require physical therapy equipment and other medical and fitness supplies to ensure safety and help the athletes themselves perform better.

QuickMedical has just added a line of physical therapy equipment and supplies by Hausmann, a large manufacturer of quality medical products. Hausman is known for medical furniture, but also produces high quality medical equipment for athletic training and physical therapy.

Skip the Candy; Eat a Pumpkin

Tomorrow will mark the start of American Diabetes Month 2011. It's somewhat fitting that it's the day after Halloween. Tonight there will be lots of candy available to eat, and tomorrow there will be leftovers. While there's nothing wrong with a little candy every now and then, high sugar intake is linked to an increased chance for developing Type 2 diabetes. This could make Halloween extra-scary. But never fear-- there's hope.

There's a Halloween tradition that is healthy, tasty, and spooky all at the same time. What is it?

Graham InhibX Anti-Microbial Exam Table Paper

InhibX anti-microbial technology inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi. Graham InhibX Exam Table Paper is treated with InhibX anti-microbial technology, an EPA registered and proven technology effective against mold, mildew, fungi and odor causing bacteria. If your health facility uses exam table paper, it's important to fight infections, especially staph infections, which are spread easily by skin to table paper contact.

Graham InhibX Table Paper Rolls are embossed white with the InhibX logo print, letting your patients and fellow health professionals know they are protected. Graham has this important video about hospital acquired infections, education, prevention, and treatment, and their InhibX Anti-Microbial technology. Take a look--

What do you think? What is your facility using currently to inhibit the spread of infection? Contact QuickMedical, maybe we can help reduce your rates of infection with Graham products.

What Does CLIA Waived Products Mean?

Another installment of QuickMedical Questions and Answers. This time a question about the law. We're not lawyers or doctors, but we'll answer your questions if you send them in.

An emailer writes:

I noticed your CLIA waived product page, but I'm not quite sure what it means. Can you explain it more simply? Thanks.

In 1988 Congress passed the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, which are known as CLIA. CLIA regulations are important. The CLIA laws establish quality standards for all laboratory testing to ensure the accuracy, reliability and timeliness of patient test results regardless of where the test was performed. Under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, a laboratory is any facility that does laboratory testing on specimens derived from humans to give information for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment of disease, or impairment of, or assessment of health.

However there are some lab tests performed with standardized equipment which are very easy to perform. When these tests are performed properly, there's very little chance for error. When certain requirements prove that inaccuracy is almost impossible for these tests the tests can be CLIA waived. CLIA waived medical products and CLIA waived medical equipment is cleared through the FDA. What does this mean for a consumer?

Graham InhibX Anti-Microbial Products: Graham 57931 InhibX Anti-Microbial Disposable Towel

H.A.I. or healthcare associated infections, also called hospital acquired infections are a common problem. These infections caused by contamination in health care facilities can kill. Healthcare associated infections can also prolong illness and suffering for patients who would otherwise recover. Hospital infection control is a high priority. The CDC reports that currently 1 in every 20 patients at a hospital will acquire an H.A.I. The Centers for Disease Control has published several documents for health care professionals to assist in controlling these infections. One of the most important controls is education. Being aware of the various types of infections that can occur such as skin staph infections, catheter associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator assisted pneumonia is important for health professionals. Just as important in infection control is having the right infection control supplies.

At QuickMedical, medical professionals come to us for high quality infection control medical supplies. Medical supplies for hospitals that reduce the incidence of H.A.I.s are extremely important. The minimum level of protection is simply not enough, as more powerful strains of bacteria, like MRSA gain a foothold in healthcare facilities infecting large numbers of patients and even doctors and nurses.

The Graham 57931 InhibX Anti-Microbial Disposable Towel is a must-have medical supply for hospitals and other healthcare facilities that need the best in infection control and prevention.

H. Pylori Testing

As many as half of the world's population is infected with H. pylori. Those living in developing countries or crowded, unsanitary conditions are most likely to contract the bacterium, which is passed from person to person. H. pylori only grows in the stomach. Many people have this organism in their stomach, but don't get an ulcer or gastritis. But some people with H. pylori do get sick. Diseases like dyspepsia, gastritis, peptic ulcers, and an increased risk for gastric cancer are caused by H. pylori. Rising antibiotic resistance increases the need for a prevention strategy for the bacteria.

Diagnosis of infection is usually made by checking for symptoms and by tests which can indicate H. pylori infection. A non-invasive test for H. pylori infection is a blood antibody test. The Stanbio RELY H. pylori Rapid Test is a two step CLIA-waived test that provides accurate results in 10 minutes, with the flexibility of multiple sample types (whole blood, serum, or plasma). It's a cost effective test for providing better patient outcomes.

If you've been diagnosed or fear you might have an H. pylori infection, a number of foods may be useful to prevent colonization including: green tea, red wine, broccoli sprouts, garlic, probiotics and flavonoids. If you've tested positive. coffee drinking, smoking, and drinking alcohol will actually increase your risk for an getting an ulcer from H. pylori.

The Best Durable Medical Equipment at QuickMedical

What are the top 5 durable medical equipment items on QuickMedical.com? Durable medical equipment is important for seniors, patients with disabilities, and anyone with a medical condition that needs attention inside the home. QuickMedical has products for both home care and long term care and assisted living.

Using the U.S. Government's own definition of durable medical equipment, we've compiled a list of the top durable medical equipment. Click ahead to see the top 5.

Allergic to Halloween?

The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology released a warning last month about this month's spookiest holiday. They report Halloween is associated with several asthma and allergy triggers for children and adults. What Halloween activities and holiday events might cause an asthma attack or allergic reaction this October 31st? Click ahead to find out.

How Did Michael Jackson Really Die?

Before you think we've transformed the blog into the National Enquirer for a day, take a moment to remember that the controversies, debates, and wonders about Michael Jackson's troubled life, often always focused in some way, or another, on the pop star's health. Even in death, the particulars of Jackson's health are discussed. Currently, due to a criminal case against Jackson's doctor at the time of his death, his health is once again on the metaphorical operating room table.

Who was Michael Jackson and why is his story still intriguing, years after his death?

Why is Michael Jackson's health still in the news?

C-A-B in Pictures

One year ago the American Heart Association changed its recommendations for first responders to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Chest compressions are now the first step for lay and professional rescuers to revive victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The A-B-C's of CPR are now the C-A-B's.

Here are the steps in some crudely drawn images, which are free to use, showing the steps.

Compressions first!

Airway check!

Rescue breaths!

In the picture, the rescuer is not giving psychic rescue breaths, she's just positioning the head before she begins the rescue breaths.

October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest awareness month. Educate yourself on how to perform CPR.

High Fat and Diabetes

The LA Times reports a high-fat ketogenic diet may reverse the kidney damage caused by diabetes. "This finding has significant implications for the tens of thousands of Americans diagnosed with diabetic kidney failure, and possibly other complications, each year," said Charles Mobbs, a neuroscientist at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

In direct opposition to this finding, a study on the west coast found that diets high in fat are responsible for deactivating an important metabolic enzyme, causing a process that starts an organism down the path of Type 2 diabetes.

Are high fat diets both the cause and cure for diabetes?

Absolutely not. Click ahead to read about the difference.

Buy A Vascular Doppler, Get an iPad 2

ABI exams are important for patients with diabetes and heart disease. ABI or ankle brachial pressure index is the ratio of the blood pressure in the lower legs to the blood pressure in the arms. The ABI is calculated by dividing the systolic blood pressure at the ankle by the systolic blood pressure in the arm. Generally, lower blood pressure in the leg, compared to the arm is an indication of blocked arteries. ABI exams also reveal peripheral vessel disease-- cardiovascular disease that does not directly affect the coronary or brain vascular systems.

There are several ways to perform an ABI exam, but in busy, professional medical facilities, ease and accuracy are important.

Summit Doppler's Vantage ABI Vascular System performs an ABI exam in as little as 3 minutes, and currently Summit Doppler is offering free additional technology with their exceptional system.

Snappy Answers to Medical Questions

Mad magazine had a feature that ran for years called "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions." It was exactly what it sounds like-- someone asked a stupid question and they were given a snappy, hilarious zinger in reply.

However in the spirit of rebellion that was Mad magazine, we say, there are no stupid questions. Especially, when it comes to your health. Curiosity about life is integral. But it's Friday, and we all need a laugh. So with apologies to Al Jaffee, we bring you, Snappy Answers to Medical Questions.

QuickMedical's Employee of the Month: Gail

Gail in the Sales Team is this month's QuickMedical Employee of the Month. As her responsibility has grown, so has her commitment to customer service. She's not only valued by QuickMedical's customers, but also by her fellow employees.

Gail learns she is Employee of the Month.

What Makes a Bariatric Arm Chair?

What is bariatric medical furniture?

Clinics, hospitals, and other facilities that handle clinically obese patients require bariatric medical equipment and furniture.

For instance the Hausmann 2165 / 2169 Oak Medical Chairs are designed to support heavy loads with uncompromising rigidity, but while the Hausmann 2169 Hip Chair is capable of supporting 375 pounds, the 2165 Bariatric Arm Chair is capable of supporting up to 500 pounds.

For the safety of not only the patient, but the health care provider, bariatric furniture is required in situations where the clinically obese patient might need to sit, recline, or be cared for. Bariatric stretchers and transport chairs can often sustain weights up to 1,000 pounds.

What is DME? Durable Medical Equipment

Durable medical equipment isn't just a buzzword. Durable medical equipment is often synonymous with home medical equipment and medical equipment for home care, but specifically durable medical equipment is any non-disposable, medical equipment used in the home and aids in the quality of life for individuals in a home. Durable medical equipment is further defined by the United States government under Medicare, and most insurance plans for billing purposes. According to Medicare, durable medical equipment is specifically: iron lungs, oxygen tents, nebulizers, CPAP, catheters, hospital beds, and wheelchairs. Durable medical equipment also includes blood testing monitors and strips for individuals testing their glucose, with or without diabetes.

Why the distinction between durable medical equipment and home medical equipment? Is durable medical equipment inherently different than home medical equipment and medical equipment for the home?

Allergy Haiku

Leaves fall. Grass grows. Breeze-

blowing pollen in the air

Here it comes. AH-CHOO!

As the weather cools, a host of new pollens and grasses enter the air. Although Autumn is typically not as severe an allergy season as late Spring for many allergy-sufferers, it can still be a time when allergies flare.

QuickMedical has a great health info section filled with information on allergies in relation to asthma.

Now, a brief digression-- a haiku is a 3 line poem composed of 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the final line. Often haikus show scenes of nature, but at QuickMedical we've mostly used them to talk about great promotions on medical equipment and supplies. One great thing about them is that they're easy to write! So write your own in the comments section below! About you, yourself, your pet, or your favorite QuickMedical product!

You might just get a special reward!

QuickMedical Questions: How Do I Get an Accurate Blood Pressure Reading?

An emailer writes in:

Dear QuickMedical:

My doctor advised me to begin checking my blood pressure at home, so I needed to buy a blood pressure monitor, which I did from QuickMedical.

I'm wondering about the accuracy of my blood pressure measurement with the blood pressure monitor I purchased. How can I tell if my blood pressure monitor is accurate? Should I take it to my doctor to confirm the accuracy of the blood pressure monitor?

Click ahead for the answer.

Gown Standards of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation

Surgical gowns are often the first line of defense against spreading infection in a surgical setting. Gowns are the first item to be put on and are always worn in combination with gloves. Gowns must provide skin protection and prevent soiling or contamination of clothing. The level of protection needs to be adjusted according to the task, particularly when contact with blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or excretions is anticipated or when there is also potential for contamination from the environment.

According to the standards of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), hospital surgical gowns are classified as level one (lowest protection) to level four (highest). The AAMI barrier protection levels were developed to grade the fluid barrier a surgical gown provides. Click ahead to read more about what surgical gown might be right for your needs.

Flu Treatment 2011

As we've mentioned, the 2011 flu season is approaching fast. In the U.S. flu season peaks in January or February, however seasonal flu activity begins as early as October and continues to occur as late as May. If you begin exhibiting flu virus symptoms or signs of the flu, review these helpful tips from QuickMedical and the CDC. Click ahead for the latest recommendations.

What are Curved Iris Scissors Used For?

Curved iris scissors are used in medical applications for ophthalmic applications. They are used in eye surgery as a surgical scissor. They are often kept in operating rooms for other medical applications, including making detailed cuts in small areas where larger instruments are unwieldy. Curved iris scissors are often used in autopsies, when a small part of the body must be cut without damaging organs or tissue. Curved iris scissors are often very small, very sharp, and are ideally kept as sharp as possible.

Missing Cat from Colorado Found in Manhattan

A person picked up a stray cat near Gramercy Park, 2 weeks ago. The cat went to the shelter where its microchip identity chip was scanned and revealed that it's name was Willow and it was from Colorado and had been missing for 5 years! Willow was given veterinary care and her owners were contacted. What did they think about finding their long lost pet?

Inhalers are Banned: Use a Nebulizer

Reuters reports: "Health officials are banning the only asthma inhaler sold over the counter in the United States starting from next year to prevent the use of products that harm the environment. The Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in metered-dose asthma inhalers that contain the drug epinephrine cannot be used, following an international agreement that bans CFCs."

Have no fear, asthma sufferers! Nebulizers, including the portable Omron NE-U22V Portable Nebulizer (pictured below) have been and will always be CFC free! To read the full article click ahead.

Health Myths of TV Debunked by Internet Show

We found this video on YouTube which was created by the people at GoodMagazine. GoodMagazine calls itself, "the global association of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits powering what works." Sounds a little culty, but it has something to do with General Electric, which doesn't mean it's not a cult, but probably has more to do with maintaining GE's public image.

Whatever the reason was for making this little video-- we like it. It debunks a few well-known TV tropes we're all familiar with. Check it out--

Why Should I Use Nitrile Gloves?

Latex allergies. Latex seems harmless. It is harmless for most people. It's a natural rubber useful for many different types of protective products, including exam gloves. But the medical industry has shifted to nitrile gloves, precisely because of some of the natural ingredients in latex. The proteins that occur naturally in rubber latex can put sensitive individuals, at worst, in a state of anaphylactic shock. Milder latex allergies cause skin irritation that resembles exposure to poison ivy. Latex materials also cause irritant contact dermatitis in many people. While this is not a true allergic reaction it can be very irritating and painful. The powder coatings of some latex gloves and frequent hand washing only aggravate the itchy, dry skin caused by the latex.

Lowering LDL Cholesterol Naturally

Has cholesterol monitoring revealed that you have high LDL cholesterol levels? Are you wondering about tips to lower cholesterol naturally? If your blood cholesterol has not yet reached a very dangerous level, your doctor will often prescribe therapeutic lifestyle changes to lower your LDL cholesterol, instead of medication.

To learn more about the low cholesterol diet and foods which help lower cholesterol, click ahead.

Vitamin D and Heart Health

Vitamin D is important here in the cloudy Northwest. A lack of sunlight can cause decreased vitamin D levels and cause health problems. Recently medical journals had reported on the link between vitamin D deficiency and heart disease. A more in depth study has proven, however that a vitamin D deficiency does not create or influence atrial fibrillation-- a dangerous type of irregular heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots and then strokes, and is often treated with blood thinner medication.

Dr. Michiel Rienstra of Massachusetts General Hospital and his colleagues found there was no difference in the likelihood of getting the condition between people with the highest vitamin D levels in their blood and those with the lowest.

Flu Haiku

Flu season arrives soon

Protect your business with this--

A Fitseal Flu Kit.

When flu season arrives, be prepared with a Fitseal FS-900 N99 Personal Emergency Preparedness Kit. Ideal for companies, organizations and government agencies wanting to prepare personnel for pandemic and emergency situations. The flu preparedness kit is handy and practical and can be stored easily at home, in the car or at the office.

The 5 Moments of Hand Hygiene

The World Health organization recommends 5 moments of hand hygiene for health professionals in hospitals, clinics, and facilities. Infection control is very important. It's a hot topic. The movie Contagion was number one at the box office last weekend. Why? Perhaps it plays on the deep-seated fears of the unknown spread of germs and the possibility of infection. However if you're practicing proper hand hygiene, your chances for spreading and catching disease are drastically reduced. While super viruses exist and plagues have happened and decimated populations throughout history, our scientific knowledge about infection control is the best it's ever been.

Our recommendation-- don't become Monk and develop neurosis about germs. Educate yourself and safeguard yourself. If you work in a hospital or clinic follow these important moments of hand hygiene.

Image courtesy World Heath Organization

What is Urinalysis?

What is urinalysis? Why would a doctor recommend a urinalysis? What are the ailments that are detected by urinalysis?

Urinalysis is a test that evaluates a sample of your urine. Urinalysis is used to detect a wide range of disorders including urinary tract infection, kidney disease and diabetes.

Urinalysis involves examining the appearance, concentration and content of urine. It also involves urine chemistry analysis, often taken with an automated urine analyzer, which tests for protein, glucose, and other abnormalities in urine. Abnormal urine analysis results might point to a disease or illness. For example, a urinary tract infection can make urine look cloudy instead of clear. Increased levels of protein in urine can be a sign of kidney disease. Abnormal glucose levels can signal diabetes.

At QuickMedical we supply hospitals and facilities with the Cole-Taylor CT-120 Urine Analyzer. This urine testing medical equipment is accurate, automatically calibrates, and can perform 60 tests per hour, making it perfect for a physician's office or a lab. Currently, while supplies last, a purchase of a CT-120 will also receive 100 test strips, for no additional charge.

For more information visit QuickMedical's full line of urinalysis products.

Visit QuickMedical's hemoglobin testing products page.

Visit QuickMedical's A1C testing products page.

National Cholesterol Education Month

It's a well-known fact-- high blood cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease. The higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater the risk of having a heart attack. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States. Each year, more than one million Americans have heart attacks, and about half of that number die from heart disease. Despite this almost common knowledge, it's important to remember that not everyone knows these facts. It's also important to remember that even those who know these facts might not be aware of their actual cholesterol levels.

If you're wondering, 'What is my cholesterol level?' or thinking about how to measure the different cholesterol levels in the blood, the first step is getting an HDL measurement. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. HDL is important in tracking cardiovascular health. HDL Testing can be done at a doctor's office or even at home.

The CardioChek Cholesterol Monitor for Home Use (pictured left) and the CardioChek PA Cholesterol Monitor (pictured below with printer) are both excellent ways to measure HDL cholesterol levels. The monitor for home use, obviously would be used at home, and a doctor might use the CardioChek PA for a virtually instant cholesterol measurement.

Hospital and Healthcare Workers News

Many people work at health facilities, not just doctors and nurses. At hospitals and medical facilities there are health aides, facility administrators, janitorial staff, and many more workers employed in activities assisting in the health care of patients.

Recently Thomson Reuters Healthcare, analyzed the health risk and utilization of 1.1 million hospital workers and compared them with 17.8 million health plan members across all industries around the country.

The Trouble with Bed Sores

Pressure sores, also known as bed sores are bad news for hospital patients. Bed sores are caused by many factors including pressure, friction, humidity, temperature and are sometimes made worse by age, or medications. Bed sores are painful and can cause a variety of complications for a person trying to get well, and in extreme cases can even cause death. Bed sores can spread infection or become infected, especially in hospitals. Bed and pressure sores are also extremely painful. Prevention is the best solution for handling pressure sores. Stopping the wound before it forms has been hospital protocol since the 19th century. Rolling or turning a bedridden patient every four hours is a common practice, as well as making sure sheets and mattresses are not causing any inappropriate pressure.

The Birchwood 94211 Shear Reducing Mattress Overlays incorporate LiquiCell, a medical technology that assists in the prevention of pressure sores. The ultra-thin LiquiCell cells contain a liquid that is in constant motion allowing the body to glide or float over the mattress. The 94211 LiquiCell mattress pad is specifically designed for key areas of the body most susceptible to skin breakdown. This technology is truly revolutionary.

Starting September 1 through the rest of this year, you can also save an additional 20% off the price of the LiquiCell mattress pad, if you order from QuickMedical. Try this product and stop bed sores from forming.

If you haven't used the 94211 LiquiCell mattress pad, but still have to treat a pressure ulcer, click ahead for another product from Birchwood.

QM Elite Disposables have Arrived

The QM Elite, QuickMedical's very own line of disposables has arrived. Here are some shots of the disposable nitrile gloves being shipped directly to our facility.

These latex-free, non-powdered gloves are recommended by doctors and useful for medical and industrial applications. The nitrile gloves are very new, so new, that if you want more information you'll have to call us! Samples are available.

New Diseases Everyone Should Know

A tick-borne infection known as Babesiosis, which might sound funny, but can cause severe disease and even death, is becoming a growing threat to the U.S. blood supply, government researchers said on Monday. The still rare disease is known to occur in seven U.S. states in the Northeast and Upper Midwest in the spring and summer.

Meanwhile, a new strain of swine flu has shown up in two children in Pennsylvania and Indiana who had direct or indirect contact with pigs. The virus includes a gene from the 2009 pandemic strain that might let it spread more easily than pig viruses normally do. It's classified as an H3N2 virus.

It might sound scary, but DON'T PANIC.

The Best Temporal Thermometer: Reviews

In the last 20 years doctors and nurses almost universally agreed that mercury-based thermometers were too risky to handle. The vigorous swinging needed to "reset" a mercury thermometer makes it very easy to accidentally break and then spill the poisonous mercury. Instead of stocking up on spill kits, hospitals and doctors now stock up on electronic digital thermometers, specifically temporal scan thermometers. Exergen's temporal scanner infrared thermometer, the Exergen TAT-5000 Temporal Thermometer is quickly becoming the standard in temporal scanners. The TAT-5000 is the best reviewed temporal thermometer. Temporal thermometer reviews are important to read. But what do the doctors say? What are the professional reviews of the Exergen Temporal Scanner? Here are a few, from Exergen's site.

Seniors are Doin' it for Themselves

136 years after Matthew Webb became the first person to swim the English Channel, Roger Allsopp from Great Britain became the oldest person to complete the 21-nautical mile swim. Allsopp is a few months over 70.

"I do feel an immense sense of achievement and relief that I have been successful." Allsopp told the BBC.

Advancements in medical technology, medical care, hospitals, and facilities have increased the human lifespan dramatically over the last 30 years. New scientific information on nutrition, germ prevention, aseptic surgery, antibiotics, and even mental health have improved the lives and lifespans of senior citizens. Long term care and assisted living products are important to seniors and their families, and an important part of making the Golden Years rewarding for everyone. Medical supplies like bed pans, bathing wipes, gloves, and mattress pads help make life easier for seniors who need assistance in their daily activities. These older folks are often very active but need some assistance. Long term care and assisted living facilities are worlds away from the stereotypical of the 'old folk's home.'

Roger Allsopp, pictured above, after finishing his swim across the English Channel. (PHOTO: PA)

QuickMedical's Employee of the Month: Dave

QuickMedical is proud to announce a new feature-- Employee of the Month. Each month an employee will be awarded the honor and featured here on the blog.

The entire QuickMedical staff met on Thursday for CEO Scott Hanna's announcement. And the winner is...

Dave!!!

Dave in the Sales Team is this month's QuickMedical Employee of the Month. Dave's attention to customer service, hard work, and skill as part of the sales and government sales teams is highly valued by everyone at QuickMedical. He's also really fun to work with. His upbeat, positive attitude and his contagious laugh, instantly turns a bad day into a better one.

Thanks, Dave for your contributions and congratulations!

Please leave a comment if you've worked with Dave or he's helped you with a product at QuickMedical, your online source for medical equipment and supplies.

Spill Kits and Spill Equipment

Medical procedures don't always go as planned. Accidents happen at hospitals and facilities. When they do, one of the best tools to have on hand is a spill kit. Spill kits are not just for medical facilities, they are also a great precautionary tool in industrial settings and public places like schools, health clubs, and shopping malls.

Spill kits are designed to clean up mercury spills from broken spyghmamometers. But today, with automatic non-aneroid monitors, a spill kit might be a great defense against other hazardous material spills. What are the typical contents of a spill kit?

Prosthetic Leg Beats Ankle Monitor

In Britain a man named Christopher Lowcock pulled a fast one on the British police. Arrested for drug and driving offenses, Lowcock was sentenced to wear an ankle monitor to make sure he didn't break house arrest (just like Lindsay Lohan!). But Lowcock, being the wily arch-criminal he is, had other plans and a prosthetic leg to help him. He wrapped his prosthetic limb in an elastic bandage when officers came to his house to set up the monitoring equipment. Consequently, Lowcock could simply remove his leg with the monitor on it whenever he wanted to breach the court-imposed curfew. So how did they catch him?

Wallach Surgical Sale

An Open Letter to OB/GYN clinics-- Seattle OB/GYN clinics, Charlotte OB/GYN clinics, OB/GYN clinics in Dallas, OB/GYN clinics in Houston, and OB/GYN offices around the country-- QuickMedical has an important announcement that will change the way you buy medical equipment and hospital supplies until October 31, 2011.

QuickMedical's Wallach In Service Demo

Wallach Surgical offers products designed to meet the demanding diagnostic and therapeutic requirements of today's obstetrics, gynecology and infertility practices, offering superb precision without compromising safety or affordability. Currently, Wallach Surgical is offering an outstanding promotion on select medical equipment at QuickMedical.

Wall Growth Chart Haiku

Time moves on. Tick tock.

Your children grow, inch by inch

Wall growth chart. Time passes.

The QuickMedical Wall Growth Chart provides easily recognizable reference points even under natural lighting conditions. The wide margins, designed to provide room for handwritten notes, with the polyester laminated covering, combine for an ideal chart for keeping long term growth records.

A better poet than me said, 'Teach your children well.' Teach them and watch them grow with the Wall Growth chart, only at QuickMedical, your online source for medical equipment and supplies.

Who Wants to See a Creepy Dental Training Robot?

Showa Hanako 2, is the 2nd version of a new piece of medical equipment for the dental industry. The robot is a training tool for dentists. It blinks, coughs, rolls its tongue and has a gag reflex. The robot has silicone skin and lifelike features to help psychologically remind the trainee dentist that they are working on a genuine patient.

What do you think? A great step forward in cutting edge dental equipment and supplies? Or a creepy step in the direction of BladeRunner?

Traveling with a Diabetes Pump

Are you diabetic and travel with a diabetes pump? If so researchers have found that people who are very sensitive to small changes in their insulin levels, such as diabetic children, are at risk for insulin pump malfunction during the pressure changes of an airplane flight. Pressure changes during flights can cause insulin pumps to deliver too much or too little of the medication, putting sensitive diabetics at risk. How can you avoid this?

What is My Metabolic Age?

