Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines: American Cancer Society Example

WOW!  The American Cancer Society updated the clinical practice guidelines for colorectal cancer screening this week. Clinical practice guideline recommendations change after data is analyzed and experts on charged with guideline development review the data and draw conclusions about best practice.  The updated guidelines are then published and disseminated. These immediate changes have far-reaching implications for doctors, patients, and health outcomes.  The Institute of Medicine  defines clinical practice guidelines as “statements that include recommendations, intended to optimize patient care, that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options.” 

 Chronic Cough diagnosis and treatment are also subject to clinical practice guidelines.  Dr. Mandel Sher and his global cough colleagues play an important role in evolving and updating the medical community’s understanding, diagnosis and treatment of unexplained Chronic Cough. 

Contact Dr. Mandel Sher at Center for Cough:  727-393-8067. www.centerforcough.com

Dr. Mandel Sher is a world-class Chronic Cough expert and doctor.  He and his cough doctor and scientist colleagues work tirelessly at patient care, clinical research, and medical community education and understanding to evolve the paradigm for Chronic Cough diagnosis and treatment.  Dr. Mandel Sher’s and cough colleagues’ accomplishments are paving the way with new information that may be considered for updated clinical practice guidelines around Chronic Cough.

Unexplained Chronic Cough affects approximately 12 percent of the population.  While it is a common chronic condition, it is often misdiagnosed and not treated to achieve sustainable cough relief or resolution.  Dr. Sher founded the Center for Cough and is helping people suffering with persistent cough to achieve remarkable cough relief and resolution. 

A cough that won’t go away may be an indication of a serious health problem or it may be that the Chronic Cough is THE problem.  Annoying, Embarrassing, Disruptive with physical, social professional, and psychological consequences.  Don’t wait – be evaluated.  Why waste time and try other therapies that have side effects?  Contact Dr. Mandel Sher: 727-393-8067.  Dr. Sher WILL help you!

 

Memorial Day: Remember, Honor, Summer Vacation…

Memorial Day – A time to remember and honor the women and men who died while serving in the United States military. Thank You.  And for many of us, Memorial Day kicks-off the start of the summer season.  Summer breaks from our usual routine and summer travel may result in an exacerbation of Chronic Cough.  So, Memorial Day is also an opportunity to plan for summer vacations and be aware of those common factors that may trigger more frequent and intense coughing experiences.

Dr. Mandel Sher and Center for Cough team remind people suffering with Chronic Cough to be mindful of the following factors:

  • Diet:  Summer vacation may include food and drink temptations that are just too good to resist!  Fatty foods, Caffeine, and Alcohol are common diet triggers that may produce cough.  So, be mindful as you make food and drink choices, and be aware of heightened cough associated with food and drink.
  • Allergens:  Your summer travel may find you in an environment with allergens not found at home and trigger an unexpected allergic response.  Environmental allergies are especially variable from one place to another:  Insects, Trees, Dust, Pets are a few common environmental allergies that may be present in your vacation getaway that are different from familiar home situations.
  • Climate:  Vacation destinations may have heat, wind, and dust  that result in a “dry throat.”  Dry throat may stimulate a tickle in the back of your throat that produces cough.
  • Get Togethers:  Summer vacations are a wonderful time to enjoy family and friends.  Talking, talking, and talking some more may be throat drying and produce cough.
  • Discipline:  Summer travel and fun sometimes distracts us from adhering to our medication regimen.  Remember, Chronic Cough is a Chronic Condition that does not take a vacation.  Please take your medications as prescribed by your doctor(s).

A health tip that is universally good for everyone, especially people with Chronic Cough, is:  Stay Hydrated.  Sip, Sip, Sip Water!  Cough lozenges with pectin may also soothe a dry cough.

Happy Trails!

Medical Paperwork Matters: A Medical Icebreaker

Medical paperwork matters.  We can feel so annoyed each time we are asked to complete or update forms prior to a doctor visit, but it is so necessary and in our best interest!  Think of medical questionnaires and forms as medical icebreakers – a quick way to get to know each other or catch-up with one another.

Complete, accurate and up-to-date information is a turnkey to a productive visit.  Medical history, Medications, Marital status, Diet, Lifestyle, Insurance, Address, Telephone number and other factors change from time to time.  And those changes may affect your medical condition and/or the medical services needed. It is vitally important to communicate all changes to your doctor(s) and their patient business service team.

Dr. Mandel Sher and Center for Cough team begin New Patient visits by thanking patients for completing their paperwork. This acknowledgement lets Center for Cough patients know that Dr. Sher has received and reviewed the information, and will use it to launch their visit. Contact Dr. Mandel Sher: 727-393-8067. www.centerforcough.com

The Center for Cough Patient Services representatives greet established cough patients by asking them to provide updated information since the last visit. A recent acute illness or change in medication may hold the keys to unraveling today’s cough visit.

