Tag: Medical Industry

The Epidemic No One Is Talking About: Rare Disease [Infographic]

There is an undiscussed epidemic happening in our country, and around the world: rare disease.  Rare diseases are incredibly hard to advocate for, despite the fact that they affect so many people.  Precisely because they are rare, it’s hard for companies to make money off them, doctors to educate themselves about them, and patients to advocate for them.

But combined, as you’ll see in the infographic below, these diseases affect more people than the biggest headline-grabbing diseases on the planet.  And that’s why organizations like UR Our Hope (who we partnered with to make this infographic), are slowly beginning to use the power of the internet and crowd mobilization, to make a case that these diseases need more attention. Continue reading The Epidemic No One Is Talking About: Rare Disease [Infographic]

5 Diseases Modern Medicine Missed For A Very Long Time

There was a time in history when nearly every medical condition recognized today was an unidentified mystery.  Rabies victims in Europe inspired stories of the holy water-fearing undead and citizens of Salem suffering from Ergot poisoning were hanged for witchcraft, long before medicine had a name and a treatment for either malady.  As medical research and happy scientific accidents led to discoveries like Germ Theory and penicillin, our ability to identify and address common health concerns grew.

Although we have come a long way since the days of humor balancing and unnecessary bloodlettings, there is still a lot that the healthcare field doesn’t know about the complexity of the human body or its response to our ever-changing environment.  In fact, some of the conditions that we would never second guess today were dismissed by the medical community less than a century ago.  A few of them may surprise you.

Continue reading 5 Diseases Modern Medicine Missed For A Very Long Time

The Vaccination Debate Isn’t About Science: It’s About Trust

As the measles virus makes its way back from the brink of extinction, the public sphere has been flooded by heated arguments for both sides of the vaccination debate.  For what seems to be the majority of Americans, this is a battle between science and irrationality.  Yet amid the media hype and angry rhetoric an interesting theme has emerged in the outbreak’s narrative.  In defending themselves through interviews, discussion forums, and even the mouthpiece of political candidates, many parents claimed that trust was at the heart of their decision not to vaccinate.  How could they trust that the government, the CDC, or even their family doctor know what is best for their child?

Continue reading The Vaccination Debate Isn’t About Science: It’s About Trust

Top 5 Ways Crowdsourcing Can Improve Health and Medical Diagnosis

1. Crowdsourcing can help solve even the most difficult medical cases.

Not even the famous (and fictional) Dr. House M.D. can know everything about every one of the more than 13,000 known medical conditions, diseases and disorders. At the same time, public web forums can turn even the most rational person into a total hypochondriac. So, where can you turn for help, if the internet is driving you crazy and your doctor has no answer? Crowdsourcing. Continue reading Top 5 Ways Crowdsourcing Can Improve Health and Medical Diagnosis