Metabolic age is a relatively new term to describe overall fitness. Metabolic age is calculated by comparing your basal metabolic rate to the average basal metabolic rate of your chronological age group. Basal metabolic rate is the amount of energy consumed per unit of time when all environmental factors are considered neutral, and the energy expenditure is only sufficient to support normal body functioning. Formulas for calculating basal metabolic rate take into account age, weight, height, activity level, body fat mass, and lean body mass.

Metabolic age will give a person insight to their overall level of health and wellness.

If you want to take these measurements, take control of your health, and get the insight into your health, you're going to need medical equipment. What kind of medical equipment do you need to find your metabolic age?

Medical Restraint Papoose Boards

Not all medical procedures go smoothly. When dealing with emergency medical situations, doctors, nurses, or EMTs may need to restrain the patient. In certain medical situations, especially with children, this means using medical restraint boards. Adults or children can undergo unexpected seizures while undergoing emergency treatment, and sometimes shock and trauma can cause unintended movement in a patient that can be potentially dangerous to the patient and the medical professionals treating them. In these situations, the medical restraint papoose board is necessary.

QuickMedical's Top Heart Rate Monitors

A heart rate monitor is a piece of medical equipment that provides simple information on overall health that can be extremely beneficial. When you need the best heart rate monitor for the best price, visit QuickMedical. Our top rated heart rate monitors currently on sale are the best personal heart rate monitors available online. Click ahead to read our wrist heart rate monitor comparison.

The Eco Friendly Treatment Table

Did you know California is the only state that is permitted to have an air regulatory agency, since it is the only state that had one before the passage of the federal Clean Air Act? And did you know that QuickMedical has eco-friendly treatment tables, medical exam tables designed specifically to comply with the California Air Resource Board standards for formaldehyde emissions in composite wood products. These non-toxic medical exam tables are the type of medical equipment used to provide better indoor air quality for medically sensitive areas. Why might it be important to have an eco-friendly medical exam table?

QuickMedical Update from Malawi

QuickMedical recently donated a supply of ADC Pro Combo II Colorful Aneroid Blood Pressure Kits to medical students of the Community Health Care Provider education program at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. These sphygmomanometers are important, necessary medical equipment. According to the International Development Internship Program Director monitoring blood pressure of pregnant women, (maternal mortality is fairly high in Malawi) and monitoring the blood pressure of the elderly population are both essential.

We were just sent the above picture from Malawi of the students who are learning to use the ADC Pro Combo II Colorful Aneroid Blood Pressure Kits and a big thank you from them. You're very welcome, we're glad we could help out. Put those sphygmomanometers to good use!

Buying Medical Applicators: Cotton Tipped Applicators and Wood Applicators

Medical applicators are an important basic medical product that should always be on hand in a clinical setting. Medical applicators are often simply designed, affordable, sold in large quantities and have a wide variety of uses outside of medical care, including industrial use. Then there are specialty medical applicators, which are for specific medical applications. These can be slightly more expensive, are often more complex in design, and have usually only one use.

Tongue depressors by Puritan are a basic oral care tool for the physician's office, clinic, and hospital. QuickMedical offers pediatric and adult sizes by the box or case. Tongue depressors sold in bulk packaging are also useful for spas and industrial applications. Tongue depressors are commonly called popsicle sticks or wooden applicators, but they're not the only kind of wood applicators.

Many wood applicators have a cotton swab on one end, or sometimes both ends. These cotton tipped applicators (known by a variety of common, but trademarked names) are used in medical applications, but also in electronics and industrial applications as well. Cotton tipped applicators are often used in bulk, even in homes. Wood cotton tipped applicators are often more sturdy and durable than plastic, and can withstand higher temperatures. Also called wooden applicators are cuticle sticks, which are used in beauty parlors and manicure facilities. Cuticle Sticks are also used in industrial capacities and in some photographic applications, where they are commonly known as orange sticks because of their full name-- orangewood cuticle sticks.

So how do you buy the right medical applicator? After all, a Popsicle stick isn't just a Popsicle stick. It can be an oral care tool or an industrial tool. You've already taken the first step in buying the right medical applicators by visiting QuickMedical.

Winco Manufacturing Medical Equipment at QuickMedical

Winco Manufacturing is a new QuickMedical medical equipment supplier, but they aren't new to the medical industry. Winco Manufacturing has been manufacturing specialty medical furnishings and medical equipment for facilities for over 60 years. Winco Manufacturing medical equipment includes a complete line of blood drawing chairs and recovery couches, exam tables and patient recliners, hospital privacy screens, transport chairs, and rolling ring binder carts. Medical furniture is often the most important medical equipment in hospital patient rooms, retirement homes, clinics and other healthcare facilities. Winco furnishings can also be custom-fitted for your clinic so that the color and upholstery matches the rest of the room's medical equipment. What makes Winco's medical equipment stand out?

In The Future: Brain Scans to Predict Top 40 Pop Hits

In a study originally designed to determine the effect of peer pressure on teens' song choices, Gregory Berns of Emory University asked 27 teens, ages 12 to 17, to listen to snippets from 120 unknown artists while he scanned their brains. The music was picked from unsigned artists on MySpace in 2006. What's Myspace, again? Oh that Myspace.

Then in 2009 Berns heard one of the songs he had used in the study on American Idol and had an epiphany that some of the songs he had used in the original study had become popular and he had teenage brain data about those songs.

He told MSNBC, "It occurred to me that we had this unique data set of the brain responses of kids who listened to songs before they got popular," Berns said in a statement. "I started to wonder if we could have predicted [a hit]."

Will brain scans find the next Lady Gaga? Click ahead and find out.

The Top 5 Medical Supplies at QuickMedical

What are the products QuickMedical is known for? What are the best medical supplies online? Buying medical supplies is simple at QuickMedical. It's why our customers come back again and again when needing the best medical supplies on the market. What are the most purchased medical supplies from your online source for medical equipment and supplies, and why?

Are Your Children's Packed Lunches Growing E. Coli?

Monday the journal Pediatrics published a recent study from Texas that tested more than 700 preschoolers' lunch packs and found less than two percent of the meats, vegetables and dairy products were in the safe temperature zone. The safe zone for perishable foods is under 40 degrees or over 140 degrees Fahrenheit for storage for more than two hours.

Anything outside that zone means bacteria-- E. coli and Salmonella, both of which cause food poisoning, could be growing inside the brown bag.

According to the CDC, one in six Americans gets food poisoning every year. The usual causes of contamination are simple hygiene errors-- unwashed hands, unwashed kitchen utensils, or unwashed surfaces, where bacteria is spread and ingested. But improper food storage combined with improper hygiene can be a perfect storm for food poisoning. What's the best solution?

QuickMedical now a SECA Authorized Dealer

QuickMedical has been named an authorized seca scales dealer. Seca has been manufacturing scales for over 170 years. Seca's founder was the student of the actual inventor of the decimal balance. Pretty impressive. What's even more impressive is seca's wide range of accurate, durable scales for professionals and consumers. And now that QuickMedical is an authorized North American dealer, not only can you count on an accurate scale, but you can count on trained product specialists ready to assist in choosing, buying, or service on seca's scales. What can customers expect from an authorized seca scales dealer?

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!

You probably know the story. All Ralphie wanted for Christmas was an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. But all the adults in his life were convinced that if he got a BB gun, he'd shoot his eye out. When he finally got his gun, Ralphie actually did almost shoot his eye out, proving the adults were actually right. Only his glasses saved his eye from an almost certain permanent disability. August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month. What can you do to protect your kid's eyes besides keep them from air rifles?

Proper eye protection when playing sports or engaging in activities like shooting, archery, swimming, and contact sports is important for kids and adults. Although science is trying to grow new eyes, currently, the eyes you have are the only ones you will ever have.

Eye charts are extremely important in testing eye health. Optometrists and pediatricians use eye charts at their facilities to make sure the eyes of patients are working properly. Make sure your kids get regular annual checkups and eye exams.

Hippie Medicine: Naturopaths Need Medical Equipment, Too

This week I was in San Francisco as QuickMedical's representative to the 2011 Liveclicker Video Commerce Summit, where I got to hear from a YouTube product manager what's in store for online video in the next few years. Since the 60s, San Francisco has been famous for its hippies. As bohemian as Seattle is, San Francisco seems more counter-cultural to me. Maybe it's just individual perception. Maybe it's the whole Summer of Love / Haight-Ashbury thing, but when I think of San Francisco, I think of hippies, even if it's just a stereotype.

San Francisco may be unfairly stereotyped as filled to the brim with hippies, but hippies themselves are often unfairly stereotyped. In fact a typical negative stereotype about hippies is that they don't work. But in fact, many of them do and many of them work in the medical industry, and some of them combine their passion for counter-culture and health into alternative medical care. Alternative, in this case, to traditional Western medicine.

We're often pretty skeptical on the blog. We don't give any credit to quacks, charlatans, and soothsayers. We're not going to start. There are alternatives to the licensed MD, nurse practitioner, and hospital facility, and these medical professionals need medical equipment and supplies. You don't need to be a hippie, to be interested in alternative medicine. Whether you're a hippie, hipster, yuppie, guppy, or puppy, everyone should take responsibility for their own health and learn as much as they can about it. With that in mind, click ahead to learn about some of the different types of medical care you might not have considered needing medical equipment and medical supplies.

QuickMedical's Current Promotions!

Have you seen our current promotions? QuickMedical has a plethora of ongoing professional promotions. Right now you can get a free carrying case, when you order the Professional CardioChek PA Monitor, a $149 value! We also have an Overstock Special on Powder-Free Vinyl Exam Gloves - size Large, saving you over $21 a case! These gloves offer medical staff maximum protection during medical procedures and are 100% powder free, making them ideal for users with acute sensitivity to powdered gloves. And for a limited time only, we're giving you a whopping 50% off, ADC's durable, high quality Nurse Aneroid Blood Pressure Kits (pictured left), priced now at only $23! We're also offering specials on stadiometers, scales, autoclaves and more! Check out our professional promotions page and see for yourself!

Buy the Right Medical Equipment

At QuickMedical, we work intimately with people who need quality medical equipment. From exam tables to instrument holders, QuickMedical has the unique ability to outfit an entire room in a facility with medical equipment from the ground up. What's the right way to purchase medical equipment? How do you find the medical equipment that will be right for your facility?

The True Story of a Fake Discovery

Have you heard of n-rays? They were discovered in 1903 by a distinguished scientist named Prosper-Rene Blondlot, while attempting to polarize x-rays. Why are there x-ray machines, x-ray scanners, and x-ray illuminators but not similar n-ray medical equipment and devices? Medical x-ray equipment and illuminators are some of the most important diagnostic tools in hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. N-rays are nowhere to be seen. Why? It's because n-rays are not real and Blondlot's story is a classic tale of experimenter bias in science.

A Picture is Worth 300 Words

It takes a pretty rare picture to be worth a whole blog. And maybe this picture isn't really worth the entire blog. But maybe it is. We found this bizarre picture of an echocardiogram in progress, on WebMD to share with you. CLICK AHEAD!

Man uses Butter Knife as Surgical Instrument

A 63-year-old man with a hernia plunged a butter knife into his abdomen to try to fix the medical condition, and then put a lit cigarette in the wound, according to police.

Sunday night in Glendale, California the man was found by police, naked on his porch, using a butter knife as a medical scalpel. What was he using for forceps?

"He actually impaled himself with the butter knife," said Sergeant Tom Lorenz a police spokesman. "He told his wife he was frustrated with this hernia, and he didn't want to wait any longer for the medical procedure."

While wait times in the emergency room can be a little ridiculous, the man's action does seem a little short-sighted. Butter knives and cigarettes are not high quality, sterilized surgical instruments.

Sterilization with Medical Autoclaves

Surgical instruments that enter an aseptic part of the body such as the bloodstream, or penetrate the skin, must be sterilized to a 'high sterility assurance level,' which refers to the probability of being non-sterile after sterilization. Mathematically, sterility assurance levels are usually very small numbers and are expressed as negative exponents: "The SAL of this process is 10 to the minus six." Instruments like scalpels, hypodermic needles and dissectors must be sterilized before use. While sanitization and disinfection terminates selectively and partially, sterilization refers to the termination of all microbial life. How do hospitals, clinics and facilities accomplish this important process? The medical autoclave, also known as a lab autoclave, steam autoclave or medical sterilizer is the piece of medical equipment that handles the job.

American Made Scales

There is an ongoing story presented in the media that the United States is lagging behind other countries in manufacturing. While this might be true in some industries, there are two sides to every story, and sometimes more than two. In fact, the United States is one of the leading manufacturers of accurate scales in the world. Search online for bathroom scale reviews and you'll find American made scales near the top of almost every list. Scales from Detecto, Befour, and SR scales are some of the most trusted scales in the world-- from digital bathroom scales and BMI scales, to accurate medical scales and floor scales-- and they are all proudly American made.

Top 5 Quick Tips for Staying Active: Active Lifestyle Month

It's supposed to be summer, but here in Washington, it's not quite passing the test. According to a Seattle meteorologist, Seattle has technically had only 78 minutes of summer so far this year. Whether that depresses you, challenges you, or neither, it can be hard to stay active when it's rainy or cold. Because we're rather public servicey on this blog click ahead for some helpful quick tips for staying active-- whether you live in the rainy Northwest, or otherwise.

A Haiku to Vinyl Gloves

Dynarex Powder

Free Vinyl Exam Gloves-- Wow.

It's the lowest price.

At QuickMedical you'll save around 21 dollars on a purchase of Large Size Dynarex Vinyl Gloves. These low, low prices won't last, so order today.

Powder free vinyl exam gloves offer maximum protection for medical procedures. Vinyl exam gloves are 100% powder free making them ideal for users with sensitivites to powdered gloves. Powder free vinyl exam gloves and most Dynarex medical supplies are sold by the box or case.

Helpful Nebulizers for Pediatric Asthma

Only a few years ago, if you were a kid with asthma, controlling asthma with regular medication meant bringing a large, heavy, and loud nebulizer everywhere you went. That meant at school, sleepovers, and summer camp there was always a big loud box to lug around. It meant the anxiety of having asthma attacks was increased by new anxiety about having to use a large, intimidating piece of medical equipment every day to stop the attacks. Those days are past. If you're a kid with asthma there are now some great nebulizers which are smaller, easier-to-use, and will be far less anxiety inducing.

Facebook Saves Kid's Life

Social networks aren't just for marketing and annoying your parents. They can also be very useful, and in fact, can even save lives. Novelist Deborah Copaken Kogan's son Leo woke up one morning with a rash and fever. After taking Leo to the doctor and getting a prescription for antibiotics, Kogan thought Leo would begin to heal. But Leo's symptoms got worse. Deborah didn't panic however; instead she called her doctor and arranged for another visit. She also posted pictures of her son's worsening condition on Facebook, where her online contacts commented that his symptoms and appearance in pictures could be a rare but potentially fatal disease called Kawasaki disease. The doctors soon confirmed the Facebook picture comments-- Leo had Kawasaki disease. Waiting a single day might have lead to unrepairable heart damage.

Get Some Sleep and Stop Blaming Everyone Else!

Is someone always blaming you for all their problems? Maybe they just need more sleep. A new study suggests sleepier college students tend to blame others for their problems, seek revenge and are more likely to day dream about how things could have played out. They didn't however, think about how they could have changed the situation, but rather how other people could have handled things differently. Researchers have long known that sleepiness can negatively impact moods and impair our emotions and cognitions when making a moral judgment, but this new study is the first to investigate how people actually think when they are sleep deprived.

The abstract was presented at the SLEEP 2011, 25th anniversary meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Minneapolis, by principal investigator David Mastin, associate professor of psychology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. "Sleepier people seem to engage in counterfactual thinking that is more dissatisfied and perhaps more selfish," said Mastin. "It may be that the sleepier you are, the more likely your musings are to be angry thoughts, about how others could have done better."

Healthcare Lighting: Burton Surgical Lights

During an exam or surgery you probably don't think too much about the lights around you, but your doctor definitely has thought and planned out the type of surgical lights and medical exam room lights being used. Proper medical lighting, operating room lights producing a clear, crisp, image for the doctor and other health professionals in the room, are arguably one of the most important pieces of medical equipment at a facility. Burton Medical Products manufactures distinctive, high-value exam lights, surgical lights, procedure lights, UV lights, and headlights for the physician. Why are operating room lights so important? Surgical lights like the Burton Apex Major Operating Room Light (pictured right) offer pure white light, eliminating blue hues and illuminating the area where major surgeries take place. Being able to see the surgical area clearly is very important.

Beating the Summer Heat

It's summertime and the temperature is rising every day. Between 1979 and 2003, excessive heat exposure killed 8,015 Americans, according to the CDC. That's more people than the number who died from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, and floods combined. In an emergency situation, the right emergency medical supplies are necessary. First-aid for heatstroke is a simple process, accomplished by quick action and proper application of emergency medical first aid supplies. Learn more about first-aid for heatstroke by clicking ahead.

Fitness For Babies?

QuickMedical has fitness products for health and fitness professionals and consumers. From exercise balls, weights, and mats, to heart rate monitors and pedometers, QuickMedical has the equipment and supplies to help you reach your fitness goals. And now, a recent report from Britain reiterates the importance of regular workouts, and using home fitness equipment. Preschoolers, even babies, need daily exercise, the British government says in its first-ever exercise advice for its youngest citizens.

In a new campaign against obesity, Britain issued guidelines on Monday saying that children under the age of 5 -- including babies who can't even walk yet -- should exercise every day. Should babies start lifting weights?

Do Fatty Foods Make You High?

While July is Active Lifestyle month, and an active lifestyle is extremely important for overall health, another important component to health is a well balanced diet. The American Heart Association reports, the average American consumes too much fat. The Association recommends that you get less than 30% of your total calories from fat. Unfortunately, most people consume closer to 34%. This has lead to increasing rates of obesity and obesity related disease.

New research might explain why fatty foods are so addictive. A new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that chemicals called endocannabinoids, which produce a drug-like feeling of well being, are activated when you eat fatty foods like French fries and potato chips. Endocannabinoids were discovered years ago when scientists were researching the effects of marijuana.

So French fries make you high?

Exergen Sponsors ESPN Radio Broadcast of MLB All Star Game

Tonight, Exergen TemporalScanner is sponsoring Major League Baseball's 82nd Annual All Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona. Exergen will be sponsoring the ESPN radio broadcast of the game and will be running their ongoing "Exergen Game Time Temperature" contest.

Today's weather report predicts their will be a game time "high fever" temperature of 106.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Radio listeners are urged to make a guess as to what the real temperature will be at the time of the first pitch before it is announced on ESPN. The contestant that guesses the correct temperature will win a free Exergen Temporal Scanner. If more than one listener guesses correctly, the final number of runs scored by the winning team will determine the number of contest winners selected in order of submission.

You can place your guess by clicking above, or by visiting www.gametimetemperature.com or Exergen's Facebook page. The MLB All Star Game starts at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT and will be broadcast on FOX as well as ESPN radio. Be sure to get your guesses in before the 1st inning. And if you don't win, you can still always purchase an Exergen Temporal Scanner, right here at QuickMedical.

QuickMedical: Giving Back Worldwide

Dr. Quillian receiving QuickMedical's medical equipment donation.

Malawi, a small landlocked country in southeast Africa, is among the world's least developed countries. The country has a low life expectancy, high infant mortality and a high prevalence of HIV. Despite this, Malawi has remained free from much of the genocidal conflicts that have afflicted its neighbors the last 20 years. Because of this it has become home to refugee camps, with people from all over the southeastern African region journeying to Malawi for safety. The Dzaleka Refugee Camp located 40 miles from the capital city Lilongwe, the nearest city with a hospital, houses around 17,000 African refugees from the conflict-stricken regions of the Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. There is only one health clinic in this growing refugee community.

The Jesuit Refugee Service, responsible for education in the camp, realized the need for better, more efficient medical care in the camp, and proposed a new medical education program for members of the refugee community with a secondary education. And this brings the story around the globe to the Pacific Northwest, home to QuickMedical and Seattle University.

QuickMedical Questions: How is LDL Cholesterol Calculated?

QuickMedical Question Guy:

I bought a CardioChek Cholesterol Monitor for Home Use, from QuickMedical recently and I really want to get my LDL readings. Is there any way I can get an LDL reading on my CardioChek Cholesterol Monitor for Home Use?

LDLouie

The CardioChek Cholesterol Monitor for Home Use is an amazing device, but you might have noticed that there are no strips specifically for LDL readings. Don't worry though, an LDL reading is simple to calculate with the strips that came with your home monitor. Just follow these simple steps.

Psychology, Social Media, and Health

Have you sent someone a video of a cat playing a piano or maybe even an article on the QuickMedical blog about patient warming blankets? Have you shared a story on QuickMedical's wall? Maybe just liked a product posted?

Jonah Berger has published a new study in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, about 'viral' information and maybe why you did it.

Warming Blankets for Hypothermia

It's summer and you're probably not thinking about hypothermia right now. Hypothermia, also known as cold stress, is caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. We're in the warm months now, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared for what could come in colder times. Medical warming blankets are one of the best emergency medical supplies for combating hypothermia. Medical blanket warming systems are just one important part of the first-aid procedure for hypothermia. Click ahead to read the procedure.

Defibrillator Facts

The human heart beats because of chemical impulses produced by special cells called pacemaker cells. These cells are often affected by external stimuli-- medication, stress, and physical activity are just a few things that change body chemistry, alter the chemical impulses, and increase or decrease heartbeat. One of the most well-known, and often misunderstood external heart stimulus is defibrillation. Defibrillation is the administration of a jolt of electricity to the heart, depolarizing the heart muscle and allowing the heart's natural pacemaker to potentially reset itself and continue beating. Defibrillation is performed by devices called defibrillators.

The Changing Color of Disposable Medical Clothing and Apparel

Why is disposable medical clothing usually blue or green? Surgical caps face masks, and surgical wear colored blue or green is fairly standard. Graham Disposable Medical Gowns all come in blue. But it wasn't always this way. In the past, disposable medical clothing and apparel was colored white. Why the change?

The Brave New World of Dog Poop

If your dog poops at the Village of Abacoa in Jupiter, Florida, be prepared to pay a hefty fine, even when no one is around to see the 'poop tort.' The community has voted up a policy where all community dogs will have their DNA on file. Any dog poop found in common areas unattended will be sampled, DNA tested, and the dog owners fined.

"Community managers say they have no choice. Dogs are defecating and urinating in elevators, in stairwells, on carpets and in the lobby, as well as common areas outside. The condo association is spending $10,000 to $12,000 a year replacing and cleaning," said Matthew Brickman, president of the Village of Abacoa Condominium Association.

Testing doggie DNA requires some simple medical equipment and supplies. Swabsticks are used to take a DNA sample from every dog's mouth in the community. From these samples, an identity record of every dog in the community can be cataloged. If there is a canine bowel movement where it shouldn't be, forensic applicators will be used to collect and send the offending sample to a lab. What happens next?

Omron's New Blood Pressure Monitors

Omron's line of blood pressure monitors has been updated. With important new features added to the existing state of the art IntelliSense blood pressure monitor technology, Omron's new blood pressure monitors are designed with consumer satisfaction and reliability in mind. Omron's new blood pressure monitors can still be found by their model numbers, but they will also be known by their 'Series' number.

Monitoring blood pressure is important. There's often no warning sign or symptom of hypertension and it can be deadly. When taking control of hypertension, monitoring blood pressure daily is often the first step. What Omron blood pressure monitor is right for you? What are the new features on the new series of Omron blood pressure monitors?

Medical Face Masks

Medical face masks have been an iconic symbol of the medical profession for hundreds of years. The first medical faces masks were not the surgical supplies doctors and nurses use today for aseptic surgical procedures, but were rather frightening, almost supernatural-looking Plague Doctor masks. These Plague Doctor masks were worn by the brave individuals who gathered bodies of the victims of Black Death epidemics, that spread across Europe in the Middle Ages, to protect them from catching the disease.

The idea behind those medical face masks was not based in any real scientific research, but the masks worked remarkably well. By creating a seal around the face of the person coming in contact with disease, they were less likely to inhale the bacteria that caused the plague.

Today medical face masks provide protection against the spread of infection, based on the germ theory of disease. These masks are soft, comfortable, and disposable. QuickMedical, your online medical supply store, has face masks ideal for healthcare providers, consumers who are looking for personal protection and much more.

The Medical Equipment of Clinton Industries

Clinton Industries has been among the top suppliers of quality medical equipment for over 30 years. With more than 1,000 products covering a wide range of exam tables, seating, physical therapy, and specialty equipment, Clinton is the medical professional's resource for affordable, well-engineered, quality constructed medical equipment.

Click ahead to read more about some of the medical equipment Clinton manufactures.

Detecto 6437DHR: Accuracy and Ease of Use

Have you ever needed a height, weight, and Body Mass Index reading instantly, in one easy to read digital display?

If your office or clinic needs an accurate, efficient medical scale to measure not only weight, but height and Body Mass Index, simultaneously, Detecto's new 6437DHR ProMed Eye-Level Digital Physician Scale with Digital Height Rod might be right for you.

QuickMedical Questions- Surgical Instruments

Customers and even casual web surfers will send us questions via Facebook, Twitter or email, about medical equipment and supplies. Since we're not doctors, we can't offer you specific health advice. If you're really concerned, you should always consult a health professional. This particular question was emailed to QuickMedical about Sklar medical.

Sklar Surgical Instruments is a leading manufacturer of high quality medical and surgical equipment for hospitals, surgery centers and specialty clinics. Sklar has upheld a worldwide reputation for quality medical equipment since 1892. However, an emailer writes:

Why do my instruments have a brownish stain?

Regards,

Stains

Brown surgical instruments are more than just an aesthetic problem. Why and how can you stop this?

CEO Scott Hanna at the Great Wall of China

QuickMedical's CEO Scott Hanna is in China, meeting with potential vendors, customers, and manufacturers. While in China, Scott had the opportunity to visit the famous Great Wall. Scott writes, "...looking at pictures of the Wall in a book doesn't completely express its grandness. I took a tram to the top of the mountain and saw just a piece. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had no idea it was nested on top of mountains and zigzagged all over the countryside."

For pictures click ahead.

The Science of Cholesterol Monitors

A relatively new innovation in the world of medical equipment is the home cholesterol monitor. Rates of heart disease have increased over the 20th century. Scientists have generally accepted the lipid hypothesis of heart disease, which has made accurate tracking of cholesterol levels important.

Home cholesterol monitors, such as the CardioChek monitor (which also has a professional model), work on the principle of photometry. Photometry is used by astronomers to discover the elements and compounds that make up stars and planets. It is used in other medical equipment, such as pulse oximeters, too. By judging the color value, absorption, and emission of light, a variety of assumptions can be made about the substances the light is being passed through. With the help of a computer, these assumptions can be translated into useful information.

