The Korea Herald

6 in 10 mothers experience postpartum depression

Oct 6, 2014

More than half of South Korean mothers go through postpartum depression within the first five years after childbirth, according to a study by Inha University.Of 1,332 mothers who gave birth in 2008, 60 percent said they suffered from depression at least once between 2008 and 2012.Some major risk factors for postpartum depression included child care stress, low self-esteem and a poor marital relationship. Depression during pregnancy, low self-esteem, an unhappy marriage and financial trouble rais
Medical disputes over plastic surgery on rise

Oct 1, 2014

More patients in South Korea are filing medical disputes after receiving cosmetic surgery or other aesthetic treatments at local clinics, raising concerns about the industry’s safety standards and false advertising. Last week, a woman in her 50s died of dyspnea while receiving liposuction at a clinic in Seoul’s affluent district of Gangnam. While the woman’s case is extreme, an increasing number of Koreans are seeking help for disappointing results and side effects of cosmetic procedures, accord
Is chest pain always angina?

Sept 25, 2014

Chest pain refers to various pains in the chest, which can be due to a wide range of causes. Chest pain or discomfort in the chest is a relatively common condition found in 1-2 percent of all patients, and 1.9 percent of all emergency presentations. Its causes vary widely and the clinical significance and progress differs for each cause. Therefore chest pain should be diagnosed carefully. The main causes of chest pain include problems in the lungs, heart, esophagus or ribs. Of these causes, ches
Allergic rhinitis occurs most in autumn season

Sept 25, 2014

Allergic rhinitis, an inflammation of the nasal airways, occurs most often among Koreans in the fall, especially in the months of September and October, according to the Health Ministry.Some 601,000 Koreans were treated for the condition last year, and most patients ― 206,261 ― developed the allergic reaction in September, according to a study conducted by the National Health Insurance Service.Allergic rhinitis is often triggered by pollen from seasonal plants, including weeds, trees and grasses
U.S. fines Shire $56.5m over drug promotion

Sept 25, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) ― The U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday that Irish drugmaker Shire will pay $56.5 million to settle allegations it broke the law in promoting five different drugs, including its attention deficit disorder drugs Adderall XR and Vyvanse.According to a whistleblower lawsuit, Shire said ADHD patients who took Adderall XR would be “indistinguishable” from people who don’t have the condition. It also suggested that the drug would prevent patients from getting bad grades, losing t
Doctor awarded for contributions to dementia awareness

Sept 22, 2014

Choi Kyoung-gyu. (Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital)Professor and medical doctor Choi Kyoung-gyu, who currently practices at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, was given an award last week by the Health Minister for his contributions to dementia awareness.Choi has served as the head of the Yangcheon-gu Center for Dementia, a state-run institution for dementia patients and their families in Seoul’s district of Yangcheon, since 2008. The doctor was recognized for raising awareness abou
Orthodontist finds new way to align molars without brackets

Sept 18, 2014

A Korean orthodontist has found a new way to align crooked molars without using metal brackets, allowing elderly patients to receive this particular orthodontic treatment ― which is often a requirement for dental implant surgery ― in comfort. Orthodontist and professor Jeon Yoon-sik, who currently practices at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, invented a new technology that simply uses a thin wire to align tilted teeth without using metal brackets and rubber bands. The new method reduces
Tobacco firms, health insurer go to court

Sept 12, 2014

Just a day after the government announced an 80 percent hike in cigarette prices, the first hearing for the state health insurer’s high-profile lawsuit against major tobacco firms was held on Friday.The National Health Insurance Service filed a lawsuit against three domestic and foreign tobacco makers ― KT&G, British American Tobacco and Philip Morris ― in April, seeking damages of 53.7 billion won ($52 million) for payouts over tobacco-related diseases. The ongoing legal case is the first lawsu
Serious respiratory illness hits dozen U.S. states

Sept 11, 2014

CHICAGO (AP) ― Hundreds of children in more than 10 U.S. states have been sickened by a severe respiratory illness that public health officials say may be caused by an uncommon virus similar to the germ that causes the common cold.Nearly 500 children have been treated at one hospital alone ― Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Missouri ― and some required intensive care, according to authorities.The suspected germ, enterovirus 68, is an uncommon strain of a very common family of viruses that typica
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Sept 11, 2014

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is also known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” named after the legendary New York Yankees first baseman who suffered and died from this disease. ALS causes the muscles to become rigid, atrophied and weak due to damage to motor neurons located in the brain and on the side of the spinal cord. Symptoms and progressEarly symptoms of ALS include a lack of strength in the limbs. The weakening of the fingers and ankles causes patients to drop light objects or fall down frequentl
Experimental Ebola drug heals all monkeys in study

Aug 30, 2014

An experimental Ebola drug healed all 18 monkeys infected with the deadly virus in a study, boosting hopes that the treatment might help fight the outbreak raging through West Africa -- once more of it can be made.The monkeys were given the drug, ZMapp, three to five days after they were infected with the virus and when most were showing symptoms. That is several days later than any other experimental Ebola treatment tested so far.The drug also completely protected six other monkeys given a slig
Management of knee pain

Aug 28, 2014

Management of knee painThe causes of knee pain vary depending on the patient’s age and whether the knee is damaged or not. The symptoms also vary greatly as to the location of the pain and the physical posture that induces the pain depending on the specific cause. Knee pain often results from damage to the ligament, meniscus or cartilage, or due to degenerative arthritis, which is closely related to aging. Some patients complain of knee pain which has nothing to do with the knee structure as it
Osteonecrosis more common in men than women in Korea

Aug 28, 2014

Men are much more prone to osteonecrosis ― a disease resulting from the loss of blood supply to the bones ― than women in South Korea, according to a study organized by the nation’s Health Insurance Service. According to the researchers, Korean men are 1.7 times more likely to develop the disease, which eventually causes the bone to break down, than Korean women. The number of patients with the illness has been on the rise in the country since 2007. While 22,354 were treated for the disease in 2
Osong aims to become bio industry hub

Aug 28, 2014

Osong is looking to solidify its position as the country’s mecca for biotechnology research with the upcoming Bio Industry Expo Osong Korea 2014.The event, slated to be held in the North Chungcheong Province city, will provide opportunities for corporations in and out of Korea to gather and share business propositions on medical facilities, medicine and aesthetic products. Some 230 leading companies in the field around the globe are expected to take part in the 17-day event from Sept. 26 to Oct.
Swimming in summer and ear infections

Aug 14, 2014

Going to a swimming pool or a beach during summer vacation is quite enjoyable and indispensable. But while swimming, your ears could be affected when unclean water enters.When swimming or taking a shower and water gets into your ear, you feel deafened or you may notice your voice sounding strange. This is a phenomenon caused when water remains between the external auditory canal and eardrum to interfere with the vibration of the eardrum. You stick one of your fingers into your ear or try to wipe