Information captured in paperwork is a medical icebreaker. It enables Dr. Sher and the Center for Cough team to quickly come-up-to-speed on each patient’s current and past medical situations and determine the roadmap for the visit. This launch helps make each visit  productive. Cough patients leave an appointment with an accurate evaluation and customized treatment plan.   

Dr. Mandel Sher is a Cough expert.  Dr. Sher’s and Center for Cough team’s approach to helping cough patients achieve REMARKABLE COUGH RESOLUTION is rooted in listening to the patient.  As an expert, Dr. Sher is attuned to what to listen for and will often hear something in a patient’s medical narrative or read something in new patient paperwork that may unravel an unexplained cough.

Mothers Make the World Go Round: Meet Dr. Sher’s Mom

Happy Mother’s Day! Meet Dr. Sher’s Mom.

Happy Mother’s Day!  Mothers make the world go round. It’s a time-out to celebrate the wonderful women who shape our world and make it spin. I have the pleasure of working alongside women and collaborating with women on behalf of their own or their family member’s health and well being.  Thank You to the women who are the human family’s glue. Thank You to the women who are mothers to another.  And thank you to my mother, Anita Sher.  Let me tell you a little bit about my Mom. In this description, you may see yourself, your mom, or another woman who helps you along life’s journey.

My mom is soft-spoken, gentle, patient, generous, and calm.  

Remarkable! given that Mom raised me and my brother, Craig, while Dad was making house calls on cold Minneapolis nights, rounding early morning at the hospital, and seeing patients from morning to night including Saturdays.

Craig and I have always been each others best friends, and together, we could cook-up trouble.  We were “good kids,” but we were kids!  Broken bones, broken windows, broken hearts – we certainly pushed the envelope and challenged Mom’s good-natured temperament.

But through it all, Mom was Steady Eddie.  Steadfast. Dependable. Consistent. We knew what to expect of Mom and we knew what she expected of us. 

Mom prepared Craig and me for life.  By example,   Mom showed us how to be a devoted and loving partner with Dad and prepared Craig and me for finding Jan and Karen.  When we  thought we were too busy with other stuff to sit down and talk with Mom, Mom would say:

“You have to eat.”

And a sandwich and plate of Mom’s homemade seven-layer bars were all it took for us to spill the beans.    When we would leave the house, Mom would say:

“Take care of yourself. Take care of each other.  Be kind.”

So, on this Mother’s Day 2018, I offer a heartfelt thank you to my mom and all the wonderful women who make this world a better place.  Happy Mother’s Day!

Dr. Mandel Sher’s Birthday & Reflection on Lessons Learned

Dr. Mandel Sher’s birthday found him reflecting on past year and planning for year ahead.

It’s a wrap – Dr. Mandel Sher’s birthday that is! Lots of warm wishes; Mom Sher’s 3-flavor, 4-ice cream topping, cookie crust ice cream pie, gratitude for another year, and vision and goals for the year ahead – a perfect way to mark the occasion.  Dr. Sher appreciates all the good wishes and thanks everyone for helping to make his birthday so special.

Birthdays sit at the crossroads between the past and the future.  And while Dr. Sher reflects on all the meaningful patient, professional and personal milestones during the past year, he’s energized to:

  • evolve the paradigm for chronic cough treatment to achieve even better outcomes;
  • collaborate with cough scientist and researcher colleagues around the world to evaluate new cough drugs;
  • increase the public’s and medical community’s awareness of chronic cough as an addressable and distinct medical condition; and
  • be a tireless cough advocate.

So, on the occasion of his birthday, Dr. Sher reflects on lessons learned from cough patients:  resiliency, motivation, and each person’s distinct medical narrative and cough journey.  Even after years of being  a Cough Doctor, Dr. Sher marvels at cough patients’ resiliency and motivation. People who have seen other doctors and tried but failed cough therapies demonstrate resiliency by finally seeing Dr. Sher, a dedicated Cough Doctor Specialist.  Patients are motivated to be evaluated and treated by Dr. Sher for different reasons – all of them good!:

  • Family and friends are worried about lingering cough;
  • Persistent cough is interfering with talking, singing, sitting in a theater and/or church, and other social or recreational activities;
  • Chronic cough’s consequences are:  fatigue, urinary incontinence, anxiety, depression and other;
  • Persistent cough disrupts professional and personal relationships

Dr. Mandel Sher and the Center for Cough team understand the debilitating consequences of persistent cough, respect each patient’s distinct medical narrative and cough journey, and believe Center for Cough’s integrated approach to cough treatment results in rapid and sustainable cough solution.    Dr. Sher  and Center for Cough are helping patients to achieve REMARKABLE outcomes! Over 8 out of 10 cough patients demonstrate a measurable reduction in cough frequency and intensity, and report an overall improvement in quality of life.

Please contact Dr. Mandel Sher and Center for Cough team to find out how they can help you to conquer your cough: 727-393-8067.  All services are traditional, evidence-based medicine that are eligible for Medicare and insurance coverage.  It’s Dr. Mandel Sher’s integrated approach to listening and connecting the dots that are innovative and transformative.