Knowing your cholesterol is a key part of taking charge of your cardiovascular health. The CardioChek for Home Use Self-Cholesterol Monitor gives you the ability to determine your cholesterol; any time, any place, with a small drop of blood from a fingerstick. Here's how it works:

Vision Loss, Diet, and Health Products for the Visually Impaired

For people at a higher risk of losing central vision as they age, eating certain dietary nutrients could help protect their eyes and avoid the use of health products for the visually impaired. Macular degeneration vision loss is caused by erosion of the retina. A new study shows patients who ate higher levels of zinc, antioxidants or omega-3 fatty acids cut their risk of developing the disease by as much as a third, compared with those who ate lower levels of the nutrients.

In the United States, the condition occurs in more than six out of every 100 adults over age 40 and although patients can be treated with medications and surgery, none of these cures the disease. Low vision requires a variety of medical devices to assist in daily living.

Preparing for Med School

Students entering medical school at Brown University's Alpert School of Medicine are on summer break right now, relaxing after the stress of applying and getting accepted into medical school. Soon their summer break will end, and the first year medical students will begin their studies. The students at Alpert and at most medical schools are required to purchase some of their own medical equipment and medical supplies. This list is often provided online to students. QuickMedical has every product on the Alpert list. For the full list of med school equipment and a few other medical supplies medical students might need, click ahead.

Talking Blood Pressure

What's the best home blood pressure monitor? What's the best talking wrist blood pressure monitor? At QuickMedical we have the best variety of medical equipment, available online, including home blood pressure monitors. Patients who are required to monitor their blood pressure everyday might have other special needs to help keep track of their health. If we're talking blood pressure, let's talk about talking blood pressure monitors.

Scott Hanna in Hong Kong

QuickMedical CEO Scott Hanna is in the Far East this week, meeting with vendors and manufacturers on the other side of the Pacific Rim.

Scott wrote in with an update and some pictures. Click ahead to view.

What are Cataracts of the Eye?

June is Cataract Awareness Month. Cataracts are a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity, obstructing the passage of light. Cataracts typically progress slowly and are potentially blinding if untreated. The condition usually affects both eyes, but almost always one eye is affected earlier than the other. Age-related cataract is responsible for 48% of world blindness, representing about 18 million people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Are you at risk?

Doctors Need Scales

Doctors need scales. General practitioners, pediatricians, endocrinologists, and many other specialists use medical equipment for weighing patients. Body weight and body mass index are both important indicators of overall health and accurate measurements allow doctors to diagnose a wide range of diseases. Medical facilities searching for scales have to find the scales that fit their needs perfectly.

The "Old Faithful" of the Detecto line, and one of the most common professional scales is the Detecto 437 Balance Beam Scale (pictured right). This scale is common in doctors' offices, gym locker rooms, spas, and recreation centers. The Detecto 437 is common because it's affordable, highly accurate, and highly durable.

Not every facility needs a basic unit, however. For example, in a bariatric clinic, the scale of choice must be a high capacity scale. In a long term care facility, a wheelchair scale is essential. At a pediatric facility baby scales are necessary to weigh infants during their important first months.

Why Use Exam Gloves?

Patients take it for granted that doctors, nurses, and dentists will wear exam gloves while performing procedures. However, exam gloves did not come into vogue for all medical procedures until the last 30 years. Personally, I remember going to the dentist as a kid and the dentist poking around in my mouth without gloves. I also remember as I got older, becoming acquainted with the taste of latex, as the dentists and assistants began to wear gloves, masks, and later goggles. In fact, at my last dentist visit, even I had to wear eye protection.

Laron Syndrome

Do a group of short Ecuadorians hold the secret to eternal life? Does a strange syndrome which results from a genetic mutation contain the cure for diabetes and cancer? Scientists have discovered an ultra rare disease, affecting only 250 people worldwide, which stunts growth, but also makes the person with the disease immune to cancer. And strangely, this same disease might also be the secret behind the myths of elves! Don't believe me? Click ahead.

Hand Hygiene

How important is proper hand hygiene for health professionals? It's important! Watch this video and learn more.

QuickMedical offers hand soap and hand sanitizers in a variety of styles and sizes to suit any medical professional. Be sure to find all of your medical supplies and equipment right here at QuickMedical.

How Dangerous are Flip Flops?

Summertime is almost here. The air conditioning has kicked on in the office and here in the Pacific Northwest, the sun has come out from behind the clouds. Sandals, once only worn by surfers and Egyptian pharaohs, have today become a popular footwear choice for many people. A 2010 study by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that flip-flops and sneakers with flexible soles were easier on knees than clogs or special stability shoes.

However, wearing flip-flops can cause problems. You can easily stub or cut your toe. People who wear flip-flops often visit doctors complaining of stress fractures and foot pain from overuse. A podiatrist who has practiced in Washington for 20 years, told the Washington Post in an online article he'll see at least one patient with a flip-flop injury every day through September.

Humans are animals, there's no getting around that fact. Have you ever seen a chimpanzee wearing shoes? I actually have, repeatedly on the show Lancelot Link. But that's a digression. Animals don't usually need to protect their feet, but humans do. What gives?

Goodbye Food Pyramid, Hello Food Plate

As you may have heard the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the end of an era. The guide to healthy eating known as the Food Pyramid is officially no longer. The Food Pyramid has been replaced by an updated Food Plate that was unveiled by First Lady Michelle Obama, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The Food Plate is more accurate, much easier to comprehend, and visually appealing. The plate is divided in 4 sections with half the plate consisting of fruits and veggies and the other half, grains and protein. A small portion of dairy is on the side of the plate. Sugar and fats/oils have been eliminated as their own sections, instead we can gain those in healthy amounts through things like fruits and proteins.

My Plate also emphasizes balancing calories by eating less and avoiding oversized portions. It suggests you increase fruits and vegetables, make sure half of your grains are whole grains, and switch to fat-free or 1% milk. Foods to reduce, include high sodium foods and sugary drinks. By reading the fine print on food labels you can easily detect high sodium and high sugar foods.

Does My Dog Have High Blood Pressure?

Hypertension is not just a human disease. Canines can and are often stricken by hypertension. At QuickMedical, because we have an extensive veterinary page, we are often contacted by pet owners looking to monitor their dog's blood pressure.

Unfortunately, we don't have monitors specifically for your animals. Because dog hearts beat faster than human hearts, and because the cuff needs to fit a dog, a special canine blood pressure device should always be used. Commonly canine blood pressure is taken with a doppler-like device.

Another Wacky Diet - hCG

The NY Times has an article about a new diet called the hCG diet, which combines extreme calorie restriction-- 500 calories a day of unprocessed organic foods-- with daily doses of a pregnancy-related hormone called human chorionic gondatropin-- the hCG in the hCG diet. The diet isn't approved by the FDA, and it doesn't come cheap. One month of syringes and hormone can run more than a thousand dollars.

500 calories and hormone injections sounds completely bonkers-crazypants, to me! Are doctors really prescribing this?

Walk for Your Health

"Men who engaged in brisk walking, defined as three miles per hour or faster, after a diagnosis of clinically localized prostate cancer, had a reduced risk of prostate cancer progression compared to men who walked at an easy pace [less than two miles per hour]," said author Erin L. Richman, a research associate in the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco in reference to a recent study in the journal Cancer Research.

"Men who engaged in three hours per week or more of brisk walking had the greatest benefit," Richman added, "with a 57 percent lower risk of disease progression compared to men who walked less than three hours per week at an easy pace. These results were independent of clinical prognostic factors, dietary factors and lifestyle factors such as obesity and smoking."

Millions of years ago, paleolithic man and woman walked all the time. There wasn't much else to do. That's what our bodies are made for-- lots of walking. In modern society, humans don't walk as much. We don't have to. There are cars, trams, planes, and buses, which can move around faster and further than walking. But sedentary lifestyles are hurting humanity.

Memorial Day

The national average for unleaded regular gasoline was $3.81 a gallon on Thursday. That's 9 cents less than it was a week ago, according to AAA. The price of gas is important to Memorial Day road trippers and vacationers. But there's a more important price we should pay attention to on Memorial Day. The price of freedom.

Wolf TrimLine Illuminators on Sale

Wolf X-Ray was founded in 1931. Wolf occupies a unique position in the manufacture and distribution of imaging accessories. In a world of multi-national conglomerates, Wolf X-Ray is a family company, based out of the New York area since its founding. Wolf X-Ray produces a wide array of X-Ray products. Currently, if your facility or practice uses X-Ray technology, now would be the ideal time to purchase a Wolf 'Trimline' Illuminator. Why now?

Farmer's Markets

Why are farmer's markets important for your health? Here in the Pacific Northwest, the idea of the Farmer's market is fairly common. Every neighborhood in Seattle and most towns in the area have Farmer's markets. Big cities like New York and Los Angeles in recent years have increased the trend, each claiming hundreds of farmer's markets within their borders.

In the world outside Europe and North America, farmer's markets are usually the rule, not the exception. Produce found at farmers markets is locally grown and very fresh. Farmers markets allow farmers to pick produce at the peak of its flavor, preserve the nutritional content of fresh produce, and since locally grown produce does not travel as far to get to your table, the difference in mileage saves fossil fuels.

QuickMedical Questions - My Mom's Sick

A caller recently rang us here at QuickMedical with the following rather serious problem. She called in and told us:

"My mother is bed-ridden with diabetes. She's developed a sore on her heel and it's extremely painful. She hates when I remove her bandages because the dressings stick to her wound. Her heel rubs in bed at night. What can we do to help her wound heal and what can I use to protect her foot at night?"

We're not health professionals, but we certainly empathize with your situation. No one wants to see someone in a situation like you've described. Always first check with your doctor or other health professional before making any big changes in your mother's care. Here at QuickMedical we'd suggest collagen dressings by Cellerate. Collagen dressings are state of the art wound care innovations based from collagen and designed for deep wounds that require a moisturizing barrier. In a gel or powder, depending on your mother's wound, the dressing will speed healing and help reduce the pain she's in.

The End of the World

Biblical scholar Harold Camping says: 'the world will end tomorrow.' I'm certainly not a Biblical scholar, so who knows? When I read the Bible, I skipped a bunch of stuff, so maybe I skipped over the part about the world ending May 21, 2011. Seems like they should highlight that in red or something so you won't miss it.

It's easy to joke about Camping, because his picture makes him look like a crazy, old coot. He probably is. But the end of the world is a bit more realistic than most people are willing to admit. We joke about this stuff to make ourselves feel better, because it really could happen. Don't believe me? Click ahead.

Baby Blood Pressure

It's National Blood Pressure Education Month, and at QuickMedical we often get calls from customers with questions and concerns about pediatric blood pressure. QuickMedical actually has a great selection of pediatric blood pressure monitors online, which is why so many customers contact us about this.

But what about infant blood pressure? Is blood pressure monitoring an important vital sign for infants? Is it even possible?

Nature or Nurture?

According to the journal Nature Genetics, scientists have found that a gene linked to diabetes and cholesterol, which they call the "master switch" that controls other genes, should help in the search for treatments for obesity-related diseases.

Since fat plays an important role in peoples' susceptibility to metabolic diseases like obesity, heart disease and diabetes, the regulating gene could be a target for drugs, to treat such illnesses.

"This is the first major study that shows how small changes in one master regulator gene can cause a cascade of other metabolic effects in other genes," said Tim Spector of King's College London, who led the study. One in 10 adults worldwide, are obese and the numbers have doubled since the 1980s. In the United States, obesity-related diseases already account for nearly 10 percent of medical spending -- an estimated $147 billion a year.

Meanwhile, a program in Michigan to boost heart health in middle school students, was so successful that it's being expanded to 20 new middle schools. The 4 year program is designed to get students to: eat more fruits and vegetables, eat less fatty foods, choose healthier beverages, get at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week and spend less time in front of the computer and TV.

Government Says: Cut Back on Junk Food Ads

The U.S. government has officially released a statement to pressure food companies into cutting back on aggressive advertising of junk food to kids. The Obama administration issued proposed voluntary principles which would turn children's food advertising on its head by calling for advertisements to be for foods that "make a meaningful contribution to a healthful diet" and minimize ingredients that could have a negative impact on weight and health.

"On a daily basis, kids across the country are barraged with ads for junk foods and it is long past time that we put some limits on the advertising of these unhealthy foods. Armed with these guidelines, it is now my hope that companies will voluntarily abide by them," said Senator Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat and chair of the Senate Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee, in a statement.

Does this mean the death of the immortal Count Chocula, once and for all?

QuickMedical Questions- QuickMedical GS

QuickMedical Question Guy:

I noticed on your web site, your division QuickMedical GS is a disabled vet small business. What does that mean? I understand President Obama signed a bill requiring vet companies to get certified. I was just wondering if you got certification, yet?

Yours Truly,

Mr. Proud to be a Vet

Thanks for your service, Mr. Vet. It's true QuickMedical GS is a service disabled veteran-owned, small business. We have been for a while. In October 2010, President Obama signed the Veterans Benefits Act. Section 104 of this law expands VA's requirement to verify business status as owned and operated by Veterans, service-disabled Veterans or eligible surviving spouses. The law is intended to protect our Veterans, their families and survivors who have Veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB). Effective October 13, 2010, no new small business applicant may appear in the VIP database unless it has been verified as owned and controlled by a Veteran or service-disabled Veteran.

In answer to your question, Government Sales director Tom Smith says, "It only took 90 days but we have been verified by the VetBiz Registry." We can proudly display the "Verified" logo as a Veteran Owned Small Business, and appear in the database!

If you purchase medical equipment and supplies for the government or a government agency, QuickMedical GS is your online source.

Hockey Save

At an old-timer's hockey game in Nanaimo, British Columbia, which is only a short trip north from our QuickMedical offices, a player mysteriously collapsed while on the bench. Without the help of two teammates and the recently installed public Zoll AED Plus Defibrillator, the recreational hockey player might have died. Here's the story courtesy A News Vancouver Island's YouTube Channel.

Public Access Defibrillators

Dutch researchers surveyed passersbys in Centraal Station to find out if untrained bystanders at a busy rail station in downtown Amsterdam would be able to locate and use the public access defibrillators located there. Each interview was conducted within 10 feet of one of the five AEDs prominently displayed at the station.

More than half of those who took part in the survey could not identify the glass-fronted box on the wall as an emergency defibrillator. And only 47% said they would use the AED. The most common reasons for declining to use the device were not knowing how it works (69%) and worries about hurting the victim (14%).

AED-defibrillators are the best -- and often last -- hope for people who collapse because their hearts have lapsed into a fast, irregular, and deadly heartbeat known as ventricular fibrillation. These shock-delivering devices are becoming a standard fixture in airports, malls, casinos, office buildings, and other public places. They are so easy to use, and the directions printed on them are so clear and straightforward, that even children can learn to use them.

The Chain of Survival

In 1767, the civic minded Dutch in Amsterdam formed a Society for Recovery of Drowned Persons. This group wrote the first CPR guidelines in history. The guidelines were well-meaning, but were somewhat lacking. The Society recommended for drowned persons:

--Warming the victim

--Removing swallowed or aspirated water by positioning the victim's head lower than feet

--Applying manual pressure to the abdomen

--Respirations in to the victim's mouth, either using a bellows or with a mouth-to-mouth method (mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nostril respiration is described including the advice that "a cloth or handkerchief may be used to render the operation less indelicate")

--Tickling the victim's throat

--Stimulating the victim by such means as rectal and oral fumigation with tobacco smoke.

--Bloodletting

Tickling the throat, bloodletting and blowing smoke up the victim's rear-end are simply not going to help a drowning or heart attack victim. However patient warming, removing water, abdomen pressure, and respirations are all on the path to the modern life saving, CPR procedure.

In 2010, the American Heart Association changed the recommended CPR steps to include chest compressions first. Previously, the recommended steps were: A-B-C-- meaning airway, breathing, compressions. The airway was checked and rescue breaths were administered before chest compressions. The change, which means rescuers follow C-A-B, now, means that chest compressions should come first in any rescue effort.

The importance of chest compressions is further emphasized by the importance of AED-defibrillators in emergencies.

QuickMedical Questions- My Husband's Irregular Heart Beat

Customers and even casual web surfers will send us questions via Facebook, Twitter or email, about medical equipment and supplies. Since we're not doctors, we can't offer you specific health advice. If you're really concerned, you should always consult a health professional. But we're here to help, so without further ado, here's another QuickMedical Question, with an answer, from a curious emailer who writes:

Dear QuickMedical Questions:

My husband has an irregular heart beat and he has to monitor his blood pressure from home every day. His doctor said he can't use a wrist blood pressure monitor. Is this correct and if so can you recommend several blood pressure monitors for my review?

Yours truly,

Maria

Detecto's Economical Waist-High Digital Healthcare Scales

When most people think about vital signs, they instantly think blood pressure, pulse, and maybe breathing, or eye movements. Weight is often overlooked as a vital sign. While weight is often discussed, debated, and worried about, it's often not examined for what it is-- an important predictor of overall health. At a yearly health examination with a doctor, weighing is always part of the exam. Doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals and health centers, take note-- Detecto's ProMed 6127 and 6129 healthcare scales are the right choice for patient weighing needs. Why?

Mistakes at the Hospital

One in three people who stay in a hospital will encounter some kind of mistake, according to a recent study.

"Without doubt, we've seen improvements in health care over the past decade, and even pockets of excellence, but overall progress has been agonizingly slow," said Susan Dentzer, Editor-in-Chief of Health Affairs, which published several studies on a special issue on patient safety.

This number is about ten times higher than previous studies in hospital errors. Why?

Cinco De Mayo Salsa Recipe

Need something to get you in the spirit for Cinco de Mayo? Looking for a healthy Cinco de Mayo recipe? Well here's an easy to make, no fuss salsa, that is a million times better than salsa in a jar! My childhood neighbor taught me how to make this, as this is one of the glorious salsas, his saintly mother, straight from Mexico, makes.

Click ahead for the recipe!

Top 5 Cancer Myths

Let's separate the fear from the facts. Do artificial sweeteners really cause cancer? Here are 5 of the most popular cancer boogeymen and the truths and fictions behind them.

QuickMedical Questions- Why Pick a Presto Glucose Meter?

An emailer writes:

Dear QuickMedical Question Guy:

I've heard many good things about the AgaMatrix Presto glucose monitor, but what is it that really sets it apart from the other devices and why is it so accurate? I need a very accurate glucose monitor. Aren't all glucose monitors the same?

Sincerely,

Mr. Low Blood Sugar

All glucose monitors are not the same, Mr. Low Blood Sugar! What makes the Presto so special? Click ahead.

May is High Blood Pressure Education Month

May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month. For the next month we'll be teaching you more about high blood pressure, how to lower it, and how to find the appropriate blood pressure monitor for each unique individual. But for today, we'll start by giving you a quick rundown on high blood pressure.

Blood pressure is a measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. Blood pressure is written as two numbers, systolic and diastolic. The number on top is the systolic , which represents the pressure when the heart beats. The number on the bottom, diastolic, represents the pressure when the heart rests between beats.

Two Apples a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

An apple a day doesn't keep the doctor away, according to a new study. The study shows it actually takes two apples a day to reduce heart disease risk factors by lowering LDL cholesterol levels. High LDL cholesterol causes plaque and inflammation in artery walls.

"We were pleasantly surprised" the apples so effectively lowered LDL cholesterol, said study researcher Bahram H. Arjmandi, PhD, RD, Margaret A. Sitton Professor and Chair, Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences at The Florida State University in Tallahassee.

The study, which was presented at Experimental Biology 2011, in Washington, D.C. showed despite the extra 240 calories per day consumed from the apples, it did not lead to weight gain in the women, and actually lead to an average 3 lb weight loss.

"Reducing body weight is an added benefit to daily apple intake," Arjmandi said.

Diets heavy in fruits and vegetables, (such as the DASH diet) have been clinically proven to lower blood pressure. Currently, dieticians recommend 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Eat 2 apples a day and you'll get 2 servings out of the way without trying!

The Most Obese States in America

Obesity is a dangerous condition that occurs when a person's body weight is much greater than what is healthy. Obesity is a significant health threat. The extra weight puts added stress on all parts of your body and can lead to heart disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and osteoarthritis.

Obesity is currently an epidemic in the United States. Several states have very large obese populations.

What are the states with the most obese populations in the United States? Click ahead to see the top 5 on the list.

Yoga for Your Heart

The American College of Cardiology's 60th Annual Scientific Session recently released a study on the benefits of yoga for patients with abnormal heart rhythms. While previous research has demonstrated the positive impact of yoga on overall heart health, this is the first study to examine the specific benefits of yoga on patients with atrial fibrillation.

QuickMedical Questions- High Quality Surgical Instruments

Dear QuickMedical Questions,

I see you carry a variety of surgical instruments on your website. And although I haven't bought from you, yet, I'm thinking about it. Right now we use single-use tools often, but I'd like to also get some high quality instruments that will last a long time that I can reuse and sterilize at the facility.

Sometimes my tools won't work properly-- mainly the cutting edge doesn't hold up. I don't want this to happen, obviously. Can you suggest a quality product?

Mr. Hemo Stat

Mr. Hemo Stat, thanks for emailing. We can certainly make some suggestions. We have exactly what you're looking for-- hemostats and much more. Specifically, there are two lines of surgical equipment we'd like to suggest.

Temporary Price Reduction Haiku

A Price Reduction

on the Cole Taylor Urine

Analyzer now!

That's right folks, we've told you once and we'll tell you again, right now until this Saturday April 30th, there is a temporary price reduction on the Cole Taylor CT120 Urine Strip Analyzer. This is a very limited time offer, but a great deal for someone in the market for a urine test strip analyzer. With the purchase of the Cole Taylor CT 120 Urine Strip Analyzer, you also receive a bottle of CT900 Ten Parameter Urine Reagent Test Strips for FREE! Remember don't wait, the deal ends this Saturday April 30th, 2011.

Happy Earth Day 2011!

Happy Earth Day, Everyone! Created over 40 years ago, with over 20 million people participating, Earth Day helped inspire the launch of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This lead to a string of new laws in the coming years, such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Previously, there were no restrictions on what you could dump into rivers, lakes, and oceans, how much pollution you could create, and environmental restrictions for businesses were non-existent.

Today in honor of Earth Day, think about the small lifestyle changes you can make each day to help keep our Earth clean and intact. Click ahead to see what you can do to help!

Subway: Sandwiches and Sodium

Personally, I love Subway. I know people who won't even walk inside one. They can't stand the transcendent 'Subway Smell' that welcomes visitors to Subway restaurants from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. But for me, I love the idea of getting the same sandwich, in any part of the country. I'm enamored with the ability to choose toppings. Personally, I just dig the whole thing, and I think as a business, Subway did something very smart. Sub sandwiches before Subway were considered junk food, and with the wrong toppings, technically, they still are. But Subway was able to brand themselves as the healthy alternative to junk fast food. "Jared's Weight Loss," and "Eat Fresh" struck a chord with consumers. It also didn't hurt that there was a Subway on every corner in America. Whether it was smart franchising, smart marketing, or just dumb luck, Subway has been and continues to be a monumental fast food success story. I eat there at least once a week, and I have for years.

But is Subway really healthy?

"There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch"

Many online retailers offer free shipping. But is free shipping really free? If you pay close attention to many online retailers, you'll find that free shipping is often just a gimmick. When you decide to purchase medical equipment and supplies based on free shipping, do your research. There is always a cost for shipping. Even when you go to the mall to buy a product, somewhere along the supply chain, someone or something must pay the fees for shipping.

QuickMedical, doesn't make free shipping into a gimmick. We're honest and up-front about billing and shipping. Products shipped to us incur a cost and products shipped from us incur costs. However, QuickMedical has negotiated the absolute best rates with carriers and passed the savings to the consumer. At QuickMedical we "Buy Right," and in large quantities, which lowers and sometimes eliminates shipping costs for consumers. QuickMedical utilizes Factory Direct shipping, lowering shipping costs as well. With thousands of products, only a few hundred or so of our products are truly shipped for free, but when they are, it's not just a gimmick.

Take for instance the Brewer 6000 Exam Table. This item is shipped Factory Direct, which means that the shipping costs are simplified and truly free, since the shipping cost is built into the item. This is the QuickMedical difference-- honest and up-front billing you can trust.

Top 5 Hangover Myths

The Internet is abuzz with chatter about the toddler who got drunk at Applebees. The story seemed fairly uninteresting to me at first glance, but according to Google Trends there's something quite interesting to people about a drunk baby. Honestly though, aren't all babies kind of drunk, anyway? They burp a lot, walk funny, and occasionally throw up. Sounds like a Lost Weekend to me. The one thing babies and drunks don't have in common is the hangover. Hangovers are often discussed, but very rarely closely examined-- usually because of the splitting headache that accompanies them.

So, while we're all sober and at work, (or at least at work) let's briefly examine the Top 5 Hangover Myths and discover the science behind the story.

Building an Emergency Preparedness Kit

Emergency preparedness is often not taken seriously. Atomic bomb shelters, food insurance, and investment in gold, guns and medical supplies are considered paranoid diversions of idle minds. While extreme examples of paranoia fed by shrill 24 hour news cycles and companies hoping to sell products probably hasn't saved a single life or helped anyone's health or well-being, moderate preparation for disasters and emergencies is really not such a bad idea. Disasters can strike anytime, anywhere.

April is Disaster Preparedness Month. Disaster can strike at any time. There is nothing helpful about living fear, and paranoia is not the goal. On the contrary, building an emergency preparedness kit should bring a healthy sense of security against the possibilities.

Urinalysis with a Cole-Taylor CT120 Urine Strip Analyzer

Urinalysis is a screening/diagnostic tool that helps detect substances or cellular material in the urine associated with different metabolic and kidney disorders. But if you're looking to buy a Cole-Taylor CT120 Urine Strip Analyzer, hopefully you already know that. What you probably didn't know though, is that Cole-Taylor has temporarily lowered the price on the CT120 and that means big savings for your clinic if you act fast.

Growing New Eyes

From the journal Nature, a group of Japanese scientists report they have used stem cells to grow an eye in a lab. This is the first time scientists have created a complex organ out of embryonic stem cells, and means new treatment advancements for blindness and disorders of the eye.

Mubarak, Stress, and Health

A year ago bloggers were speculating that Egypt was on the cusp of dramatic change, because then President Hosni Mubarak was thought to be afflicted by cancer. Intelligence sources suggested that he suffered from esophageal cancer, stomach or pancreatic cancer, but this was denied by Egyptian authorities.

Mubarak's health during his presidency was a tightly guarded secret. Although the bloggers were correct that Egypt was on the cusp of dramatic change, it did not come explicitly from former President Mubarak's health. Or did it? A revolution has swept Egypt, and a new government is forming. Meanwhile Mubarak, now 82, was taken to an intensive care unit after suffering heart problems while he was being questioned during an investigation.

Is Hosni Mubarak playing possum? Or did his weakened health provide the kindling for the fires of revolution?

Healthcare's Most Versatile Multi-Tasking Scale

Breaking news from Detecto! QuickMedical received this recent piece about a remarkable new scale with cutting edge technology, making it ideal for facilities where patients in wheelchairs need to be weighed such as nursing homes, rehab centers, geriatric clinics, hospitals and the home.

Detecto's made-in-the-USA, 6550 Portable Wheelchair Scale offers a sturdy, yet lightweight design perfect for use with wheelchairs, walkers, straight-legged chairs or used as a stand-on scale. The scale's integral sloped ramps offer versatility by allowing loading from either side. The 6550's unique vertical fold-up feature saves storage space and the heavy-duty wheels contribute to its ease of mobility. Wheelchair tare weights may be either preset or keyed in directly to provide the patient's actual weight when being weighed in a wheelchair. What else?

QuickMedical Questions - Why Should I Get a Nebulizer?

Dear Question Guy,

I have asthma and currently have an albuterol rescue inhaler and a big, heavy, nebulizer. My doctor has prescribed me a portable nebulizer called the NE-U22V. She said that this will work better than my rescue inhaler. How does it work and why is it better? I don't want to carry around a nebulizer all the time. Will it be loud and attract a lot of attention?

Thanks!

Not into Nebs

Well, Not into Nebs, I think you'll have to change your name when we tell you a little more about the Omron NE-U22V.

Glued on Hat: Head to Hospital

Last year, President Obama awarded Dr. Harry Wesley Coover Jr., the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Dr. Coover worked for over 30 years at Kodak, recording 460 patents. Dr. Coover's most famous invention is Super Glue (also known as Krazy Glue, Wacko Glue, and other creative names.)

Super Glue and adhesives like it are called cyanoacrylates. Standard 'superglue' is 100% ethyl cyanoacrylate, but variations on this formula have lead to super glue being used for many different applications, including during the Vietnam War, according to popular stories, as a wound care spray. However, it wasn't until the 90s that a medical cyanoacrylate was approved by the FDA. Applying cyanoacrylate to materials made of cotton or wool (such as cotton swabs, cotton balls) results in a powerful, rapid exothermic reaction causing burns.

Winning the National Medal of Technology and Innovation was a great honor. However, I wonder if Super Glue's creator had any regrets. After all, Super Glue is often the unfortunate culprit behind pranks; unfortunate because Super Glue really is very powerful. In the video below, a young Englishman finds out just how powerful Super Glue can be, and finds himself having to visit a hospital.

Patient Warming Blankets: Reviews by Doctors

Progressive Dynamics Medical offers innovative products for emergency services, the surgical field and the general healthcare industry. Progressive Dynamics line includes patient warming blankets ideal for Emergency Medical Services and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit environments.

What do doctors say about the patient warming blankets? Progressive Dynamics asked a few, and here's what they said.

The Jimmy Legs

In an old 'Seinfeld' episode, Kramer's girlfriend's 'Jimmy legs' keep him from getting a good night sleep. It's still pretty funny, even today. However the reality of RLS, restless leg syndrome is anything but comedy.

Also known as Wittmaack-Ekbom disease, the 'Jimmy legs' is a neurological disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to move body parts to stop uncomfortable or odd sensations. It most commonly affects the legs, but can also affect the arms, and torso.

Restless leg syndrome might sound funny, but it causes major sleep difficulties in sufferers. Most people who have RLS have the symptoms and movements during sleep. These jerks occur every 20 to 30 seconds on and off throughout the night and cause partial awakenings that disrupt sleep. Sleep deprivation soon impacts work, relationships, and health-- just like the 'Seinfeld' episode, but without the laugh track.

And now the Mayo Clinic of Arizona has released a study about RLS at the American College of Cardiology conference, which shows a link between the 'Jimmy legs' and heart disease.

Why are our Glove Videos so Popular?

A frame from the Shamrock Exam Glove video.

At QuickMedical's world famous YouTube page, 2 of our 5 most viewed videos are about exam gloves. What gives? The Top 5 videos, in order, are an Omron nebulizer 'How To' video, a Pedia Pals video, a video on Shamrock exam gloves, a video on Latex exam gloves by Dynarex, and a quick commercial on the Exergen TAT-5000. All of these are popular products and big sellers. But why are two videos just about gloves?

QuickMedical Questions - Choosing a Stadiometer

The questions just keep coming, and we're always happy to give answers. This time an email from a nurse who writes:

QuickMedical Question Guy,

I work in an endocrinology clinic and I've been instructed to find a stadiometer.

QuickMedical looks like it has the largest selection of stadiometers online, but because you have so many, I don't know which one to pick.

I need a reliable stadiometer that can hang on the wall. The head piece has to be rigid, and it has to be digital and easy to calibrate.

The display should be easy to read for shorter nurses. (I'm only 5 foot!) We position the head in Frankfurt plane so the digital display has to be above the head, not mounted on the wall. We would prefer lithium batteries if possible.

We are measuring very short and very tall people so we need a model that can measure everyone from children to adults. We also need a kick plate for positioning the patient properly against the back of the stadiometer.

Can you please recommend a model that will meet all these needs?

Kind regards,

Nurse Mary

Thanks for writing, Nurse Mary. Yes, we have a model that will meet all these needs, and more. It's the Gold Standard in measuring devices--the 235A Heightronic Digital Stadiometer. Why is the 235A the gold standard?

An Out of this World New Supplier

QuickMedical has launched a new line of professional medical equipment and supplies this April 1, 2011 from the Uukaablian MedCorp, manufacturers of medical tricorders, laser scalpels, and emergency 3-D holographic tools. The Uukaablian product line will be available for the US market, starting today. With an aggressive educational, sales and marketing campaign, QuickMedical anticipates an increase in overall sales and market share.

Pictured left to right-- Eileen, Klatuu, Scott, and Warren meet in our state of the art showroom.

Cavities Contagious?

MRSA, colds, flus, chicken pox, and mono can all be spread by direct contact with bodily fluids. Now we can add cavities to that list, thanks to recent dental research.

Cavities are caused primarily by bacteria that cling to teeth and feast on particles of food from your last meal. The by product of their feasts is acid, which destroys teeth. Just like disease-causing bacteria is passed from person to person, so is cavity-causing bacteria.

Why Pediatric Blood Pressure is Important

In the last 30 years medical science has increased emphasis on the importance of childhood blood pressure readings tracked alongside height measurement, as an indicator of overall health. Pediatric growth charts have been used by pediatricians and parents to track the growth of infants, children, and adolescents in the United States since 1977. In the year 2000 these charts were updated, and consequently the blood pressure ranges were updated as well.

Blood pressure is never consistent in adults or children. It can be particularly inconsistent in children as the child matures and the average blood pressure changes, along with the child's heart rate. In adults blood pressure can fluctuate 30 points in a few hours, while in children the fluctuations can be 40 to 50 points at a time. The best measurement of blood pressure is a consistent average, taken at the same time, in the same conditions over an extended period of time.

Doctors have discovered that hypertension in children is often accompanied by a rising BMI, and often these factors lead to serious health problems, both in childhood and later as adults.

The Terumo Elemano Digital Blood Pressure Monitor is one of only a handful of Automatic Blood Pressure Monitors approved by the FDA for use on patients ages 3 and up. The Terumo Elemano Digital Blood Presssure Monitor is perfect for monitoring pediatric blood pressure, if a doctor recommends consistent measuring to accurately judge a child's health condition.

And for a limited time, if you purchase the Elemano Blood Pressure Monitor and the Child Size S Cuff from QuickMedical, you will receive the Infant XS Cuff for free. This kit gives the ability to perform highly accurate blood pressure measurements from the tiniest infant to the average young adult. The Pediatric Special Promotion is perfect for doctors, nurses, clinics, and practices where babies, children and teens are seen everyday.

US News and World Report's Best Hospitals 2010-11

US News, which ranks everything from colleges to cars, has a new list ranking the nation's hospitals. "The new rankings, the largest expansion of Best Hospitals to date, offer patients and their families a much better chance of finding a top-performing hospital in their health insurance network," writes US News rankings editor Avery Comarow. "And for patients who would need to travel to visit a nationally ranked hospital, the metro rankings may offer a local alternative -- or several."

Ranking things, whether it's law schools or places to live, gets tiresome. And unfortunately the Internet is full of 'listicles,' which instead of explaining something or giving a point of view, just regurgitates a list for the sake of the list.

That being said, the new US News hospital list is very informative. As your online source for medical equipment and supplies, we think it's important. So without further ado, click ahead to read the list.

First Lady Michelle Obama on BMI

First Lady Michelle Obama recently released a very personal statement on her family's health. Ms. Obama has made fighting childhood obesity one of her primary objectives as First Lady. In her statement, she reveals the very personal reasons behind her goals. Here's an excerpt:

A few years ago as a working mom, I had the best intentions to feed my kids healthy food on a budget, knowing that sometimes pizza or the drive-thru were inevitable. But I was surprised when my pediatrician pulled me aside during an annual well-child visit and told me we needed to start paying better attention to what we were feeding our girls.

They were younger at the time. They were active and growing, with a healthy sense of themselves, which Barack and I have always encouraged. But our doctor told me that their BMIs were creeping upwards. Now to be honest, I didn't really know what BMI was. And I certainly didn't know that even a small increase in BMI can have serious consequences for a child's health. So I'm grateful my pediatrician was there to help.

He explained that BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a way of tracking whether or not your child is within a healthy weight range for his or her height, age and growth pattern. A percentage too low may indicate hunger and poor nutrition, and a percentage too high can lead to diabetes, heart disease and other health issues. I was fortunate that our pediatrician was paying attention to the trends of childhood obesity, because I never would have known to ask for a screening on my own.

Blow Out Sale on Mark of Fitness Products!

Take advantage of our Blow Out Sale on our entire line of Mark of Fitness products. Mark of Fitness features blood pressure monitors, heart rate monitors, thermometers, and portable leg massagers. Mark of Fitness works hard to provide customers with the highest quality merchandise at the best possible prices.

QuickMedical's inventory reduction sale features very low prices on all Market of Fitness products. The sale is limited to quantity on hand though, so hurry while supplies last! You don't want to miss out on this!

New Obesity Scales; New Scales

Scales pictured from Left to Right:

Taylor 4832 Speedometer Dial Scale, Taylor 7081 High Capacity Scale, Taylor 5741 Body Fat Scale

Scientists have created a new measure called the Body Adiposity Index, which uses height and hip measurements, instead of weight to judge obesity. It's meant to be a flexible alternative to BMI, which has been used to measure body fat for the past 200 years. Using the BAI means you don't have to step on a scale. But don't throw out the scale just yet. Why?

QuickMedical Questions: Crepe versus Smooth Table Paper?

A doctor writes to us from Canada:

Dear QuickMedical Questions,

I need to order exam table paper. What is the difference between crepe and smooth? The paper I have now is very noisy when my patients sit on it. I hope you can help.

Yours Truly,

Maple Tree

Maple Tree-- great name. When it comes to exam table paper, you have many options. We went to the experts at Graham Medical for the facts on exam table paper. Click ahead for their suggestions.

First Responder Steals Severed Foot

Paramedics are heroes. They're the first line of defense in emergencies ranging from sudden cardiac arrest to multiple gun shot wounds. Emergency personnel, like firefighters and police, go to emergencies and willingly put themselves in danger to help others. Despite the heroic ideals of the job, no one is perfect. There will always be bad apples. And then there are the really strange apples. Our story is about one of those unfortunate folks. In September 2008 firefighter-paramedic Cynthia Economou stole a man's severed foot from a car crash for use in training her cadaver dog. Yes, really.

Government Sales Update

If you read the blog often, you might remember QuickMedical is a Veteran Owned Small Business and government sales is an important part of QuickMedical. Selling medical equipment and supplies to the government is an important job that makes us proud. 2011 has just begun, but it's the perfect time to talk to our government sales team about how QuickMedical can help your facility or department. To learn more, click ahead and keep reading.

CardioChek PA: Health Screening Special

The CardioChek PA is a fast, portable and accurate whole blood test system designed to enable physicians to test patients for dyslipidemia and take action to bring their lipids under control on-the-spot, while they are in the office. It's a great tool, and Polymer has a way you can get one for free. This March, health fairs, corporate screening groups and medical facilities should take advantage of this special offer.

If your organization or facility buys 20 lipid panel packages (15 tests per package) it will get a new silver CardioChek PA Professional Cholesterol Monitor for free, with free shipping, drop shipped from Polymer. It is limited to new customers only, however, so if you've been thinking about it, now is the time.

High LDL cholesterol levels are an early indicator of a variety of health issues, not limited to, but including heart disease and diabetes. Having the information provided by the CardioChek screening system about their cholesterol levels gives people the power to change their lifestyle and make healthier decisions.

Strike while the iron is hot-- the promo ends in just a few days-- March 31, 2011.

for reference use sku 24281

When Are You Grown Up?

Under normal conditions, dogs begin to react negatively to their puppies after nursing for about 5 to 6 weeks.

Chimpanzee babies nurse on their mothers for 5 years and then stay for several more years learning to care for younger siblings.

Humans on the other hand, usually spend 18 or more years under parental supervision, depending on the culture. In American culture, 18 is the common childhood boundary, although that boundary is fairly fuzzy. When are you truly grown up?

The Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami

On Friday March 11, a massive earthquake rocked northeast Japan, causing destruction on the main island of Japan not seen since World War II. The earthquake also caused a massive tsunami, flooding entire cities and spreading across the Pacific Ocean, causing tsunami warnings in Hawaii and as far away as the west coast of North America.

The American west coast has been connected to Asia for a long time through trade, proximity, immigration and emigration, in war and in peace. But the west coast is also connected, geologically, almost primordially with the other side of the Pacific Ocean as part of the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire circles the Pacific Ocean basin and is the most geologically active part of the world. The Ring has 452 volcanoes and is home to over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes. 90% of the world's earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire.

At QuickMedical, we're located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, just like Japan.

Wallach In Service Video Blog

Wallach Surgical visited QuickMedical last week to perform an in service. QuickMedical staff learned about Wallach products and participated in a demonstration on how to use Wallach's OBGYN Electrosurgical Generator System. Check out the video (right) to take a peek of the demonstration.

What Are Ankle Sprains?

What's an ankle sprain? Although sprains are common, they are more common among people at-risk for them. What are the risk factors for ankle sprains?

High and inner ankle sprains account for 10 to 15 percent of all ankle sprains, Dr. Brett D. Owens of Keller Army Hospital in West Point, New York, and his colleagues note in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. These sprains are more painful, cause more disability and take longer to heal.

Ankle sprains in general are fairly common and occur when one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. Typically a sprain occurs when the foot twists inward. But high ankle sprains affecting the ligaments above the ankle, that join the two long bones of the lower leg together, are caused by a sudden and forceful outward twisting of the foot. Likewise, the inner sprain is caused by a similar outward movement and a tear in the inner ligament.

To better understand ankle sprains and what puts people at risk for them, Dr. Owens and his researchers looked at data on all ankle injuries at the U.S. Military Academy between 2005 and 2009.What did they find?

Losing Sleep?

Early this Sunday morning (1:59 AM to be exact) the clocks will jump ahead an hour and we all lose the 2 AM to 3AM hour of sleep. Most of us will sleep through this. If we set our clocks back before bed, we might not even notice. For vampires and people awake at 2AM, the time jump must seem strange. Then again, if you're a vampire everything must seem strange-- you're undead.

Technically speaking, even vampires need sleep. Sleep is very important to overall health. Losing an hour of sleep one night isn't going to affect your health, but consistently not getting enough sleep can be very damaging to your health. How damaging?

QuickMedical Questions-Where Can I Get Diabetic Supplies?

From an email:

Dear Question Guy,

My father has diabetes and he's developed a wound on the heel of his foot, do you have anything to help heal the wound? I'm also looking for a clear dressing I can put over the bandage that will seal the edges and is water proof and breathable. I also need to find something to help protect his heel while lying in bed.

I have one other question, my father is Spanish and I'm looking for a glucose monitor that speaks in Spanish and has large numbers as his eye sight is failing. It be nice to find a company that has a wide selection of diabetic supplies.

Maria

The answers after the click.

Introducing Wallach Surgical

QuickMedical is proud to introduce our newest vendor Wallach Surgical. Wallach Surgical is known for its leadership and innovation in the medical technology field. Wallach Surgical offers products designed to meet the most demanding diagnostic and therapeutic requirements of today's obstetrics, gynecology and infertility practices, offering superb precision without compromising safety or affordability. Wallach features the finest digital imaging systems, colposcopes, cryosurgical equipment and electrosurgery generators as well as a full line of instruments for OB/GYN practitioners.

Wallach Surgical's wide variety of surgical products include products such as cervical dilators, vaginal speculums and intrauterine insemination devices as well as electrosurgical generators (pictured right), colposcopes and ultrasound dopplers.

The 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. International Women's Day was created to celebrate women and to fight for women's rights such as voting and holding public office as well as protesting against employment sex discrimination. In 1911, over 1 million people celebrated International Women's Day. Today events are scheduled in more than 100 countries around the world and President Obama proclaimed March 2011 as Women's History Month to reflect on the "extraordinary accomplishments of women. "

As women it is important to fight for equal rights and to stand up against injustices for all women across the world. It is also important to stay healthy, get regular health tests like mammograms and pap smears and to visit the gynecologist yearly.

"8th of March is the day of rebellion of the working women against kitchen slavery"

--Translated from the poster (above) created in 1932 honoring International Women's Day.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

March is Red Cross Month

According to Red Cross website, "the American Red Cross saves lives. When disaster strikes, we respond with food, shelter and hope. When barriers of distance, language or warfare separate loved ones, we open lines of communication. When families, co-workers and communities must prepare for emergencies, we help them take action."

"The mission of the American Red Cross is to provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. We are guided by our Fundamental Principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality."

Sounds pretty awesome to us.

Why Spay Your Pets?

Bob Barker used to remind us at the end of every 'Price is Right' to get our pets spayed or neutered. I remember his daily admonition far more than any game of Plinko. Why is spaying and neutering your pets more important than spinning a dollar in the Showcase Showdown? Click ahead to learn the Top 5 reasons to have your pets spayed or neutured by your vet. Don't try this at home.

Pediatricians Recommend: Don't Fight the Fever

If a child has a fever, don't automatically reach for the children's-strength aspirin. A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics discourages parents from giving children fever reducing medication, especially if the child is sleeping. The report cited a study showing most parents will wake their children to give them fever reducers like Tylenol, but this is most often a mistake.

March is National Nutrition Month

The kids are watching us, and they're following our lead. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young told us to teach our children well. They were absolutely correct. According to the 2010 American Kids Study, a survey of 5,000 kids aged 6-11, showed that parents who teach their children to read nutrition labels have the most health conscious kids. March is National Nutrition Month, and recognizing the things we eat (and why) is always a good idea. But why is it important for kids be health conscious?

D for Diabetes

Vitamin D intake has been associated with a lower risk for diabetes since the 1980s. It's theorized that Vitamin D helps regulate insulin sensitivity. In Iran, scientists decided to put the theories to the test. As Iran becomes increasingly industrial, diabetes and obesity rates are on the rise. The Iranian experiment showed that extra Vitamin D improved blood sugar levels in a small population with diabetes.

Who Said Winter is Over?

Temperatures in the Seattle metro area are dipping into the low 20s today and throughout the weekend. Hit by unpredictable snow this week and located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, some of our QuickMedical staff had a hard time making it into the office. Though the Subaru girls managed to have no problem getting into work, and on time!

Yeah, well...we're awesome!

Subarus Unite!

Obviously, Spring has not yet arrived. Despite the relatively mild, wet February in the Northwest this year, winter is never a good time to be without shelter.

That's why this Wednesday QuickMedical made a donation to the Seattle Union Gospel Mission. CEO Scott Hanna reports, "We bought 15 winter rescue kits for those in need."

The Seattle Union Gospel Mission works to address the complex issues surrounding the homeless, while meeting the ever-changing needs of men, women and children in the community. The mission operates a variety of programs which can truly save lives. You can donate money here directly. Every $1.92 donated can feed one hungry person. You can also help out as a volunteer, in a variety of different, quite necessary jobs. Contact the Mission to learn more.

"It's cold out tonight and hopefully we can make a slight difference for someone out there," says Hanna.

Inhaling Your Food

The Brave New World is here. It's no longer necessary to eat food, just inhale it, getting all the taste and almost none of the calories. The new Le Whif device debuted in France this month. For a video click ahead.

Busy Social Life Helps Seniors

"If you threw a party and invited everyone you knew; you would see the biggest gift would be from me, and the card attached would say: 'Thank you for being a friend.'"

Those immortal lines were sung almost 20 years ago, but the truth behind them rings truer than ever. The Golden Girls probably lived so long because they had active friendships and social lives.

"Social activity has long been recognized as an essential component of healthy aging, but now we have strong evidence that it is also related to better everyday functioning and less disability in old age," lead researcher Bryan James, postdoctoral fellow in epidemiology of aging and dementia at Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, said in a university news release to Yahoo.

Staying active has also kept one 95 year old woman out of the nursing home and in the record books. Click ahead for a video report.

Medical Facts About the Presidents

Yesterday was President's Day. While Presidents take on a larger than life status in the public eye, they are also, by law, just citizens-- average people with above average responsibilities. And just like you and me, they get sick sometimes and need to see the doctor. Sometimes they even have surgery. If you click ahead you can read some of the strangest facts about a few of our presidents' interesting health lives.

Suicidal Surgeons

About 6% of surgeons reported having suicidal thoughts in the last year, but were reluctant to seek help because they feared it would affect their medical license, according to a new study in the Archives of Surgery. A survey of 8,000 surgeons by researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that of the 6% who reported having suicidal thoughts in the previous year, only 26% sought help.

Knife Blade was in Man's Skull for 4 Years

We've reported stories like this one before. The human body can be pushed to some incredible limits. Patrick Lawler had a nail in his head for almost 24 hours before he realized there was a problem. But according to the Daily Mail in Great Britain, Li Fu from Yunnan Province, China had a knife blade in his skull for 4 years! Pictures after the click!

A Pediatric Haiku

Pediatricians

Know that QuickMedical is

Their best online source!

Kids can get scared of the doctor. Kid friendly products put children at ease and lessen the stress of visiting the doctor. Pediatricians love QuickMedical's medical Equipment and supplies for Pediatricians including our papoose boards, child themed exam tables, cabinets, tongue depressors and room signs, all designed with the child's comfort in mind.

Cancer Sniffing Dogs Actually Detect Cancer

Did you know there is a St. Sugar Cancer-Sniffing Dog Training Center in Chiba, Japan? There, dogs are trained to detect cancers in patient breath samples, by scent alone.

Recently, a dog was able to accurately identify colorectal cancer, simply by sniffing.

"Canine scent judgment even appeared to be highly accurate for early-stage colorectal cancer," Dr. Hideto Sonoda, from the department of surgery at the Postgraduate School of Medicine at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, told HealthDay.

The goal isn't to have a bunch of dogs in white lab coats sniffing patients instead of doing colonoscopies, although that would be pretty cute. I bet Riester could make a pretty cool canine-headlamp, too.

Stroke at the Grammy's?

The video was removed today due to a copyright claim by CBS, but here is ABC's report on the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ4shANmIN8

This clip from a local LA news report on the Grammy awards Sunday night is making its way around the Web.

While some people were laughing, we weren't. It appears that Serene Branson had a mild to serious stroke, on-air. According to the American Heart Assocation, a sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding are all symptoms of a stroke.

It's American Heart Month, and strokes are caused by cardiovascular disease. Knowing the warning signs and symptoms of strokes and heart attacks can aid in their proper treatment and prevention.

Following up on Branson: She was examined by EMTs outside the Staples Center after she was cut. A KCBS reporter tweeted last night that "station is looking into if there was a problem."

Yesterday, KCBS released a statement saying: "Her vital signs were normal. She was not hospitalized. As a precautionary measure, a colleague gave her a ride home, and she says she is feeling fine this morning."

A very strange story; we wish her well.

February is American Heart Month

February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular diseases, including strokes, are our nation's No. 1 killer. Educate yourself on the dangers of heart disease and get on track to better heart health with QuickMedical.

The human heart is one of the most vital organs in the body. It provides continuous blood circulation through the cardiac cycle. Electric energy stimulates the heart beat in a part of the organ known as the sinotrial node. The heart has a mass of between 250 and 350 grams and is about the size of a fist. It is enclosed in a double-walled protective sac called the pericardium. The superficial part of this sac is called the fibrous pericardium. This sac protects the heart, anchors its surrounding structures, and prevents overfilling of the heart with blood.

Say Cheese!

QuickMedical received a surprise from Brewer this week. In honor of QuickMedical's continued teamwork with the Brewer Company and the Super Bowl success of the Green Bay Packers, Brewer sent over some Wisconsin cheese. QM office staff was treated to the tasty cheese platters two days in a row this week. Not only did Brewer send cheese, but an actual Cheesehead. Packer fans are affectionately and sometimes disparagingly called Cheeseheads. Thanks Brewer!

Getting into the cheese platter/football spirit.

QuickMedical Questions: How Accurate is the Omron HBF-306C Body Fat Analyzer?

Often customers or casual web surfers will send us questions, via Facebook, Twitter, or email about medical equipment and supplies. Since we're not doctors, we can't offer you specific health advice. If you're really concerned, you should always consult a health professional. But, we're here to help, so without further ado, here's another QuickMedical Question, with an answer, from a curious YouTube user who wants to know about The Omron HBF-306C.

User Evo8FQ400 asks:

'how accurate is it?'

Black History Month: Past, Present, and Future

In 1926 Carter G. Woodson (pictured right), the son of former slaves from Virginia, Howard University history professor and the second African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard, came up with the idea for 'Negro History Week.' Observing the various omissions, misrepresentations and blatant lies in mainstream historical research of the African Diaspora in the United States during the early 20th century, Woodson's History week was designed to educate all Americans about the extensive, but overlooked contributions of African Americans to the United States.

African American history will always be intertwined with the cruelty and horrors of human slavery. While it's not a pleasant story, the entire story, good and bad, is important for all Americans. Those who claim that history is the past, and best forgotten, overlook the powerful grasp the past holds on all of us, no matter what our race, nation, or beliefs. Our childhood echoes our adult life, just like the past in which we were not born, echoes our present times.

Do Cold Viruses Cause Diabetes?

Does a common cold virus cause type-1 diabetes? Researchers in Australia say there is a link between enterovirus infections (associated with colds) and type 1 diabetes in children.

"The finding implies that enterovirus infection is a very important cause of type 1 diabetes," said lead researcher Dr. Maria Craig, an associate professor at Children's Hospital at Westmead's Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes in Sydney.

The link between the two is not a new idea, but the recent research makes the link seem more probable.

Top 10 Food Trucks in the Pacific Northwest

The food truck used to be a place where you could only get greasy, unhealthy food. Sure, it was fast and cheap, but the menu was limited and the taste wasn't always worth it, no matter how affordable it was. But times are changing, as they have been known to do, and the food truck is changing along with it. Gourmet food, international fusion food, and specialty delicacies are now available in mobile food units. These are not the food trucks of 20 years ago.

Proper nutrition is an extremely important part of your overall health. The cliche 'You are what you eat,' seems to be proven more true by medical research every day. High fat foods are linked to problems with cholesterol levels, diabetes, and even cancer.

But eating healthy shouldn't be a chore. It also doesn't have to taste bad. There's always something on the menu that can satisfy your taste buds without causing a coronary.

With this in mind, QuickMedical Vice President Warren Strasen has a list of his personal favorite mobile food units in the Pacific Northwest, serving an eclectic mix of delicacies. Click ahead to read them all.

National Wear Red Day: Raising Awareness for Women's Heart Health

Go Red for Women is a program from the American Heart Association that promotes the fight against heart disease in women. Every year National Wear Red Day is celebrated to increase awareness and raise funds. People all over the country will be wearing red and participating in local events. Seattle's Pike Place Market will be turning on more red lights than usual. Here at QuickMedical, your online source for medical equipment and supplies, we'll wear a little red today, too.

Click read more to learn about the effect heart disease has on women each year.

Super Bowl Sunday and Your Health

I'm not a football guy. I love those old NFL Films documentaries about Super Bowls of long ago, and have a soft spot in my heart for the original The Longest Yard and Everybody's All American, but my football fandom begins and ends somewhere around there. On February 6th it will be Super Bowl XLV, and an epidemic of football fever will spread across the nation. Since I'm fairly immune, I won't catch it. But will watching the Super Bowl affect your health? It might. Make sure you follow these helpful hints.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Did the groundhog see his shadow today?

Resistant Starch Foods

Carbohydrates, especially starches, have fallen out of favor with the health conscious. The prevalence of starchy foods has been shown in research to contribute to rising obesity and diabetes rates. While carb-elimination has been a health buzzword for the last 10 to 15 years, limiting carbohydrates also has consequences. Protein heavy diets have also been shown to raise obesity as well as higher cholesterol rates. A recently high-trending topic on Google is 'Resistant Starch Foods'-- a common name for starches which can't be digested by the body. Some doctors have called resistant starches a third type of fiber. What are some resistant starch foods and why are they trending on Google?

The Most Shocking Moment in Pro Football

With SuperBowl XLV coming this Sunday, we'd like to bring you the Most Shocking Moment in NFL history.

In 1905 there were 19 fatalities from college and semi-professional football games nationwide. President Theodore Roosevelt threatened to shut down the game if drastic changes were not made. In December of that same year, 62 schools met in New York City to discuss rule changes to make football safer. With that meeting the NCAA was born and the foundation for the modern game of American football was laid. However, football remained a dangerous sport and continues to be, even today. Injuries happen all the time. One of the most shocking injuries in football history happened in 1985 on a Monday Night Football game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants. In the 2nd quarter, Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann handed the ball off and dropped back, then in a trick play, he received the ball back in a lateral behind the line of scrimmage. He had the ball with the intention to pass, but was caught in a web of Giant's linebackers, when Lawrence Taylor made a quick move and sacked Theismann.

Philips HeartStart AED Frx Haiku

Defibrillator

Saving lives every day/night.

From Phillips HeartStart.

The Philips HeartStart FRx Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is designed for easy set-up, is user friendly and built with reliability in mind thanks to its durable construction. With advanced capabilities, the HeartStart FRx Defibrillator is the solution for treating sudden cardiac arrest in conditions that would be too demanding for other AEDs. Whether it's on the scene with law enforcement, on the field with student athletes, or on the job with employees, the Philips HeartStart FRx AED provides life-saving, step by step instructions for the ordinary person.

Pulse Oximeters: Function. Uses. Advantages

The pulse oximeter is an easy to use, non-invasive piece of medical equipment which measures blood oxygen levels. Pulse oximeters are particularly useful in emergency rooms and in emergency situations where a quick, consistent blood oxygen percentage is needed. Pulse oximetry in its present form was developed in the mid 70s. Prior to its introduction, a patient's oxygenation could only be determined by an arterial blood gas measurement; a single-point measurement that takes a few minutes of processing by a laboratory.

As computers and light emitting technology advanced in the 80s, pulse oximeters became smaller, more accurate and increasingly more affordable for medical facilities and professionals. By 1987, the standard of care for the administration of a general anesthetic in the United States included pulse oximetry. From the operating room the use of pulse oximetry rapidly spread throughout the hospital, first to the recovery room and then into the various intensive care units. Pulse oximetry was found to be useful for monitoring oxygen percentages in newborns far easier than invasive methods. What can pulse oximeters do for you?

Tracking the Travel of Coughs and Sneezes

Scientists in Singapore, the land of corporal punishment, high finance, and now 'sneeze travel research' are studying the transmission of flus by means of mirrors and high-speed cameras. The scientists are observing people's expectoration of water droplets while coughing and sneezing.

A picture from the CDC, proving just how important

covering your mouth is when sneezing.

QuickMedical Questions: How Do I Accomplish My New Year's Resolution?

I have a new year's resolution to try and lose some of the extra pounds I put on over the years. My goal is to live a long and healthy life. I definitely need a new bathroom scale - is there one of QuickMedical's bathroom scales you recommend? What other products would be beneficial to help me attain my new year's resolutions?

Click for the answer.

RIP Jack LaLanne 1914-2011

In 2011, everyone's a fitness guru. Got a website and a fitness idea? You're a guru. Got a TV show?You don't need one-- just start a YouTube channel. Fitness fads are everywhere. Most are pretty silly. Shake Weight and Tony Little are prime offenders, but there's an inherent goofiness about fitness fads, in general, maybe because no matter what you're eating or lifting, or how healthy you are, some day, you're going to die. Paraphrasing a great Chris Rock joke, what's your sign? Taurus. You're gonna die. Sagittarius? You're gonna die. But this isn't upsetting news; it's the great leveler. It makes everyone truly equal, finally. It makes every day, every minute, every second, even that much more important.

Fitness gurus might still have existed without Jack LaLanne, but they certainly wouldn't be as entertaining without his example. Who was Jack LaLanne and what did he mean for the world of health, and medical equipment and supplies?

Cardiac Science: Lifesavers

Red Cross instructor Amber Fesmire is the director of the Noble Activity Center at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. She was featured in a recent blog by Cardiac Science. In the blog post she relates the story of a fateful day at the activity center pool, where she teaches a life-guarding class for the community and for students who work at the pool. The class features many life-saving techniques, including how to use defibrillators. On this particular day, she had to use her training not just to teach, but to save a life.

January is National Blood Donor Month

January is National Blood Donor Month. The available blood supply is usually short during the winter months because of holiday travel, inclement weather and illness. January is historically a particularly difficult month for blood donations. With that in mind, January has been named National Blood Donor Month to raise awareness that the need for blood donation does not take a holiday. As FEMA Regional Administrator Ken Murphy said in a recent press release, if donations are down, the need for blood isn't.

"Every two seconds someone in America needs blood, and approximately 40,000 units of red blood are needed every day," said Murphy. "Donating blood is a safe, life-saving and selfless gift that enhances the level of preparedness for each and every community in this nation."

Only three in every 100 Americans donate blood. In an emergency situation, blood is as essential to emergency responders as emergency medical supplies.

The best way to help is to donate blood. Find a place to donate blood by going here:

http://www.redcrossblood.org

Steve Jobs' Health Hiatus

Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple and technology wizard, has publicly announced a leave of absence from his duties at Apple. Jobs is considered the brains behind the iPod, iPhone and iPad devices which have changed the way of life for computer users in the 21st century. His battle with pancreatic cancer has been public, but only in the form of conjecture and rumor. The reasons for his medical leave of absence are not listed on documents as pancreatic cancer.

Jobs is famously private and very mysterious. Jobs is truly a quirky character. He has been known to respond randomly to customer service emails sent to Apple. In a famous exchange with a college journalism student Jobs wrote tersely in response to a media request that: 'Our goals do not include helping you get a good grade. Sorry.' Yes, a little short, but he is a busy guy, I'm sure. Quirkiness aside, privacy is important to Jobs, too. However, because of his high profile, should he publicize his battle with cancer to draw attention to finding a cure?

Mystery Tuesday: ESP

A Cornell professor named Dr. Daryl J. Bem will release an article in a respected psychology journal this year which will describe strong evidence for the existence of Extra-Sensory Perception. Just like Dr. Venkman in Ghostbusters, Dr. Bem has been testing college students on their ability to predict future random events. He claims his study proves ESP exists and that there are some individuals who are 'more able' to predict the future. If ESP exists, though, what accounts for the existence of Las Vegas and sports betting?

News: More Nursing Homes Closing in Low Income Neighborhoods

A new study appearing in the Archives of Internal Medicine on nursing home closings in the past decade reports that poor, urban, and minority neighborhoods have been the hardest hit by the closures of the past 10 years. In the last decade there has been a 5 percent drop in available nursing home beds in America. Meanwhile, more than 27 million Americans will need long term care by 2050, nearly twice as many as in 2000. Where will they go?

CDC Reports 8% of Americans Have Asthma

The CDC released a report on asthma on Wednesday. 8% of Americans have asthma. That means nearly 25 million men, women, and children. Over 4% of the population has had an asthma attack in the past year. In 2008, almost 4,000 died in asthma attacks. While the number has gone down since the previous year, any asthma related deaths seem unnecessary. During an asthma attack, acute symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. By immediately inhaling a short-acting beta-2 agonist, the airways expand and the attack is avoided. The most common asthma reliever is Salbutamol, which is inhaled by means of a nebulizer. What's a nebulizer?

Is YouTube a Good Source for CPR Training?

The simple answer is, 'No,' according to research done at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. According to the study, recently reported by Reuters, in a random sample of YouTube videos dealing with CPR instruction, a little over half were posted by individuals with no health credentials. The other half were posted by private groups, businesses, and individuals with some kind of health credential. But while most of these videos gave accurate information, the information, according to the Wisconsin researchers was not thorough.

Easy on the Antibiotics, Docs!

In 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasized amoxicillin as the preferred antibiotic for most children with sinusitis.

Almost ten years later, the Journal Pediatrics reports more pediatricians are using amoxicillin to treat kids with sinus infections; but not often enough.

"This is important," Dr. Adam L. Hersh, an author on the report, told Reuters Health, "because amoxicillin is effective while at the same time, inexpensive and narrow-spectrum. Using broad spectrum antibiotics when narrow-spectrum antibiotics are appropriate, may promote drug resistance and increases costs," Hersh explained.

QuickMedical Questions: A Blood Pressure Monitor that Talks?

Q. I went to the doctor; he's informed me I have high blood pressure and I need to monitor my blood pressure daily. My problem is I have very bad eye sight and I can't see the display. I noticed you have blood pressure monitors with large displays; however I still can't see the numerals. Please help, do you have a solution? Yours truly, Braille. Vinton, Iowa

Yes, we have a solution for you, Braille! Click ahead for the answer.

QuickMedical's Dental Haiku

QuickMedical offers

a selection of dental

products. Quality.

Bibs, masks and more! When you are looking for medical equipment and supplies for your dental office or hospital, look to QuickMedical for quality dental equipment, including medical lighting and medical restraint papoose boards. You'll find quality dental equipment and supplies to suit any need.

Sklar Instruments Now at QuickMedical

Here's a heads up to all you Surgeons and Doctors out there, today QuickMedical launched a brand new line of OR grade surgical and medical instruments from Sklar Instruments. Since 1892 Sklar has upheld a worldwide reputation for quality surgical and medical instruments, incorporating the highest grades of surgical steel, and offering finely detailed craftsmanship and exacting standards of manufacturing. The stainless steel construction offers anti-bacterial, non-corrosive and rust-resistant features, providing greater durability.

Every surgical instrument is thoroughly examined , to ensure the absolute highest quality possible. Imported from Germany, every instrument is also rigorously tested for reliability and function. No single instrument leaves the Sklar warehouse until it is thoroughly inspected.

Perfect for OR's, surgery centers, hospitals and specialty clinics, Sklar offers a wide variety of both medical and surgical instruments. You can find everything from Nasal Speculums, Orthopedic Mallets, and Needle Holders to Dissectors, Rib Contractors and Rongeurs. With such a wide selection, you're sure to find instruments to suit all of your needs right here at QuickMedical.

Facebook: A New Way to Find Your Doctor?

With over 500 million active users world wide, Facebook's online community is comparable to the population of a large nation. Inside this online country there are different types of people, communities, and professions, just like the 'real world.' It's an easy logical leap to use Facebook, the world's most popular social networking site, as a means to connect with old friends, meet new people, and keep track of what's happening within your social circle. But can you use Facebook to find a doctor? The answer might surprise you.

New in 2011: Healthcare News

The Affordable Care Act goes into affect and with it, free physicals for first-time enrollees to Medicare.

"For certain age groups and certain health risk categories, an annual physical is probably not necessary, in the Medicare age group, which is mostly 65 and above, these people would benefit," said Dr. David A. McClellan, an assistant professor of family and community medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine to Yahoo News. "There are a number of conditions that physicians can screen for and head them off at the pass."

New Year's Resolutions!

A new year has begun. Many people use the start of a new year as a time to break bad habits or practice more beneficial ones. New Year's resolutions are an excellent way to take responsibility for your health. Using QuickMedical's health and fitness equipment and supplies page is a great source for taking the first steps towards your fitness goals, along with consulting your doctor. But unfortunately, New Year's resolutions often fail because they are resolutions independent of a plan to put them into practice. If you're going to make lifestyle changes, it's going to take some effort. Here's how:

It Happened In 2010!

The year 2000 seems like a world away from the year 2010. iPhone, Al-Qaeda, and Autotune were words that hadn't fully acquired meaning. The world has changed tremendously over the last ten years, but you don't have to look that far to find momentous occasions. This year several things happened which will make 2010 a year for the history books. Such as?

QuickMedical Questions - Pediatric Blood Pressure Monitor?

Often customers or casual web surfers will send us questions, via Facebook, Twitter, or email about medical equipment and supplies. Since we're not doctors, we can't offer you specific health advice. If you're really concerned, you should always consult a health professional. But, we're here to help, so here's another QuickMedical Questions and Answers, this one from a caller.

Q. Why are some blood pressure monitors for pediatric use, while others are not? What should I get if I need to measure a child's blood pressure regularly at home? BP Curious.

Top 5 Worst Winter Woes

Baby, it's cold outside. What a creepy song. Winter can be a creepy time. The nights are long. Families come together to celebrate holidays and arguing ensues. A mysterious fat, bearded man breaks into your house. He leaves gifts, but it's still creepy-- he's been watching you, all year. It's not always a Marshmallow World in the winter months, especially after the holidays are over-- there's nothing left to celebrate, and it's still as cold as Skeletor.

How bad can it get in the winter? There are some things even worse than endless Christmas music. Click ahead for the Top 5 Worst Winter Woes.

QuickMedical's Fascinating Facts: Medical History

Back again, true believers, followers, fans, customers, and curious web browsers, with some QuickMedical fascinating facts. Today, we'll focus on some unbelievable factoids from medical history.

News: Rural Doctors Needed

During the holiday season, it's almost instinctive to turn our attention to the less fortunate in our midst. A recent study released by the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy reports that nearly 1 million kids live in areas with no local children's doctor. Is there a shortage of doctors in America?

Tanita Blowout Scale Sale!

For the last 40 years of its 63-year history, Tanita's core business has been the manufacturing of precision scales. Based on medical evidence linking excess body fat to high cholesterol, diabetes, and certain cancers, having an accurate and dependable scale is indispensable to monitoring your health. Tanita's goal is to help people enjoy healthier lives. Currently, at QuickMedical, we have an overstock Blowout Special on our Tanita products. How can a scale help you live a healthier life?

QuickMedical Questions-Why am I Thirsty All the Time?

Often customers or casual web surfers will send us questions, via Facebook, Twitter, or email about medical equipment and supplies. Since we're not doctors, we can't offer you specific health advice. If you're really concerned, you should always consult a health professional. But, we're here to help, so we'd like to introduce our newest blog feature- QuickMedical Questions.

Our first question comes from an anonymous emailer:

Q.Dear QuickMedical Questions- Here's my problem-- I'm always thirsty, even after I drink water, I get thirsty like right after. Also, I always have to go to the bathroom. Is something wrong? Should I see my doctor?

Thanks- love the blog,

Always Peeing

The Woman With No Fear

This is a Yahoo News article, but it sounds to me like it could have run in The Onion, no offense to the authors or the real life mystery woman given the pseudonym SM, who has no amygdala-- the part of the brain responsible for fear. Her condition called Urbach-Wiethe disease is being studied by scientists in the journal Current Biology. To study SM, the scientists devised a few scary experiments, none of which caused the woman fear. Did they take her to a haunted house, jump out from behind the bushes and show her scary movies to incite a response? Yes. And more.

A Health Haiku for You!

Your resolution

For the New Year, keep track of

Your health and fitness.

No one knows your health better than you do, and monitoring your own mental and physical health is an important responsibility. Don't expect your doctor to be a mind reader. It's important to actively monitor your weight and check your blood pressure. Have a plan for regular physical activity, and be sure to eat healthy-- even during the holidays!

It's Not the Kids' Fault; It's their Brains'

A recent article by Newsweek reveals that teenagers might not be able to help how they act in certain circumstances. The research looks at the adolescent brain and how and when it fully matures. Dr. Frances Jensen, a neuroscientist at Harvard, said at the annual meeting of Society for Neuroscience in November, that adolescent brains "are only about 80 percent of the way to maturity." Previously considered to be fully developed as a teenager, it isn't until the mid-20's and possibly later for the brain to become fully developed.

Top 6 H1N1 Flu Safeguards

In March 2009 H1N1 flu spread across the globe. The World Health Organization said about 18,450 people died from the virus, including many pregnant women and young people. Today, in Great Britain, it's been reported that the "swine flu" has killed 8 people since September. Great Britain was hit hard by the influenza pandemic of 2009 and at one point had 100,000 new cases of the flu a week.

What can you do to protect yourself from contracting H1N1? Here are several suggestions brought to you by the Dynarex Corporation, which offers medical disposable supplies at an affordable price.

What is MRSA?

MRSA is an acronym for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Any staph infection resistant to penicillin antibiotics is considered MRSA. These 'superbugs' were not identified until the 1960's, and are possibly an evolutionary backlash against antibiotics. They are extremely dangerous and deadly, when left untreated. Who's at risk for MRSA? How do you contract it? How can you prevent it?

The Greatest Generation: Still Doing Pretty Good

The Generation that lived through the Great Depression had it rough. In those days, unemployment was hovering around 30%. Extended families of cousins, aunts, and uncles were forced to live together out of necessity. Many families were not that lucky and roamed the country homeless looking for work. In Europe, the Nazis were shooting anyone who looked funny to them, and were gearing up for an apocalyptic war of conquest; tough times.

Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, now in the nursing home, stormed the beaches at Normandy and Iwo Jima, rebuilt Europe under the Marshall Plan and gave the world color television and the personal computer. They also knew how to have fun. In the late 1940's and 1950's they were responsible for the 'Baby Boom' and even today, they are still having lots of sex.

A Link Between Diabetes and the Gallbladder?

Gall bladders are in the news-- bear gall bladders specifically, are a hot search term on Google. The bear's gall bladder is hot because it's used in a variety of Chinese folk medicines. I might sound like Andy Rooney, but did you ever notice folk medicines are always weird, rare things like bear gall bladders and tiger whiskers? Almost all large mammals have gall bladders, including humans. They aid digestion and store bile produced by the liver. In humans the loss of the gallbladder is usually easily tolerated. However in 2009 it was demonstrated that the gall bladder might have more function than previously thought, and this function is directly related to diabetes.

Qtube and Tower Medical

QuickMedical's crack Qtube production team traveled to New York's Long Island to visit the Tower Medical Systems' facilities and create an informative Qtube video about Tower's line.

At Tower, QuickMedical's Media Coordinator spent the day at the Tower facility, meeting with the staff and founder of Tower Medical Systems. They discussed the history of the company, its future, and filmed a variety of material for the upcoming video for QuickMedical. Tower is a family business, and their family-oriented hospitality was extremely welcome and helpful in the video production process. Although they were busy, the staff took time to show QuickMedical a table being created-- from inception to actual assembly, which is a fairly remarkable process.

Tower offers durable and convenient ultrasound and echocardiography power exam tables and accessories, scanner carts / tables, fixed C-arm tables and cabinets. Ideal for hospitals, clinics, and other medical institutions dealing in imaging.

The video is currently in post-production and will be released online soon. Check back here for the latest.

Can Aging Be Reversed?

Can aging be reversed? While we've discussed the Fountain of Youth on this blog before as a mysterious topic, scientists in Boston have actually succeeded in partially reversing aging in mice. Did they give the mice B-12 shots, snake oil, or just tell them to think younger? Actually it was none of these things. They bred mice with a controllable "telomerase switch" which enabled the scientists to prematurely age mice and likewise, they reactivated the "telomerase switch" which reduced the symptoms of aging in the mice.

Is Fast Food Toxic?

A Chicago doctor named Dr. Mercola who has a fairly popular website, recently wrote a blog about perfluoroalkyls, which is a toxic substance used in fast food wrappers to stop grease from leaking through. In a recent experiment, Dr. Mercola reports that the chemicals on the wrapper are, "ingested by people through their food and [are] showing up as contaminants in blood." Uh oh.

The QuickMedical Holiday Party at Salish Lodge

On December 2nd QuickMedical staff and management gathered for the annual Holiday party at Salish Lodge, in Snoqualmie. There was an outstanding dinner buffet, music provided by Jarrett Renshaw, and a surprise visit, not from Santa, but Devin Reynolds, a hilarious comic magician. The night was capped off by a gift giving extravaganza and Yankee Swap.

Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

The most delicious buffet line you've ever been through!

Comedian Magician, Devin Reynolds performs.

Here's Taylor wearing her hat Devin Reynolds magically made for her.

The traditional gift giving extravaganza!

Everything You Wanted to Know about Farts But were Afraid to Ask

Farts are the colloquial name for flatus, which is the mixture of gas released by mammalian digestive systems from the rectum. As a normal body function, the action of flatulence is an important signal of bowel activity, and is often documented by nursing staff following surgical treatment or procedures. While flatus isn't an emergency, it is the topic of endless discussions, theories, and jokes. The image below depicts farting in a humorous context from 1545. In 2008, a farting application for the iPhone earned its creator $10,000 in one day. Mark Twain, James Joyce, and Shakespeare all made fart jokes. So, why not?

By popular demand from some of the QuickMedical staff, here are some Fart Facts, you might wish you hadn't read.

All Seca Products 10 % Off!

In the early 19th century a young locksmith named A.C.C. Joachims learned how to build a decimal balance from its inventor, the monk Quintenz of Strasbourg. Later in Hamburg, Joachims founded a scales factory-- the first in Germany to produce decimal balances. He sold them all over the world. After Joachims' death, Frederik Vogel acquired the company and Seca became famous for its innovative developments, repeatedly setting market-driving standards over the decades. Seca survived both World Wars and the Great Depression, and is still a family business today. This year, Seca has an impressive special for all QuickMedical customers. All Seca products are sold at a 10% discount until the end of the year. What kind of products are available?

Your QuickMedical Haiku - Saving you Money

Product damaged in

shipping or returned to us.

Scratch and dent. Save more.

Sometimes we receive product damaged in shipping or returned, and as it is our policy to only sell high-quality, new merchandise, we are unable to sell these products in the normal course of business. While these products are still viable, they perhaps have damaged packaging, incomplete cases, or are approaching an expiration date.

We offer these to you at a discounted rate. The warranty will not be valid in most cases; they are sold as-is and will not be returnable. Scratch-Dent-Used products are also limited to quantity on hand, and are subject to change without notice.

A Potato-A-Day Keeps the Doctor Away

In Yakima, Washington, the head of the Washington State Potato Commission went on an all-potato diet for 60 days to draw attention to federal proposals to bar or limit potatoes in some food and meal programs. Since carbohydrates have become nutria non grata in conventional nutrition wisdom, and potatoes are packed with them, the humble apple of the earth has received a bad reputation, for being a contributor to weight gain and diabetes. But are potatoes really that bad for you? What happened to the man on the 60-day spud diet?

How to Measure Body Fat by Measuring Skinfolds

Curious about your body fat percentage? According to the American College of Sports Medicine, when performed by a trained, skilled tester, skinfold measurements of body fat are up to 98% accurate. So, it's important to find a qualified expert to do it. The accuracy of these tests also depend upon the type of calipers being used and a person's level of hydration at the time of the test. How do they perform the test? Click ahead and learn how.

Happy Thanksgiving from QuickMedical

Since 1863, Thanksgiving has been officially observed annually in the United States. We all know the story about the Pilgrims and Native Americans, but Thanksgiving was a regional holiday until the Civil War. Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving as an attempt at uniting the fractured country, during the bloody Civil War, and trying to heal the intense psychological pains brought on by the destructive conflict. By creating a uniquely American holiday, celebrating all Americans-- North, South, East, and West, foreign born, and native, Lincoln was helping create the American identity as a nation. This creation was far from perfect. In 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation had not freed a single slave in the Union, only in those areas rebelling and Native Americans were already being pushed into a desperate situation.

Despite this, today Thanksgiving is celebrated by all Americans and is interestingly enough, also the kick-off to the Holiday gift giving season. No matter what your family traditions, QuickMedical has several unique gift ideas that might work for the medical professional or anyone in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving from QuickMedical!!!!

Why the iPhone Stethoscope is Just a Toy

In August, 3 million iPhone users downloaded a .99 cent app called iStethoscope. According to creator Peter Bentley, a researcher at University College London, "Smartphones are capable of saving lives, saving money and improving health care in a dramatic fashion." Smartphones can save lives, but probably more often when they are used to dial 911. Why are health professionals unconvinced the iStethoscope can compete with cardiology stethoscopes

What are X-Rays?

November 8, 1895. Late afternoon. Dr. Wilhelm Rontgen sets up an experiment in his Munich lab. He's testing the different kinds of light that escape from different types of recently invented vacuum tubes. He constructs a black cardboard covering and covers the cold vacuum tube, called a Crookes tube, with the cardboard and attaches electrodes to it to generate an electrostatic charge. This is the hadron supercollider of its day. These are the types of experiments which would lead to the discovery of cathode rays, the electron, and the idea of particles smaller than atoms. Rontgen darkens the room to test the opacity of his cardboard cover. Then he notices a faint shimmering from a bench about three feet away. What was it?

1 in 5 Americans Suffer From Mental Illness

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released a report on Thursday that around 20 % of Americans, or 1 in 5, suffer from some form of mental illness.

"Too many Americans are not getting the help they need and opportunities to prevent and intervene early are being missed," Pamela Hyde, the administraton's head, said in a statement.

While physical health concerns, like blood pressure, obesity, allergies, cancer, diabetes, and the common cold get consistent attention from the media, mental health remains an undiscussed topic.

November 18, 2010: The Great American Smokeout

The Great American Smokeout is an annual event held on the third Thursday of November in the United States encouraging Americans to stop tobacco smoking.

The American Cancer Society held its first Smokeout in 1977. The event challenges people to stop smoking cigarettes for 24 hours.

Over 45 million people smoke tobacco in the United States, and smoking has been found to be a cause of hypertension, diabetes, lung cancer, and other chronic lung conditions. Throw out the cigarettes today, and try to stay away from them for the rest of the year. You might end up kicking the habit.

The E. Coli that Plays Sudoku

I've never played Sudoku. I understand it's a popular game, but I don't understand how to play-- there are boxes and numbers and matching and it really confuses me. People have taught me how to play, but it flies over my head. I can't play Sudoku. Scientists, however, have created a strain of E.coli bacteria that can.

Can We Predict Type 2 Diabetes?

As people get older, they can develop a resistance to insulin, setting their blood glucose levels off-kilter. This is Type 2 Diabetes. Often caused by genetic factors, Type 2 diabetes can be exacerbated by high sugar, high fat diets and a lack of exercise. 23% of all people over 60 have diabetes. Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2006. There are 21 million Type 2 diabetics. Complications of the disorder include cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, stroke, peripheral nerve damage and blindness. By the time symptoms for diabetes become present, the insulin resistance can be managed, but cannot be cured. If doctors could predict who would develop Type 2 diabetes, those individuals could make important lifestyle changes and potentially avoid the disease, by postponing it indefinitely. Genetics play a large part in Type 1 diabetes, which is present at birth. The genetic causes of Type 2 diabetes are now being discovered by British researchers.

Mystery Monday: Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Vaccinations have been a source of controversy since they were invented in the late 18th century. Vaccinations can often cause side effects, and even today the science of the immune system is not fully understood. Consequently, there have been a variety of movements against vaccinations. Mass vaccinations have almost eradicated deadly diseases like smallpox and polio. But some researchers believe these mass vaccinations have caused more harm than good. Some even believe there are sinister motives behind the medical establishment performing the vaccinations. In 1976, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease appeared in 10 per one million individuals who had received a swine flu immunization. Was it the vaccine that caused the syndrome? Let's separate the fact and fiction and solve the mystery of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Not All Lung Cancers are the Same

A team of British Columbia Cancer Agency scientists has discovered that lung cancer in smokers is different from cancer in non-smokers.

What are these wacky Canadian doctors up to? Are they actually telling us smoking is bad? I think we've heard that somewhere, one time or another. But apparently, it's not just bad for you, it's really bad for you. How bad is it?

Exergen Temporal Thermometer on Grey's Anatomy Tonight!

Looks like one of our favorite products, the Exergen Temporal Scanner, will be in tonight's episode of Grey's Anatomy. The clip to the left shows a sneak peak of tonight's show and the Exergen Temporal Thermometer in action. Tune in tonight at 9pm on ABC!

Happy Veterans Day

Today in the United States, we celebrate Veterans Day. Throughout the world, November 11th is known as Armistice Day. In 1918, World War I officially ended on November 11th and Woodrow Wilson subsequently proclaimed it a holiday for world peace.

Unfortunately for President Wilson, world peace was a fleeting dream, the world was at war a few years later.

In 1954 President Dwight Eisenhower changed Armistice Day into Veterans Day, recognizing all American veterans, from all wars. It has remained a Federal holiday since.

QuickMedical is a veteran owned business and our government sales division serves the veteran hospitals and military communities. Consequently today, we pause a moment to say thank you to the men and women who have served our country, in war and in peace. We might not be here without you.

Celebrities with Diabetes

Over two decades ago, these incredibly earnest, and corny lines (pictured right) graced the airwaves of radio stations around America. A young rock n'roller named Bret Michaels transformed a painful break-up with his girlfriend into the lyrics 'Every Rose has it's Thorn,' and in the process made himself and his bandmates a mountain of money. Bret Michaels is a hair metal rocker, reality TV star, and also a diabetes spokesperson. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 6. Almost 8% of the population in the USA has some form of diabetes according to American Diabetes Association. This includes several famous people, you probably didn't know had the disease. Who are they?

Wound Care for Pressure Ulcers

Wound Care is a hot topic of conversation throughout hospitals and long term care facilities. Health care professionals have recognized pressure ulcers, also known as decubitus ulcers and bed sores, as a rising problem. A pressure ulcer is defined as any lesion caused by unrelieved pressure resulting in a damage of underlying tissue. Pressure Ulcers can cause serious damage and require specialized care, creating added costs for facilities. Prevention of pressure ulcers is critical and with more and more wound care products being developed, preventing pressure ulcers is becoming more attainable. Wound care products like the Heelift Suspension Boot keep the patient's boney points, such as the heel, from absorbing all the pressure, instead spreading the pressure throughout a larger surface space. Another wound care product that helps prevent pressure ulcers is a sensation test for the foot, which determines if a patient has loss of sensation, making the foot susceptible to neuropathic ulcer development.

QuickMedical Coupon Codes are Here!

QuickMedical's online coupon codes arrived last week. What are these coupon codes? Well, we're not going to tell you here, that's too easy. You have to discover them, like the way you found out it's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open-- by clicking around the Internet for information. But here's a hint-- you can find them pretty easily by following us on Twitter and Facebook.

Should You Mix Caffeine and Alcohol?

Should you mix caffeine and alcohol? Caffeine is one heckuva drug. It's found naturally in certain plants as a pesticide. It paralyzes and kills insects trying to eat the plants. Humans, on the other hand, are stimulated by the drug, and take it in a variety of forms to feel more alert. Caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance, but unlike many other psychoactive substances, it's legal and unregulated almost everywhere. Recently in England and in Washington state caffeine has caused some serious problems, however.

Business Casual Friday!

QuickMedical Renegades from Left to Right:

Pirate girl, founding father Aaron Burr, Lion-Cat Lady, Ye-Ha! Cowgirl, Gunslinging Outlaw

Watch your Blood Glucose Levels; It's American Diabetes Month

November is American Diabetes Month. Unfortunately Diabetes is on the rise with the increasing number of people with high blood glucose levels. A recent announcement by the CDC stated that 1 in 3 Americans could have type 2 diabetes by 2050, if current trends continue. But there's good news! The trends don't have to continue, we can turn that estimate around by simply making a few easy lifestyle choices like the old standbys, diet and exercise.

New Product: ADC's Adview Modular Vital Signs Monitor

The ADC Adview Modular Vital Signs Monitor Diagnostic Station went live on our site last week. The ADC Adview Vital Signs Monitor is an innovative tool-- the first modular multiplatform diagnostic station that grows with your facility and upgrades with no extra tools needed; just snap and go. What can it do for you? Learn more by clicking ahead.

A New Product from Summit Doppler

News from the QuickMedical Product Team and Summit Doppler--

Summit Doppler introduces a new STN Sterilizable Probe. The probe can be found on the QuickMedical site on the L150, L250, and L350 Series pages in the probe option drop down list. The probe is available alone (STN) or in a pack of 3 (STN3).

The STN Sterilizable Probe is an 8 MHz Non-Directional Vascular Doppler Transducer.

This clinically tested probe with attached 7' straight cable is suitable for use in the sterile field.

Sterilize using STERRAD (an H2O2 gas plasma process) for up to 10 cycles.

The STN Probe interfaces with the Summit Doppler Systems LifeDop family of Dopplers, models: L150, L150A, L150R, L250, L250R, L250AR and L350R only.

A Real Mummy

Police officers in the suburban city of Costa Mesa responded to an innocuous call about an illegally parked car on a city street. Approaching the car, the officers were hit by a terrible odor. Inside the car was the mummified corpse of a woman. She had been slowly, naturally embalming over the last 10 months. The owner of the car was contacted by police and questioned. A strange story of friendship, beyond the grave emerged.

Do You Know if You Have High Blood Pressure?

More Americans who have high blood pressure now know they have high blood pressure, according to the CDC. But the question is... why?

Flesh Eating Fish Massage

More gross news. An old Asian tradition-- the Garra Rufa fish massage has made its way to America. If you're looking to change up your typical trip to the masseuse or occupational therapist, or if you are afflicted with psoriasis or eczema on your feet, forget the dermatologist, you might want to meet the flesh eating doctor fish.

Horror Disease of Uganda

History hasn't been kind to Uganda. The small, land-locked country in East Africa was artificially created as a colony by the British in the late 19th century with colonial exploitation basically making a big mess of things there for the last 100 years. Uganda has weathered wars, famines, genocides, dictators, and epidemic diseases. The epidemic diseases in Uganda have been particularly cruel. Most recently, a horrific disease called Tungiasis has afflicted more than 20,000 Ugandans in the past 2 months. The disease causes the body's extremities to rot away from the inside. What causes the horrific rotting disease? You might not want to know; it actually gets worse.

1 in 3 Adults Could Have Diabetes by 2050

A recent Yahoo News report states, "As many as 1 in 3 U.S. adults could have diabetes by 2050."

"The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1 in 10 have diabetes now, but the number could grow to 1 in 5 or even 1 in 3 by mid-century if current trends continue."

"This is alarming," said Ann Albright, director of the CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation.

A Bovie Haiku Promotion!

A Bovie promo:

Purchase a Bovie, extend

The warranty. Zap!!!

When you purchase a Bovie Digital Electrosurgical Generator model A2250 or A3250, Bovie automatically extends the current 2 year warranty to 4 years. This is a $1075 value for A2250 and a $1680 value for A3250!

This promo runs from October 1 to December 31, 2010.

New CPR Guidelines Released by the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association recommends that the three steps of CPR be rearranged.

A-B-C-- airway, breathing, and compression, has been replaced with C-A-B-- compression, airway, and breathing.

The first step is now doing chest compressions instead of first establishing the airway and then doing mouth to mouth. The new guidelines apply to adults, children, and infants, excluding newborns.

"By starting with chest compressions, that's easy to remember, and for many victims that alone will be lifesaving," says Michael R. Sayre, MD, chair of the emergency cardiovascular care committee for the American Heart Association and co-author of the executive summary of the 2010 AHA guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care.

Social Diseases

A new study released by the Journal of Applied Microbiology cautions against sharing touch screens with others during flu season.

"If you're sharing the device, then you're sharing your influenza with someone else who touches it," Timothy Julian, the Stanford doctoral student who co-authored the study, told The Sacramento Bee.

Everyone knows that if you touch things with germs on them, you have a greater risk at ingesting those germs. New technology is quickly becoming touch based, and many people use these touch based technologies, all day long. Electronic airport kiosks, movie ticket kiosks, ATM machines, and train ticket vendors are all touch screen and all public. Few of us think about washing our hands after buying a bus ticket or using the ATM, but considering all the touching going on, it might not be a bad idea.

What are You Gonna be for Halloween?

Summer is over and the end of year rituals begin. The kick-off to the holiday season is Halloween. Halloween is my favorite holiday, because of the costumes. Who doesn't want to pretend to be someone else for a night? While we're not a costume store, there are several items on the QuickMedical website that might be perfect for your Halloween get-up.

What's Up at QuickMedical?!

October has brought us some unexpectedly nice weather. Last week we were lucky enough to enjoy a sunny, clear day in the 60s during our annual Government Sales BBQ . CEO Scott (right) and Government Sales Director Tom(left) cooked up some tasty steak and bratwurst, along with some root beer and real beer to quench our thirst, from our favorite local brewery--Snoqualmie Brewery. The weather was so fantastic we couldn't help but haul the chairs outside and sit on the patio of our parking lot. Good times! Click ahead for more pics and the happenings of QuickMedical including a wedding!

Top 6 Germiest Places in Your Life

Germs are everywhere, but some places are 'germier' than others. Our list today features the top 6 hot spots for germ activity in your daily life. We're listing them not as a scare tactic, but as a gentle warning to our readers, customers, and friends to be on guard in some very common situations.

Riester

In 1948 Rudolph Riester founded the Riester company and began production on the world's first mercury blood pressure monitors.

In 1964 the Riester company developed the first digital blood pressure monitor.

From the 1950's to the year 2000, when Riester adopted it's new slogan 'The familiar Way,' it has expanded into manufacturing stethoscopes and diagnostic instruments for the ear, nose and throat.

Riester has been a leader in innovative medical equipment, from the start. So it's fitting that fellow innovator, QuickMedical features these Riester products.

How did Cavemen Treat Senior Citizens?

Our cave dwelling ancestors and the Neanderthals have a bad reputation for being violent, smelly and dumb. But early "almost-humans" either had cultures or were creating them. Their behavior is revealed through archaeological research and some of it is not that different from modern behavior. Do you ever wonder how cavemen treated their elders?

Mystery Monday: Tesla's DEATH RAY

Nikola Tesla is mostly known today for the mysteries surrounding him. Myths and legend aside, Tesla's patents and theoretical work formed the basis of modern alternating current (AC) electric power systems, including the AC motor. This work helped usher in the Second Industrial Revolution.

However, it's Mystery Monday, and while we love science and fact, on Mystery Monday we throw them both out the window and speculate on the what if's.

Top 5 Bad Tattoos of the Internet

Tattoo parlors need sterilization equipment. This includes autoclaves. At the moment, Tuttanauer has a deal in which your tattoo parlor can get an EZ Autoclave and $400 cash back from the manufacturer. Tattoos can be pretty cool., but sometimes they can be pretty funny. And sometimes...they can be really bad. Click ahead for the Top 5 Bad Tattoos of the Internet.

Your QuickMedical Patient Transport Haiku!

The Patient Transport

Gait Belts, Soft Stretchers, more

Be ready to go!

QuickMedical has a full line of Patient Transport and Emergency Medical supplies. Need something? We've probably got it. Take a look around the site. Can't find what you're looking for? Give us a call at 888-345-4858. We're more than happy to help!

Everything Gives You Cancer

In 1982 British musician Joe Jackson released an album called Night and Day. On the surface, the album is a tongue-in-cheek homage to Cole Porter. The playful, but dark music instantly time warps the listener to a New York City of 30 years ago, before the Internet and the Lion King on Broadway. Back then, the Russians were the enemy and Cable TV was a new, exciting and expensive thing. Is it dated? Sure, but that's part of the beauty. What does Joe Jackson have to do with QuickMedical? Glad you asked.

Tattoo You

10 years ago, an Iowa man and his stepson were listening to the radio. The DJ announced a typically crazy radio promotion: if a listener tattooed the radio station logo on their forehead, that listener would get a million dollar prize. The man and his stepson thought this was reasonable and promptly got tattooed with the words "93 ROCK: The Quad City Rocker." Then they made their way to the radio station, ready to pick up their oversized novelty check for 1 million dollars. Unfortunately, the DJ was just joking, and the man and his stepson didn't detect his sarcasm. Lawsuits followed on both sides, but were later dropped. Things were settled out of court with hush money to surgically remove the damning marks. The radio station later changed its name and format. The tattooed men should have had their tattoos removed and faded into obscurity. Unfortunately, something else happened.

Why Are You, Who You Are?

Why are we here? What is the meaning of human life? In particular, why are we who we are? Were we taught to be human or were we born this way? Are cancers, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity encoded in our DNA like a computer operating system or are they a consequence of adaptable conditions in the environment?

We're not going to answer any of these questions today, or maybe ever. However, a provocative new research by pioneers in the field of 'fetal origins,' claim to have a few answers to the big 'Why?'

Automated Pill Dispenser Helps Assist Alzheimer's Patients

There's an old joke about an aging man who meets with his doctor after some tests. 'There's bad news and there's good news,' sez the Doc. 'The bad news is you have Alzheimer's. The good news is, in a few hours, you won't remember you do.'

Alzheimer's is a serious, terminal disease, and jokes about losing your memories and then your mind are one way of dealing with the horror and absurdity of the condition, which affects 26.6 million people world wide. Another more practical way to deal with Alzheimer's is through medication. There is no cure for Alzheimer's, but it can be managed.

QuickMedical's Veterinary Haiku!

QuickMedical offers affordable, high quality veterinary equipment and supplies. The subject of haikus is often nature and the animal kingdom. A perfect match!

Veterinary Products

Equipment, and Supplies- Woof!

Sets for Vets. Woof woof!

Can You Sweat Out Toxins?

The answer is No.

Contrary to conventional wisdom and popular myth, you don't sweat out toxins, and sweating has no cleansing function. Don't believe me?

What's a Migraine?

Migraines are one of the most misdiagnosed and largely undiagnosed neurological syndromes. Popularly known for being headaches, they are often more complex and can be accompanied by nausea, light sensitivity, and unusual visual and olfactory perceptions.

No one knows what causes migraines. People who are afflicted with migraines report a variety of 'triggers,' which cause episodes including: allergic reactions, bright lights, loud noises, stress, alcohol menstrual cycle fluctuations, and foods containing tyramine, MSG, or nitrates. Migraines were once thought to be strictly caused by problems with blood vessels, but today researchers have different ideas.

The Strange, Sad Story of Roy Cleveland Sullivan

Roy Cleveland Sullivan was born in 1912 in Greene County Virginia. When he was a kid working on the family farm, cutting wheat with a scythe, he was struck by lightning. Being hit by lightning is a rare, but not impossible event. In the course of an 80 year life span, the odds are 1 in 3,000. Roy not only survived that first brush with lightning, but lived to get hit by lightning 7 more times in his 71 years on the planet.

LifeSource UB-512 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Rated #1

We recently received this news about our popular Lifesource UB-512 wrist blood pressure monitor:

'In the October 2010 issue of a prestigious product review magazine, home blood pressure monitors were tested and rated. In the category of wrist monitors, the report identified the number one unit as the LifeSource Advanced Memory Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor UB-512. The UB-512 is a state-of-the-art device that is packed with the latest features.'

To learn more about the monitor, click ahead.

Franken-Fish? The Genetically Modified Salmon Debate

Salmon is one of the most popular seafood items sold in the United States. On average every American ate about 2 pounds of salmon last year, making it the 3rd most popular seafood, behind canned tuna and shrimp. Our CEO, Scott Hanna shared a mouth watering salmon recipe on the blog. Whether it's in sushi, smoked on a bagel or barbecued, salmon is tasty and nutritious-- packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, and protein. But this week, the FDA began hearings on whether to allow a genetically modified salmon, created in a lab, to be sold to consumers.

Ban Public Smoking?

According to Reuters, a 2006 public smoking ban in Scotland reduced the number of serious childhood asthma attacks by 18 percent per year.

The ban on public smoking went into affect March 2006. Previously, the number of hospital admissions for asthma was rising by 5 percent a year among children under 15.

Critics of the ban said it would force smokers who could not light up in the workplace or in enclosed public spaces to smoke more at home, increasing the risk to children. But Dr. Jill Pell of the University of Glasgow, who worked on the study, said that did not happen. In fact, the opposite happened.

The Exergen Temporal Thermometer Virtual Classroom

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More than 60% of hospitals in the U.S. are using the Exergen TAT-5000 Temporal Thermometer. Many facilities have standardized this fast and accurate method for all patient populations.

Despite the popularity, any new product needs a brief technical explanation. Exergen has created an animated training video, explaining the specifics of the Exergen TAT-5000 and demonstrating how to properly use the temporal artery thermometer. Click ahead to watch.

Understanding Cholesterol Numbers

You took a home cholesterol test, or went to the doctor, got tested, and were given cholesterol numbers. What exactly do they mean? What's good and what's bad? What do these seemingly arbitrary numbers actually mean? Click ahead to find out.

A Tuttnauer Autoclave Haiku

It's been a while, so we'd like to share with you, a little QuickMedical haiku.

Sterilization

cleaning and disinfection

Autoclaves for you.

The Tuttnauer EZ9 is the easiest and most hassle free autoclave choice from QuickMedical. This is an excellent choice for the small practice desiring a one touch design sterilizing option.

Tuttnauer sterilization products have been trusted by hospitals, universities, research institutes and laboratories, around the world for over 80 years. Tuttnauer's professional grade automatic and manual autoclave sterilizers are available today at QuickMedical.

Hand Sanitizer Improves Productivity

'The placement of alcohol-based hand disinfectants in businesses can reduce illness and absenteeism amongst the work force. Incidences of absenteeism in public administrations due to the common cold, fever and cough are significantly reduced when alcohol-based hand disinfectants are used by employees.'

--BMC Infectious Diseases Journal.

Not-So-Sweet Sugar

Humans crave the taste of sweet things. One theory is that the sweet taste of sugar is appealing because it mimics the taste of a mother's breast milk. Prehistoric people chewed sugarcane raw, to extract its sweetness, or simply ate fruit. Crystallization of sugar was discovered in India around 350 AD, according to Michael Adas' 2001 book Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical History. Sugarcane was originally from tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia. Indian sailors and traders carried sugar to China and the Middle East. During the Middle Ages the first mass production of sugar began in the Middle East, and Europeans first got a taste of the 'sweet salt,' as they called it, when the Crusaders returned.

Sugar became a sought after commodity for the rich to use as a sweetener. In the 12th century, Medieval historian William of Tyre described sugar as 'very necessary for the use and health of mankind.' But obtaining sugar was difficult and it was expensive. Because of the high costs involved, slave labor became the production method of choice. New technologies making sugar refinery easier only increased the use of slave labor.

By 1750 sugar surpassed grain as the most valuable commodity in European trade -- it made up one fifth of all European imports. The valuable sugar business was powered by slave labor in the New World. The not-so-sweet side of sugar continues in the present day.

Welch-Allyn / Riester Ri-Former Diagnostic Station Comparison

Although Welch Allyn is the well-known brand name in wall-mounted diagnostics, the Riester Ri-Former Diagnostic Station, surpasses their wall transformer set on several different fronts.

Both Riester and Welch-Allyn manufacture durable products, but Riester offers a two-year warranty, instead of the Welch-Allyn one year. The Riester Ophthalmoscope has almost double the amount of corrective lenses and more apertures and filters. The Riester Ri-Former Diagnostic Station also offers one environmentally friendly, centralized electrical power source for convenience, eliminating the need for conventional or rechargeable batteries. This way the doctor can simply enter an exam room without having to worry about carrying an otoscope or ophthalmoscope with and never has to worry about the batteries going dead. The Riester station is extendable as well, to both the left or the right of the main station, while Welch-Allyn's station can only extend right. While the Welch-Allyn can be extended with only 3 modules, the Riester ri-Former is extendable to 5 (see below).

To see the diagnostic station in action, click ahead!

What's Body Mass Index?

Body Mass Index is a statistical measure of body weight based on a person's weight and height. Due to its ease of measurement and calculation, BMI Calculators are the most widely used diagnostic tool to identify weight problems within a population.

'The BMI tables are excellent for identifying obesity and body fat in large populations, but they are far less reliable for determining fatness in individuals,' explained Dr. Carl Lavie, a cardiologist at the Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute in New Orleans in a recent NY Times article.

So what does BMI mean to an individual?

Can Alzheimer's Be Cured?

Saturday September 11th, thousands of Memory Walkers will gather at Seattle Center to raise money for Alzheimer's research. What is Alzheimer's Disease? Can it be cured?

Choosing the Right Blood Pressure Medication

Picking the right blood pressure monitor is hard, but QuickMedical makes it easy. Just give us a call and we can direct you to the one that fits your needs. A new story off the AP wire, however, reports 'It's hard to predict which pills will best lower which patient's high blood pressure,' once it's been diagnosed. Researchers are currently looking for ways to better personalize therapy, just as blood pressure monitors are personalized for your needs. Personalized blood pressure medication, based on blood tests might be the way of the future.

Hulk Hogan's Back (is bad)

Hulk Hogan, aka Terry Boulder, aka Hollywood Hogan, aka Terry Gene Bollea is in the news with a bad back. The 57 year old star of stage, screen, and wrestling rings all over America, was rushed to the hospital yesterday with complaints of 'excruciating back pain.' A career of jumping off turnbuckles and getting hit from behind with folding chairs by the Iron Sheik has apparently not been kind to Mr. Hogan's back. For a video from the former wrestler turned reality TV star, and how he could have avoided this recent hospital time, click ahead.

The SINIC Theory, the Omron HEM-780 and the Way of the Future

I found Omron's website while I was researching products for Omron product videos. I was under the impression that Omron was just another company that made blood pressure monitors, pedometers, and nebulizers. The reps that I met at the QuickMedical Open House were nice guys, who didn't mind me shoving a camera in their face, and appeared to be just like the reps from the other companies. Every company and vendor is special in their own way, but Omron, I'd argue is very special. Until visiting the corporate website, I had no idea of the extraordinary, world of the Omron corporate philosophy--the SINIC theory, formulated by Omron's scientist founder, Dr. Kazuma Tateisi. Omron isn't just another company making blood pressure monitors. Its corporate philosophy is based on a theory for the prediction of the future. This isn't just 'Always Be Closing' or even Six Sigma. This is the way of the future.

I Call Shenanigans!

According to Health Day News there is a cluster of kids and adults who are successfully faking ADHD either to get drugs or gain special privileges in school. I admit, when I was 10, I faked a headache to get an extra day of study time for a test. My parents made me go to the doctor with my phony illness. They probably thought a trip to the doctor would make me come clean, but I played it straight down the line, insisting I had a headache even though I didn't. With no other symptoms, the doctor suggested an X-Ray. I stuck with the lie, despite the fact I was going to have an unnecessary procedure. When the pictures came back, it was revealed I had a massive sinus infection. I was on inhalant medicine for 6 weeks. I haven't faked an illness since. Why are kids faking illnesses today?

Customer Service is Our Priority

At some online retailers, you'll find your product, but if there's an issue, you're not going to reach a human being without a little hard work. At QuickMedical, you'll always reach a living person, via email, phone, or even by special delivery. Click ahead to read a recent bit of news from a very satisfied customer and our warehouse manager's heroic efforts to get her the product she needed.

What Will Home Care be Like in the Future?

It's 2010. Where are the flying cars? The manned trips to Mars? Where are the domed solar powered cities and the matching spandex jumpsuits for all citizens? What about the sassy robot maids? To quote Mark Twain, it's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future. But with a large aging population, and an increasing reliance on cheap, powerful computers, one of those predictions might be closer than you think.

5 Years After Hurricane Katrina

On the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we'd like to republish a blog about emergency preparedness. Although the storm itself hit land on August 29, 2005 there were several days of chaos, which augmented the personal and psychological damage to the city of New Orleans and its people. When you see those ads about 5 days-5 ways, they are definitely on to something. It was 5 years ago, but New Orleans still needs our help and will for a while. You can donate money or volunteer to help rebuild houses by visiting Habitat for Humanity and Brad Pitt's Make It Right or visit FIXNOLA for other volunteer opportunities around the city. Any bit of time or money you can donate will make a difference in someone's life.

In Washington state, where QuickMedical's fine facility is located, April is Disaster Preparedness Month. I've been thinking quite a lot about natural disasters since Haiti, the string of earthquakes that followed, the tsunami warnings and now the more recent volcanic activity. I've come to realize no one is safe and living in earthquake prone Washington and seeing Mt. Rainier everyday on my drive to work is an everyday reminder that I need to be prepared for a disaster. Maybe you believe geologically, you are in a safe area, even though that's highly unlikely, there are still other disasters like pandemics and terrorist attacks to think about. I apologize for being such a downer, but being prepared for a disaster is something everyone should consider, no matter where you are.

Lose Weight with Water?

Dartmouth Professor Heinz Valtin found out in 2002 that drinking 8 glasses of water a day is more urban myth than science necessity. But in a randomized Virginia Tech experiment this year, research proved that dieters who drank water with meals lost more weight, on average than dieters who did not. Conventional wisdom has always been that drinking water helped diets because it made you eat less, but the Virginia Tech study seems to prove that there's something to the water hype.

Bedbugs!!!

Mona had a strange rash. She had just returned from the beach and thought maybe it was a reaction to the sun or the shellfish she ate. That week, every morning the welts on her legs multiplied. She applied ointment; it didn't help. When she finally went to the doctor, she found out it wasn't a rash; it was bedbugs.

Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

We're nearing the end of Children's Eye Health and Safety Month. 55,000 children in the U.S. are considered legally blind and there are millions more who have some form of eye disorder. For children with diabetes, these facts are particularly significant. Diabetic kids develop into adulthood, and are at increased risk for one of the most serious complications of diabetes-- diabetic retinopathy.

Breaking: ER Wait Times on Billboards

Is it a marketing move or a genuine attempt to change the hectic conditions in already stressed out emergency rooms? According to the AP wire, several large suburban hospitals are advertising their wait times by billboard and even text message, to encourage less urgent patient emergencies to visit emergency rooms with lower volumes and quicker wait times. "If you're in a car accident, you're not going to flip open your iPhone and see what the wait times are," says Dr. Sandra Schneider, President-Elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Sassy note to the doc: iPhones don't flip. Also, I don't think it's such a bad idea.

Scott's Salivating Salmon Recipe!

I've tried many ways to barbeque salmon, but my favorite way is to place the salmon skin down on aluminum foil, sprinkle Lawry's Lemon Pepper on top, pour some butter over it and lay fresh lemons on the surface. Then place the salmon on the grill, baste with butter and watch it carefully. The key to good salmon is... don't over cook it. Use a fork to spread open the meat, you'll see the meat change to a light pink color and the meat will be moist and flaky, if it's dry you over cooked it.

Bon Appetit!

And remember, not only does this taste great, the health benefits of salmon are numerous. Salmon is one of the best sources of Omeg-3 fatty acids which raise your HDL level.

Understanding Blood Pressure Numbers

You have a blood pressure monitor and you've taken your blood pressure. Or maybe your doctor has taken it and given you blood pressure numbers. But what do the numbers mean? Every patient is different, and everyone needs to consult with their physician to know what the numbers truly mean for them, personally. That being said, click ahead for a rough guide so that you can understand what your physician is talking about.

Black Gold Lodge: Salmon Fishing in Rivers Inlet, Canada

Scott Hanna isn't just CEO of QuickMedical-- he's also an avid fisherman, and recently returned from what he calls, "the best fishing trip south of Alaska," at Black Gold Lodge, in Rivers Inlet, Canada. Family owned and operated by Jim Rough, Black Gold Lodge is located in one of the most scenic and unspoiled places left on the earth. Located 300 miles north of Vancouver along the rugged Central Coast of British Columbia, it is accessible only by boat or sea-plane. The nearest road is 80 miles away.

View from the plane.

The plane landing on the water.

After driving up Vancouver Island to Port Hardy, in the Northern part of the island, Scott and his wife then took a seaplane to the remote lodge in Rivers Inlet, where the majority of British Columbia's largest salmon congregate on their way to the spawning ground.

Ancient Brew Heals After Chemo Treatment?

In Hong Kong, mice with cancer were treated with a chemotherapy that has been known to harm the digestive tract of animals when used. After the cancer was healed, the lucky mice were given an ancient Chinese remedy called Huang Qin Tan. The Huang Qin Tan healed the mice from the chemo damage. What is Huang Qin Tan and could it work for humans?

Eating Healthy to Help Reduce High Blood Pressure

What you eat effects how your body operates. Just how certain foods can do things like help prevent cancer, act as an aphrodisiac, diminish psoriasis, or give you energy, there are also a group of foods that can help lower, high blood pressure. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends a daily eating plan called DASH. DASH was developed by Dr. Dean Ornish and stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension."

The Rage Over Chicken McNuggets

A woman in Toledo, Ohio was captured on video smashing the drive thru window of a McDonald's and punching 2 employees because she was denied Chicken McNuggets. While I can understand her disappointment, it seems like a bit of an overreaction. To watch the video click ahead.

The Name in Electrosurgery

In the medical world, the term 'Bovie' is synonymous with electrosurgery. Dr. William T. Bovie invented the first electrosurgical instrument, which was then used in surgery for the first time by Dr. Harvey Cushing (who you might remember popularized arterial systolic blood pressure monitoring in America) in 1926. Electrosurgery is commonly used in dermatological, gynecological, cardiac, plastic, ocular, spine, ENT, orthopedic, urological, neuro- and general surgical procedures as well as certain dental procedures. If you want a Bovie, it makes sense to go to Bovie.

The Recovery Couch

Dr. Kristen Villa of the Surf Medical Center in San Narciso, California doesn't believe in medical silver bullets. She often tells two stories.

One, the story of Jerome Rodale, the organic food guru, who boasted on 'The Dick Cavett Show' he'd live to be 100 years old if a 'sugar crazed taxi driver' didn't run him over, first. About an hour or so later, he had a heart attack during the show and died. He was 72.

Top 5 Pet Health Myths

We love our pets, but sometimes we let myth, hearsay, and rumors guide us, instead of scientific fact. Here are the top 5 myths about our beloved animals and the facts behind the fiction. Click ahead to read them all.

Your QuickMedical Weekly Haiku # 8

Home blood- mail in test-

Accurate and precise test-

Monitor yourself.

The AccuBase Hemoglobin A1c Test by Diabetes Technologies uses a unique and highly specialized multi-method laboratory analysis (HPLC-IE/BA) to evaluate your A1c level.

Get yours today, here at QuickMedical.

A1c testing should not replace or be a substitute for daily blood glucose monitoring or routine visits to the physician and/or diabetes health care team. The AccuBase A1c Test Kit is designed to provide the physician and patient with an accurate and convenient method for the assessment of the average glucose concentration (mean blood glucose) in the body during the past 90 days.

Here Comes Flu Season. . .

It never hurts to be prepared. It is still summer, and it will be for another month or more, but as autumn approaches, so does flu season. So, we admit there was a little hyperbole and maybe even overreaction among some people, in regard to the recent swine flu. However, let's not forget that the 1918 Flu Pandemic killed between 50 and 100 million people. Don't be afraid. Be smart and prepare. How? Click ahead.

How Does A Bathroom Scale Work?

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Arthur C. Clarke

The simple bathroom scale is a device that we take for granted. Step on it; it shows you your weight. There isn't much time for contemplation. But, if you do contemplate, it's fairly miraculous.

Omron HEM-780

Quite possibly the best reviewed blood pressure monitor on the internet, the Omron HEM-780 is the first and only blood pressure monitor approved by the FDA for detecting morning hypertension. A cursory internet search reveals that the Omron HEM-780 is praised by doctors and patients alike. Some of the words used to describe the monitor in online reviews by users are 'accurate,' 'best in the line,' 'easy to use,' and 'best home blood monitor device on the market.'

Katie's 10 Year Anniversary with QuickMedical

Ten years ago, today, Katie began full time employment at QuickMedical, as it was officially becoming a dot com.

As V.P. Warren Strasen reports, 'Katie and I worked together a few years ago doing music programming. I had moved on to QuickMedical and around that time, Katie wanted to learn web design.' The rest follows after the click.

100th Blog!

Scott Hanna: In Taiwan and Back to America

Taiwan was an amazing experience. It was rewarding for QuickMedical, but also for me personally, as I truly valued all that I learned about Taiwanese culture and the Taiwanese people that I met on the journey. Here is a video of the tea ceremony I mentioned in my previous post.

Mystery Monday: The Fountain of Youth

Remember that show In Search Of... with Leonard Nimoy's voice over, the weird synth music, and grainy 16mm photography of UFOs, Bigfoots, and telepaths? Well, that's what Mystery Monday is kind of like, only it's text, there's no Spock, and no Bigfoots or UFOs. Maybe some telepaths, at some point, because our mysteries are specifically going to deal with the mysteries of the human body and health. What better place to start than The Fountain of Youth?

A Blood Pressure Monitor for Everyone

QuickMedical CEO Scott Hanna has lengthy experience dealing with the wide variety of blood pressure monitors out there on the market. In his opinion, everyone has different needs and those different needs require different types of blood pressure monitors. When choosing a blood pressure monitor, Hanna says, 'There are important questions you have to ask first.'

Top 5 Reasons to Check Your Blood Pressure

You might think you're in perfect health, but you're not if you aren't checking your blood pressure regularly. Why should you check it regularly? Read more and we'll tell you!

Prevent Inaccurate Blood Pressure Readings with BpTRU

Who isn't, at least a little bit stressed when going to the doctor?

Whether you're running late, or you hit traffic or the actual appointment stresses you out, I think it's safe to say most people's blood pressure is higher than usual when visiting the doctor. In fact, this is such a common occurrence that the medical field has actually created a term for it; White Coat Syndrome. According to Wikipedia, "White coat syndrome is a phenomenon in which patients exhibit elevated blood pressure in a clinical setting but not in other settings. It is believed that this is due to the anxiety some people experience during a clinic visit."

I know exactly what they mean by White Coat Syndrome. Sometimes I get anxious when I'm sitting there in that little exam room, and the nurse or the doctor walks in and I don't know what they're going to say or what they're going to want me to do. Then soon enough, I'm sitting there getting my blood pressure taken, just me, the nurse and our silence. As she listens the only thing I can hear is my heart beating out of my chest, a million miles an hour.

Luckily for me (and millions of other people), a doctor in Canada was tired of seeing his patients go through this and in turn developed a more patient friendly and clinic friendly way of checking someone's blood pressure. The doctor developed the BpTRU line of blood pressure monitors that are automatic, non invasive and are not only easy to use, but also accurate enough for clinical use.

Even More QuickMedical Fascinating Facts!

Another installation of QuickMedical fun facts. If you have some strange health fact, send it our way. In the meantime, enjoy these.

Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.

The human heart creates enough blood pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!

Human hair is virtually indestructible. Aside from it's flammability, human hair decays at such a slow rate that it is practically non-disintegrative. Hair cannot be destroyed by cold, change of climate, water, or other natural forces and it is resistant to many kinds of acids and corrosive chemicals.

The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razorblades. Hydrochloric acid, the type found in your stomach, is not only good at dissolving the ice cream you had for dinner but can also eat through many types of metal.

Around 75% of human waste is made of water.

The average person flatulates 14 times each day.

Breaking News: Two New Summit Doppler Promotions

Breaking news from the Product team: Summit Doppler has two promotions that run through September 30, 2010. Click ahead to learn more.

What is the Food in Taiwan Like?

QuickMedical CEO Scott Hanna, here, again. Before leaving for Taiwan I researched Taiwanese culture on the internet and learned the importance of gift giving in the Taiwanese business world. On my trip to Taiwan, I had the assistance of a guide, which was indispensable. My guide taught me some of the language and showed me the real Taiwan, not the tourist traps. He brought me to places where everyday Taiwanese shop and eat. The food remains one of the most memorable parts of my visit.

It's Thursday: Are you Angry About It?

Want to see a visual representation of America's pulse throughout a day? It might surprise you. Click below and you will.

The 4 Inch Nail in His Skull He Didn't Know Was There

Patrick Lawler, a construction worker in Colorado, was working on a project, when the nail gun he was using backfired and threw metal into a piece of wood behind him. He continued to work and later went home, although he noticed he had a slight toothache that night.

He took some painkillers and iced his mouth, but the pain continued. His wife, who happens to work for a dentist urged him to visit her office, which he did. X-Rays were taken. This is what the X-Ray techs, dentist, and Patrick saw.

A Message from the CEO: Taiwan

I'm Scott Hanna, president of QuickMedical and this is the first, of what will become regular blog updates by me, about QuickMedical and some of the great things happening here.

Part of my job is seeking new, innovative products for our customers. It's a job that has taken me all over the world, and now, has landed me for the first time in Taipei, Taiwan, for a medical trade show.

I've met with several manufacturers and trading partners, and some exciting developments are on the way, which I will share with you in future blogs. Right now though, I'll start by giving you a small taste of life in Taipei-- a short video of a ride on a bullet train.

Do Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors Really Work?

For the next couple weeks we will continue to go over blood pressure and how to correctly monitor it. We will also go over the different types of blood pressure monitors available including home monitors, professional blood pressure monitors, as well as the importance of finding the right cuff size. When you think of blood pressure monitors, most people think of the kind with the cuff that goes over your upper arm. Sometimes putting the cuff on correctly (especially when you're alone) can be difficult. There is another monitor available though, that is easier to use and just as accurate if used correctly. Read More to watch our video and find out more about --drum roll, please--
Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors!

Your QuickMedical Weekly Haiku # 7

Great promotion: buy

2 Wolf aprons get free year

of badge service!

Promotion:

Buy any two Wolf X-Ray aprons and they'll give you FREE radiation monitoring badge services for a full year!

Okay, so what this means is, if you buy two of Wolf X-Ray's protective aprons, they'll sign up any individual of your choice to receive badge service for one full year! And, the even better news? There is no limit on how many people you can sign up! Want to place an order over the phone? Have questions? Call us at 1-888-345-4858

I Think I Have High Blood Pressure

So you took your own blood pressure, or the doctor took it for you, and the numbers are high, based on a cursory google search or conventional knowledge. Do you have hypertension? What are you going to do now? After all, it is the 'Silent Killer.'

Immediately: Stop eating all salt. Start exercising like crazy. Buy an expensive professional blood pressure monitoring device. Run back and forth in your living room, screaming loudly, waving your hands above your head frantically. Panic. Now. . .

As a wise shaman once said: "Dial it down, bro."

Do I Need a Blood Pressure Monitor?

Pop quiz, Hot shot: Which one of these individuals need to monitor their blood pressure?

A. John: male age 45, history of smoking on and off for 20 years, moderate alcohol drinker, works in a high stress occupation. No health complaints, presently, reports that he feels fine.

B. Nicole female age 28, no health complaints, reports that she feels fine. Gets moderate exercise, doesn't smoke or drink.

C. Frank male age 19, no health complaints. Gets above average exercise as a varsity long distance runner. Drinks alcohol moderately to excessively. Reports little stress from school.

The surprising answer after the click.

The Silent Killer

Essential hypertension, by its definition, is high blood pressure, which has no cause. Although likely caused by a collaboration of genetic and environmental factors, the real cause is not clear. Around 90% of people diagnosed with hypertension are essential hypertension cases. Essential hypertension not only has no cause, but also, more strangely, has very few symptoms. Consistent blood pressure readings starting at 120/80 are signs of hypertension, and individuals with this blood pressure would rarely have any symptom related to the heightened blood pressure. Despite the lack of symptoms, hypertension is deadly. This is how it got its macabre nickname: 'The Silent Killer.'

What is the History of Blood Pressure Monitoring?

Truth is stranger than fiction, and history even stranger than both. While the American Civil War raged in the southern states, further south in the mid 1860's, France was attempting to reassert her influence in the New World by propping up an Austrian nobleman as Emperor of Mexico. Maxmilian the First reigned for 3 tumultuous years, before being executed. During his reign, his personal physician was a man named Samuel Siegfried Karl von Basch. Von Basch would escape death in Mexico and return to Austria with the former emperor's corpse. Back in Austria he became a lecturer at the University of Vienna, until his death in 1905. While there, he would invent a device which would change the world.

Why Does School Start So Early?

A small study done at a Rhode Island boarding school shows that starting high school 30 minutes later every day, drastically improved student performance.

"The results were stunning. There's no other word to use," said Patricia Moss, academic dean at the Rhode Island boarding school where the study was done.

According to doctors, teens are in their deepest sleep around dawn, which is exactly when many teens have to wake up to get to class. In my humble opinion, look to the animal world, for the answer.

Ice Pack Femme Fatale, Part Two

From an email to QM by the adventurer Doctor Warren Kruger:

So, I'm squatting next to this guy on the street who says he's just rolled his ankle and needs an ice pack. He's dirty and smells and I'm thinking the ankle is the least of his worries. His friend, an emaciated fashion model in a nice coat, but possibly nothing under it, based on the weather, agrees. I can see the set-up from a mile away, but I suppose I had to walk all the way over here to figure out the details.

Ice Pack Femme Fatale, Part One

Like I've said before: doctors have the best stories. This one comes in the form of an email from Dr. Warren Kruger of New York, New York. He's a general practitioner on the Upper West Side and for some reason is enamored with our little blog and has something to share with the class.

The Myths of Asthma

Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm.

Asthma is caused by environmental and genetic factors, and like any disease affecting a large number of people, (almost 7 percent of the US urban population) there are a variety of myths surrounding asthma and the people affected by the disease. Think you know everything about asthma? You might want to read more.

What Doesn't Kill You, Makes You Stronger

This is an old story, but a good one, from the Australian Broadcasting Company way back in 2004. It was a different time, back in the mid-2000's. New Orleans was still above water. People were just learning about these crazy things called 'The Facebook' and YouTube. And in Australia, a woman named Pat Skinner was having abdominal pain after a recent surgery.

Ms. Skinner had undergone a fairly complicated surgery-- part of her colon had to be removed. But her consistent pains after the surgery were misdiagnosed repeatedly for 18 months. Doctors told her she was recovering. When she finally demanded an x-ray, this is what Pat and the doctor saw. Click to see the shocking photo.

Continuing Adventures of Tom: San Antonio

Tom Smith just couldn't get enough of the convention-style atmosphere. After our own Open House, he headed down to San Antonio for the Military Healthcare Convention and Conference in San Antonio. Tom saw a couple familiar faces from the QuickMedical Open House, including Brewer representatives, and our buddies from Surgimark.

Tom even shot this Qtube video on a brand new SR Scale! This scale is available under government contract. Check it out after the click!

Study: Only the Weird Work Out

In one of his essays, the French philosopher Jean Baudrillard criticized health clubs as a descendant of the torture chambers of Inquisition Europe. In the same essay, he continues to critique them for catering to the wealthy, narcissistic and ultimately child-like. I think Baudrillard is full of beans. He can't have it both ways. It's too easy to call working out a torture and at the same time bad mouth people who work out as wealthy, narcissistic and childish. Yes, gyms can be weird places. The fluorescent lights, the mirrors, and the Top 40 soundtrack interspersed with loud grunts and heavy breathing reminds me, personally, of some kind of soft-core, made for cable movie. But I'm a gym apologist. I like the gym. I think there's a great deal of value in working out. And science undoubtedly agrees with me. We're animals and we need strenuous physical activity to remain alive and sane. Also, gyms usually have remarkable characters.

Simple Ways to Get in Your Exercise!

So you need more daily activity but you just don't have the time for it. Between work or school, the commute, fixing dinner and helping the kids with homework or doing your own, there's barely time to sleep, let alone spending a solid block of time at the gym. But guess what? There are plenty of small, less time consuming things you can do and eventually they'll add up.

Out of Shape Parents? Say It Isn't So!

An article on Yahoo Health states that Americans with children aged 18 years or younger are less likely to exercise and more likely to be overweight. While Yahoo Health News has never been the paragon of timely, informative heath information, isn't this ridiculously obvious, both in the study, and as an article?

Your QuickMedical Weekly Haiku # 6

We know how much you've missed Your QuickMedical Weekly Haiku, so HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Need product help now?

Qtube movies on demand

just for you to view!

Check out Qtube, our video library filled with product videos and demonstrations from our manufacturers and more!

New Study: Stem Cells Reverse Blindness Caused by Burns

Good news for people who love fantastic news: An article on MSNBC.com states that Italian researchers reported in a recent study, that dozens of people who were blinded or had their vision damaged by corrosive chemicals, had their sight restored with stem cell transplants from their own eye. Dr. Ivan Schwab, an ophthalmologist from the University of California, Davis, who has no affiliation with the study, calls it "a roaring success."

The procedure entails doctors removing scar tissue over the cornea and placing laboratory grown stem cells over the damaged eye. In some cases both eyes were injured by burns, in those cases cells were taken from an unaffected part of the Corneal limbus.

Summertime! Love It? Or Hate It?

I always loved summer vacation. My mom, dad, sister and I would pile into the family station wagon and travel cross country to visit that spectacular theme park of magic and wonder on the West Coast. Sure, there were problems, like my mom's aunt Edna dying, and my father's frequent profanity laced outbursts. But even when we were all arrested for breaking into the theme park and holding a security guard, (played by the late John Candy) hostage, it was still a great time.

Wait. That actually didn't happen to me. Culture seeps into your brain like that. I used to think 'We Built this City' was specifically about my town. It's not.

Vendors on the Blog

Life is returning to normal around here at QuickMedical and once again, we want to thank all the vendors who came out to Issaquah, Washington to be a part of the Benefit and Open House.

Here at the blog, we'd like to remind you that this space is your space, this blog is your blog, too. News and information about your products is what we're aiming for, but a good story is even better. So email me and let me know-- what was your favorite part of the Open House? Anything hilarious happen? Anything scary?

QuickMedical's Annual Vendor Awards

To kick off the Open House, as you probably read right here, we had a Vendor Appreciation banquet, here in Issaquah. The QM team and vendors got to mingle, listen to great live music, eat, drink, and be merry. There were also awards. And the winners were...find out after the click.

Dental Anxiety

Susan on the QM team passed this article along to me, about fear and anxiety of dentists and dental procedures. What struck me as the most interesting aspect of this article was that the author is a dentist named Rod Stewart. What struck me as the second most interesting aspect was that I realized I have very little anxiety about going to the dentist. I think it's because it feels like I spent my youth in a dental chair.

JUNE 17TH OPEN HOUSE DAY 2!

The QuickMedical Open House and Benefit for Children's Hospital is officially over. We had a blast! Thank you to everyone who came out, Children's Hospital and our amazing, amazing vendors, we love you!

And now for a hot, censored pic, click on the read more! ; )

JUNE 16TH OPEN HOUSE!

It's been quite a week here at QuickMedical and it's not over yet. We kicked things off last night with a Vendor Appreciation Banquet. Vendors heard from members of the QuickMedical team about our history and our future. We gave out our first annual Vendor Awards(check back on Friday for more on that!) and had a great party. Then, today, The Open House began.

QuickMedical Open House! The Fun Continues...

Tuesday the vendors came piling in as we prepared for the QuickMedical Open House and the Children's Hospital Benefit. Again we were treated with product demonstrations by our vendors including Polymer with a demonstration of their CardioChek and ndd with their state of the art spirometers.

Those weren't the only demonstrations, we also watched a powerpoint presentation by Surgimark about suction during surgery and a presentation by IMCO our vendor co-op. The most entertaining had to have been Oscar from Graham Medical modeling Graham's whole line of medical gowns for us.

The rest of the vendors came to set up their tables for the open house and benefit tomorrow and are currently headed to the Hilton for the Vendor Appreciation Dinner, where there will be presentations, and awards like Vendor Representative of the Year and Vendor of the Year. We couldn't be more excited for our Open House and Children's Hospital Benefit tomorrow! The fun starts around 9AM and goes until 7PM with guest speakers, a plethora of vendors with product demonstrations, vendor bingo, and a raffle to win prizes like starbucks gift baskets, rounds of golf, and hotel stays.

We'll be sure to update you tomorrow on all the happenings, and to stay up to the minute follow us on twitter and facebook.

QuickMedical Open House Week Has Begun!

QuickMedical's 2010 Seattle Children's Hospital Benefit and Open House week started out with a bang on Monday with several in-service presentations from vendors, like Puritan and Wolf. QuickMedical's staff got to meet Howard Wolf, head honcho of Wolf X-Ray, who came all the way from New York to educate us on his products.

Summit Doppler dropped by for a presentation. Laurie Daily from PDI showed the staff a variety of brand-new cleaning wipes and procedure prep wipes. Josh from Terumo even gave us Starbucks cards just for showing up!

As the week continues, more vendors are presenting, more medical professionals will be arriving, and more promotions, products, and stories are going to be featured, right here, on the blog, so check back, often, and follow us on Twitter for the latest on this event, and more.

THE TRUTH ABOUT HAND SANITIZERS

When hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial soaps claim to kill 99.9% of germs, what does that actually mean?

Researchers have found that real-life applications are different from laboratory tests, and that some hand sanitizers are actually not the all-encompassing germ killers they seem to be. However, is that a problem? Is it really necessary to kill 99.9% of germs 100% or even 99% of the time?

Do You Really Need 8 Glasses of Water A Day?

Where does the '8 glasses of water a day (orally)' rule come from? No one seems to know, even on that popular bastion of myth-busting Snopes.com.

Dr. Valtin, a Dartmouth physiology professor emeritus, reports no supporting evidence to back the popular guideline and writes in an American Journal of Physiology review that he finds it, "difficult to believe that evolution left us with a chronic water deficit that needs to be compensated by forcing a high fluid intake."

More QuickMedical Fascinating Facts

More medical facts from the vault that will make your head spin:

In the year 2000, 11,000 people were treated at hospitals for firework injuries.

There are over 500 different functions provided by the human liver.

The feet account for one quarter of all the human body's bones.

The brain operates on the same amount of power as a 10 watt bulb.

You use 200 muscles to take one step.

Our Shamrock Action Gloves Video has received over 1,911 views on YouTube!

Fascinating!

Qtube is Here

Qtube has arrived! The Internet is becoming increasingly video content driven. We're not just talking about the 'I Like Turtles' Kid and Kitties Playing Piano. This is much more.

We've always been on the cutting edge at QuickMedical, and online video is more than just funny viral videos (although we have one of those, if you want.) Video content is a driving force in Google's recent design changes. More importantly, it is one of the primary activities of Internet users, who are undoubtedly watching funny animals, but also television shows, movies, instructional videos and news reports online.

Bad Back? Do Something!

Curly: Stop! I have a weak back.

Moe: I'm sorry I didn't know, kid. How long have you had it?

Curly: Oh, about a week back.

Back pain affects millions of Americans. It's not just heavy lifting and sleeping in weird positions that causes back pain, however. The causes are more common than you think.

QuickMedical CEO Talks Health with Dr. Oz

Yesterday, QuickMedical CEO Scott Hanna and his wife Maria Hanna were fortunate enough to attend a Q & A luncheon with Dr. Mehmet Oz. Yes, you heard me correctly, the Dr. Oz. The luncheon was hosted by Komo 4 at the Palisades in Seattle, with roughly 25 guests in attendance.

Everyone got to meet Dr. Oz and talk to him before they settled down for a question and answer session on health issues. Scott and Maria found Dr. Oz to be a very nice guy, who was both informative and knowledgeable, while putting his vast knowledge in terms everyone could understand. The group discussed a variety of topics, with Dr. Oz even recommending a homemade breakfast drink. What's in the Dr. Oz Breakfast Drink?

QuickMedical Keeps Rolling

Devon (left) and Nita (right) enjoying Lucky Strike Lanes.

Remember how we won that Bellevue Chamber of Commerce Video Contest? Well, the prize came last night-- our bowling party from Lucky Strike Lanes!

Which Wall Mounted Diagnostic is Right for You?

While Welch Allyn is the well-known brand name in wall-mounted diagnostics, Riester gives the well known brand a stiff challenge. Welch-Allyn devices are top of the line; there is no question about their quality and craftsmanship. But, the less well-known Riester is right alongside them, and surpasses their wall transformer set with their modular diagnostic station, on several different fronts.

Your QuickMedical Weekly Haiku # 5

Not just for doctors,

QuickMedical Open House

professionals, too!

The Haiku does not lie, my friends, the QuickMedical Open House is not only for doctors, but for other medical professionals as well including nurse practitioners, nurses, physicians' aids, and medical assistants, to name a few. Contact us for more details by emailing us or give us a call at 1-888-345-4858.

You Gotta See the Baby!

Now, you can see the baby before it's born. Well, technically, I guess, you always could, with various prenatal devices, but now, you can check if your baby is stressed, inside the womb with the Summit Doppler Fetal Monitor. Wait, did I just type that?

What baby is stressed inside the womb? Isn't that probably the least stressful place on earth? It's quiet, dark, and warm. You're all curled up, and you don't even need to eat, or go to work, you just hang out and grow. Show me a stressed out baby in the womb and I'll show you a future basket case. Stressed baby? Give me a break.

QuickMedical Hosts Seattle Children's Hospital Benefit

Coming soon, at our facility in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, QuickMedical will be hosting a benefit for the Seattle Children's Hospital alongside an Open House for our vendors. Medical professionals from around the country will be attending to meet us, tour our facility, learn about innovative new products, and most importantly, raise money for Seattle Children's Hospital.

There will be guest speakers, free gifts, a vendor bingo, and the big raffle for Children's Hospital. It's going to be a real 'groovy shin-dig,' as the kids say these days.

Now here's the catch: this event is for medical professionals only. So all of you doctors, nurses, medical assistants, and buyers out there, we're talking to you! Registration is recommended, but is not required. So contact us today and register! Give us a call at 1-888-345-4858 or email today! To get all the details visit our Open House page.

Keep checking back here on the blog for news and updates on the event.

The Continuing Adventures of Tom

Government Sales Director Tom Smith is traveling abroad this month. Here are some recent pictures, and by recent I mean, right now! Isn't the Internet amazing?

Here, Tom is in London, on the Wellington Arch.

And if you read more you can see some assorted shots of Parliament and Big Ben...

Breaking News: Smoking is Bad for Babies

I have my doubts about this video. It's apparently a 2 year old Sumatran child with a 2 pack-a-day cigarette habit. Now, I do understand that smoking is a far more prevalent habit in South Asia than in the United States, and I also understand that strange things happen all the time. It does indeed rain frogs. But AfterEffects and Smoke are pretty intense programs, and changing a piece of candy into a cigarette would be a piece of cake for an experienced, out of work, SFX artist in Hollywood or Hong Kong, looking to stir the pot and get a little publicity for himself within his industry circle. But, let's assume it's real and go with that for a moment. Horrified? Amused? Confused?

Your QuickMedical Weekly Haiku # 4

nddEasy

One Spirometer. It's on

Government contract.

Yes, that's right. The ndd Easy One Spirometer is now on government contract. Click the links above for more info.

White Coat Syndrome Defeated?

The Hypochondriac

I know something's wrong. I just know it. I usually think something's wrong with me, and it's nothing, but this time, I know it. That little spot on my arm, I know now that was nothing, but this-- this is something. The blood pressure cuff goes on. The nurse tells me to relax, but how can I relax at a time like this? I have a heart condition, I know it, feel how fast my heart is beating? Oh my God, I'm going to die and then that's it. Gone. Nothing. And I won't even know it, because it'll be over.

"White coat syndrome is a phenomenon in which patients exhibit elevated blood pressure in a clinical setting but not in other settings. It is believed that this is due to the anxiety some people experience during a clinic visit." From Wikipedia.

High blood pressure? What did I do wrong? I eat right. I get enough sleep. I exercise. Just last weekend I played basketball at the park for three hours. Okay, maybe I drink too much coffee. I mean, that's bad for your heart, right? If that's what it takes, I won't drink anymore, whatever it takes, right? Just don't let this be the end. This is bargaining. My God, I'm already in the bargaining stage of dying. How did this happen? I was just a happy kid a few years ago, and now look at me. I'm an old man.

Aleve Cures Cancer?

Recent lab tests, at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, on mice have shown that over the counter Aleve (the generic name is Naproxen), blocks a molecular process which causes colon cancer.

A new type of Naproxen, tested only at the Cancer Center, called NO-Naproxen has proved even better at blocking the process which starts colorectal cancer.

Not Just for Doctors # 2

Welcome to the second edition of 'Not Just for Doctors'. Today's product is actually very cool and is useful for a variety of people.

You're a high altitude pilot and you need to track your blood oxygen levels to make sure your oxygen mask is working efficiently.

It's an emergency in the intensive care unit and a quick measure of the patient's blood oxygen is absolutely critical.

You're a hiker and you need to keep track of your blood oxygen levels as you hike into higher altitudes and breathe more heavily.

The solution in each of these situations is a device not just for doctors, and in fact, has recently been marketed as an entertainment tool. What is it???

Your QuickMedical Weekly Haiku # 3

And now for your third installment of our wonderful weekly haiku. QuickMedical presents the Tower Table:

New Tower Table,

Quick patient positioning,

QuickMedical. Splash!

Oh No! Microscopic Vampire-Zombies!

Viruses are freaky little things. They aren't really living things, despite seeming to be alive. They're really just little collections of genetic material. They cannot reproduce on their own. Rather, they insert themselves into living cells and use the material of the living cell to reproduce, and consequently destroy the living cell. They are like vampire-zombies (pictured right), not really alive, feeding off the living. And as we all know, you can't kill something that's not alive. Or can you?

And the Eastside Business Award for Best Video Goes to... QuickMedical!!

The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce's Eastside Business Awards Program held its first annual viral video competition and QuickMedical took home the first place prize! Our hilarious video featured VP Warren Strasen and Sales Associate Taylor Edwards bringing back the last days of disco in our display room. You want to see the video? Go ahead and click on the 'read more' link.

High Quality Daycare, Higher Test Scores

The positives and negatives of preschool daycare are routinely debated. A recent US National Institutes of Health study shows children in high-quality childcare scored slightly higher on measures of academic and cognitive achievement years later as teenagers. High-quality care in this study was defined as the child care provider having above average interaction with the children, as well as ongoing cognitive stimulation. The study found no value in Buffy the babysitter watching "Lost," while your kid builds a homemade IED. But there does seem to be some value with preschool age children having interactions with adults other than their parents.

Study: Video Game Playing Helps Surgeons

Doctor Hank Chien, a New York based plastic surgeon is the new Donkey Kong world record holder. Do his surgical skills give him a leg up in gaming or does his gaming give him a leg up in the world of plastic surgery?

Not Just for Doctors

This is a new review feature on the blog, we call it-- 'Not Just for Doctors.' We're going to feature products from the QuickMedical website that are too cool to be just for health professionals.

Sure, there are times when we all want to try out the defibrillator paddles that are so ubiquitous on TV hospital dramas, but it's probably best to leave those to the pros (unless the pros aren't around, then the directions on the defibrillator should walk you through saving someone's life). So instead, what we're going to focus on in this feature are the products you can't live without, but didn't realize until today. For example, did you know about wearable hand sanitizer?

Your QuickMedical Weekly Haiku

And now, because we care, your weekly... QuickMedical Haiku!

The TAT-Five Thousand

Accurate, easy to use.

Lifetime warranty

You are very welcome.

Eat Your Dog! Save the Planet?

Robert and Brenda Vale wrote a book on sustainable human living called Time to Eat the Dog?, which recommends getting rid of pets, especially dogs. "Basically dogs are bad for the environment because they are large carnivores, so it takes a lot of land to provide their foods," writes Robert Vale. The book goes on to playfully suggest that pet owners should 'recycle' their pets as food for their former owners. While this joke might seem morbid to many animal lovers, the 'carbon-footprint' of owning a dog for a calendar year is about the same as traveling in an SUV a few thousand miles. Dogs are considered a delicacy in many countries. They aren't as smart as cows and pigs, so why don't we chow down? The reasons are probably more cultural than anything else. In the USA, we grow up around dogs, even in cities, and can't comprehend them as food. If we lived in India and grew up with cows everywhere and everyone telling us they were sacred, we probably wouldn't like hamburgers so much. It's just the luck of the draw, I guess.

So, you're probably not going to eat your dog anytime soon. But, you can still do your part.

New Generation of Respirators Could Help Prevent the Next Pandemic

Recently, researchers testing respirator use with large groups of people came to some startling conclusions.

A. Mark Joffe, MD, FRCPC, medical director of infection prevention services at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Canada, performed an experiment with his employees. "We looked at whether our employees could take a respirator out of the box, put it on, and achieve an adequate fit," he said. "About half of them did."

Meanwhile in the USA, Lewis Radonovich, MD, director of Bio Security Programs at the Malcolm Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, FL performed a pandemic test situation. In his experiment, "Approximately half of all the health care workers we studied were unable to tolerate the respirators they were asked to wear for the duration of eight hours," says Radonovich. "Respirators also interfered with communication," he said.

"In the event of a national or international crisis, when there is a shortage of disposable models, the reusable model has obvious advantages, even though the data from our work suggest there are tolerability problems with the reusable models as well," Radonovich reported.

Face Masks that are hard to wear and hard to wear correctly, seem like a troubling problem during an emergency situation. However, there is a new generation of respirators which might solve the problem.

New Study: Coffee Might Help Some Heart Patients

Coffee, good for the heart? Reuters released an article today, about a recent study showing that a couple cups of coffee a day might help those who've suffered heart attacks, provided that they have normal blood pressure. The finding comes as a surprise to some, as coffee can cause palpitations.

"Coffee contains several biologically active compounds, which may have either beneficial or harmful effects on the cardiovascular system," said investigator Christina-Maria Kastorini.

Lack of Sleep Linked to Diabetes and Premature Death

Listen--diabetes is on the rise.

Listen--not getting enough sleep affects your insulin levels.

Esther Donga, director of Leiden University Medical Center said on Wesndesday, "Our findings show a short night of sleep has more profound effects on metabolic regulation than previously appreciated."

What does this mean?

Bad Bacteria

The CDC estimates there will be 76 million cases of food borne illness in America this year. Most of these illnesses will last only for a day or two, but some will turn very severe. There will be an estimated 5,000 deaths from food borne illnesses. It's thought that food borne illness even caused the death of a president-- Warren G. Harding. What are the most common food borne diseases in the USA and how can you stay away from them? The answers might surprise you.

Your QuickMedical Weekly Haiku

Because we're thoughtful, we've decided to bring you a dazzling haiku every week. Yes, every week! Enjoy!

QuickMedical, your

Online medical store,

Superior service.

Potluck / Picture Day / Birthday Extravaganza!!

Look at this spread! Let the games begin!

Last Thursday at QuickMedical we had a Potluck / Picture Day / Birthday Extravaganza! What started out as an Italian themed potluck morphed into a sampling of our staff's finest cooking and a celebration of both Luke's and Susan's Birthdays. While waiting for the food to get set up, heated and cooked, our own Tim took individual staff pictures as well as team photos for the website, giving us all flashbacks of school picture day. He even made us turn our knees to the right and look straight, except our Tim is not a cheese ball like those school photographers of the past.

Traveling and Medicine

Why does it always seem like traveling and getting sick go together? Planes are like germ tunnels. Furthermore, even if you don't get a bug from flying, someone flying with you usually gets motion sickness. If you're lucky enough to beat these, you might still get weird ringing in your ears or dizziness. I'm pretty sure the human body was not meant to be 10,000 feet up in the air.

The Transportation Security Administration recently launched 'self-select' lanes. Self Select lanes allow you to choose from either Expert Lane, for those who fly frequently, Casual Lane for those who fly less frequent but understand the security process, or Family / Special Assistance Lane, which will accommodate people traveling with young children and those with health-related issues. Flying with syringes and insulin bottles can be fairly stressful. Many people use insulin, but not everyone, (especially security personnel trained to spot danger and suspicious looking material), can be immediately understanding when a bag filled with syringes and vials goes through an X-Ray scanner. Travelers with prosthesis can have an even harder time.

A Barefoot Running Tale

My dear friend, Dr. Kristen Villa of the Surf Medical Center in San Narciso, California and I love to discuss health fads. It's not her real name, nor is the Surf Medical Center a real place. We met in college, where we both were studying 19th century American Literature. I transferred; she went on to medical school. We lost touch. We reconnected at a dinner party, where I was doing photography, but that's another story.

Doctors have the best stories, I've learned. They live in a world on the border between life and death and are uniquely acquainted with the limits of the human body, the same way lawyers and the police balance along the limits of the law. The other day, the good doctor had a story for me about barefoot running.

Are You Prepared for a Disaster?

Depression and Chocolate Linked?

Hey Chocolate Lovers, I'm worried about you. Are you stressed out? Feeling down? Are you depressed? An article on Reuters this week, featured a recent study that found people who are depressed eat more chocolate than those who aren't depressed. U.S. researchers say that those who were depressed ate an average of 8.4 servings of chocolate per month, compared to 5.4 servings among those who weren't. Did those who were clinically depressed consume more chocolate, you ask?

How Drunk is Drunk?

What constitutes intoxication? In most of the USA, a blood alcohol level of .08% constitutes intoxication and prohibits a person from legally operating motor vehicles. But that tipsy feeling can start long before the .08% blood level is reached and make operating a motor vehicle a very bad idea. What exactly is intoxication? Why does it impair our movements and judgments? How drunk is drunk?

Update: QuickMedical at the IMCO National Convention in Orlando

QuickMedical's CEO Scott Hanna and Government Sales Director Tom Smith recently left the rain of the Pacific Northwest to visit sunny Orlando for the IMCO (Independent Medical Co-op) National Convention. IMCO, the premier Co-Op for medical supply distributors, was founded in 1981 by partnering key manufacturer companies with distributors of all sizes throughout North America, to unite independent medical distributors in order to compete against the national competitors. IMCO was designed to keep the independent medical distributor independent through direct relationships and total volume pricing. The IMCO National Convention is an annual vendor and trade show event, where new products and opportunities for medical supply manufacturers and distributors are explored.

IMCO has proved to be a great resource for QuickMedical. So what have Tom and Scott been doing down there?

Product Review: Chattin' About Pedometers with Tim and Devon

The following is an audio transcript from a recording made at QuickMedical World HQ in the Break Room dated 4/26/10.

Tim: Thanks for joining me Devon, here in the break room, for this completely impromptu and unrehearsed discussion about health and lifestyle choices.

Devon: You're welcome, Tim.

Tim: So, what's that on your belt, there?

Accidents Will Happen

Have you ever considered the fact that you are here, alive and well, in some part due to an accident that happened 80 years ago? In 1928, in a messy laboratory under a bench, in a stack of unused culture dishes placed there for later use, something was growing that would change the way humans live forever.

Product Review: Active Wrap Compress Elbow Wrap

Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon. The symptoms can be soreness and stiffness in the joint around the affected tendon, or a general burning in the area of the joint. Tendonitis is fairly common and affects almost 70,000 workers every year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We're not immune to tendonitis at QuickMedical, and we certainly can't cure it, but we do have inside information on how to treat it. How you might ask?

Happy 40th Earth Day!

Think about this: 40 years ago you could dump anything you wanted into streams, rivers, lakes and oceans, including toxic waste. Smoke stacks were more prevalent and businesses had no environmental restrictions on what they could and couldn't do. Smog was causing lung problems and the bald eagle population fell greatly due to the pesticide DDT. In the spring of 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson, D-Wisc., set out to change this by introducing Earth Day to the American public. With a grass roots campaign led by a group of environmentally concerned 20-somethings, over 20 million Americans participated that first year. This pressed the government to establish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that December, which lead to a string of new laws in the coming years including the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

QuickMedical Fascinating Facts

The world is a weird, wonderful place, full of amazing things that used to make Arsenio go, 'Hmmm.' Whatever happened to that guy? When you're done pondering that one, here are some Fascinating Facts from QuickMedical to make you wonder...

Occupational Therapy Month: Kids

Yes, April is National Occupational Therapy Month, as we've talked about previously on the blog. With the help of the American Occupational Therapy Association, we're going to focus on some helpful hints this week for your kids. At first glance, occupational therapy would seem to leave out a very important and large segment of society-- children. On the contrary, occupational therapy is uniquely concerned with the lives of children, both at school and at home.

A scary thought--could your child be quietly, perhaps permanently, damaging their health at school without your knowledge?

QuickMedical Blog?

So why does a medical supply company need a blog, anyway? At QuickMedical, customer service is what sets us apart from the other online medical supply stores. We're real people running the website, not automated bots. I'm new here, but I can already see that in action when customers call looking for professional medical equipment or everyday disposables, the big guys and the little guys all get the same great treatment at QuickMedical.

The Top 5 QuickMedical Best Sellers of 2010 (so far)

Drum roll please...The Top 5 QuickMedical Sellers, up until this month. Click. Click. Click.

5.Cardio Chek Lipid Panel Test Strips- Polymer's Cardio Chek system enables healthcare professionals to easily test and immediately counsel their patients on lipid-lowering therapies, to understand their risk for developing coronary heart disease, their medication regimen, and the benefits of long-term persistence of therapy. And if you use the Cardio Chek systems, which many people do, you'll need these test strips for more tests.

The Worst Year for Allergies Ever?

Springtime, the weather gets warmer, the ice melts in the mountains and trickles into the streams below. Birds sing and flowers bloom, releasing pollen into the air; lots of pollen. Clouds of fine powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants fill the air this time of year, causing seasonal allergies in the unlucky people allergic to pollen. Pollen counts this year are at record levels. Mysteriously, allergy sufferers, especially in the Southeast, are reporting allergy symptoms far worse than previous years. Why is 2010 such a bad year for allergies? What causes allergies anyway?

50 Years of Stanbio

Stanbio Laboratory was started, like QuickMedical, out of a garage. It began operations in 1958 in Halletsville, Texas, as the brainchild of Charles E. Miles. This year, Stanbio Laboratories is celebrating its 50th Anniversary.

50 years ago, QuickMedical, the Internet, color television, and a host of other modern ideas and devices were not yet realities. The world was a much different place. Stanbio's continued existence and success in such a rapidly changing world over 5 decades, is a testament to the people and ideas behind the company. To celebrate 50 years of service, Stanbio has a special offer for its QuickMedical customers.

Show Me! Show Me! Show Me!

As a new employee here at QuickMedical, sometimes medical supplies and technical medical equipment can seem a little complicated to me. After all, it's the equipment actually used by doctors and health professionals who know a great deal more about how the equipment works and why. They've probably read more books than I have and play chess for recreation. On the other hand, there's always a learning curve and QuickMedical offers a unique service for those of us who might be intimidated by a medical device, or just want to make sure we're properly educated on the way it works.

5 QuickMedical Products You Can't Live Without (Today)

Hand Sanitizer- The Great Flu Scare of 2009 didn't start my heavy use of hand sanitizer. It was actually the Great Seattle Soap Drought of 2006, when I moved into a house with two lovely ladies, who were free spirits. Sure, I enjoyed the drum circles, body paint and incense. However, one of the worldly cares they ignored was anti-bacterial hand soap. I invested heavily in hand sanitizer that year, to pick up the slack. The Flu pandemic never came, but I felt much safer.

Electronic Nose Sniffing Out Asthma?

Yahoo news ran a story about Italian scientists who have invented an electronic nose used to test for asthma . It seems to work, but not everyone is convinced. Dr. Jennifer Appleyard, chief of allergy and immunology at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit told Yahoo, "This device is interesting and warrants a further look, but it still needs to be perfected and the researchers need to figure out its niche. We need to know if it's good for diagnostics or for measuring improvements after treatment. In some diseases, you use blood markers to monitor treatment response. Could you use this to see if patients are responding? We also need to know if it's good for diagnosing all types of asthma."

QuickMedical's New Show Room

"Being able to see and touch the latest in medical equipment has been something our customers have asked for. We are very excited to have the room completed in time for our grand Open House this June." -Scott Hanna, President

The Top #6-10 QuickMedical Sellers of 2010 (Up until March)

Not as glamorous as the Top 5, but certainly a worthy achievement, these are our 10th-6th highest selling QuickMedical products for 2010 up until March.

10. Summit S3500 High Capacity Handrail Scale- The ideal stand on scale for those individuals needing a safe, secure railing. The scale has a capacity of 660 pounds and can be used as a bariatric scale. It's easy to step on and off because its platform is just inches off the ground, and the LCD display can be easily read by any patient over 4 feet.

Finding the Right Exam Table for Your Office or Clinic

Finding the right exam table for your clinic, practice, or hospital can be a challenge with the many options available. The first step is determining what type of exam table you need. Would you like a basic exam table that you'd find at any doctor's office? Do you need drawers or storage space? A pediatric themed exam table? Or perhaps you need a power exam table that can tilt and raise? As you can see there are many different styles available.

Product Review: ADC 427 A Parent's Dream Come True

Here at QuickMedical we don't just sell medical products; we also use them. ADC has recently launched their new ADC 427 Digital Temple Touch Thermometer, designed for pediatricians and home use, the 427 is a non-invasive thermometer that reduces the risk of cross contamination by offering forehead fever detection based on conductive technology. Our own wonderful Kerry, product team extraordinaire and loving mother, couldn't wait to get her hands on the ADC 427. After a quick demonstration by Steve, our always reliable ADC rep, Kerry took the thermometer home to put it to the test against her 3 little girls.

Chill Out: National Stress Management Month

It's National Stress Awareness Month.Yes, it's also Occupational Therapy Month too, but every month is about 5 different National Months, so bear with us on this. While we won't do a weekly feature on stress, because there's already enough stress in the world, we did want to share with you some helpful reminders about stress and relieving it.

Stress is both a biological and psychological term. It's been a popular topic of discussion in healthcare since the 1930's, but the term is thrown around in conversation without much real understanding. It has become a topic of concern for most American and European societies, and yet was scarcely talked about less than 100 years ago. Some recent researchers have called into question the very existence of the popular notion of stress, claiming it is too wide a term for a variety of distinct problems. But for those who experience stress, it's a very real force.

It's Occupational Therapy Month!

It's Occupational Therapy Month so with the help of the American Occupational Therapy Association, this month on the blog, we at QuickMedical are going to focus on some helpful hints for getting through the work day in one piece. This week, we're going to focus specifically on maintaining health in the work place.

Fiber! Fiber! Fiber!

High fiber diets are the source of all-life, kind of like the Force, the Rings in Lord of the Rings, and whatever other silly fantasy Life-Source you can come up with.This might seem to be a bit of a hyperbole on my part, but it's personal. In my early twenties, after years of eating lots of processed, hearty American foods (aka white bread and tofu-dogs), I developed a polyp in my colon. Sure, there's genetics involved and just dumb luck, but on examination, fiber was sorely lacking in my diet at the time.

Staying on Top of Your Health

You keep track of deadlines at work, your child's soccer schedule, your car maintenance and everything else that needs to be done, but what about your health? Managing your health should be the most important task at hand, but most of us put it on the back burner. Monitoring your health is just as important as anything else, if you're not healthy eventually you won't be able to meet the day to day demands your life brings. So...why not stop, take a minute and get your health in order.

Learn About Cholesterol Levels

What exactly is cholesterol? It's inside all of us and we need it to live, yet the word has a negative connotation due to medical news reports over the last 20 years. More recently, "good cholesterol" has become a buzzword, contributing to even more confusion. Cholesterol is a slightly waxy, fat-like substance in the bloodstream. In 1769, Francois Poulletier de la Salle first identified cholesterol as a solid form in gallstones. Today, cholesterol can be measured but it's function is still not fully understood. Cholesterol is required to build and maintain cell membranes and there is some thought that it may even work as an anti-oxidant. Cholesterol remains somewhat mysterious, even to scientists, because it's not completely clear how it travels through the bloodstream.

Use a Stadiometer, Not a Cow!

Among the Dinka and Nuer cattle farmers of East Africa, women over 6 feet fetch 80 to 100 cows on the marriage market. Although this might seem alien to us, dowries were also a part of Western culture up until the last century. The Dinka and Nuer unfortunately are probably just guesstimating the heights of the brides-to-be. In fact, they're probably measuring height against the heights of cows, which is funny and a little disturbing. Of course this whole story is a little disturbing.

Need a Colonoscopy? Maybe Not

In recent years a greater emphasis has been placed on Colorectal Cancer and preventative screenings for the number two cancer killer than ever before, yet half the people recommended to receive such screenings do not. U.S. data shows that only 55 percent of people over the age of 50 have gotten a colorectal screening. The most commonly known method by the public to screen for colon cancer is the colonoscopy which tends to scare many away.

Brewer 5000 Access Exam Table-So Hypnotic!

This short video demonstrates the Brewer 5000 Access Exam Table. It's also quite hypnotic. More videos to come!

You Give Me Fever

Fever is the first weapon in the arsenal used when foreign substances invade the body. Chemicals released by the foreign substances stimulate the hypothalamus, the "thermostat" of the body. The hypothalamus raises and lowers body temperature through chemical signals to other systems to make the changes necessary. A fever is the response to foreign substances, such as bacteria or viruses in the body. Fevers have benefits. Higher body temperature does not allow certain chemicals and nutrients to be available for bacteria or viruses, which they rely on to exist and reproduce. A higher body temperature works with the immune system to fight off infection. Fever is a symptom, not necessarily a problem in itself, as sometimes thought.