Did you know that psoriasis cannot be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact – or any other type of interaction? August is Psoriasis Awareness Month, an annual event dedicated to highlighting the life-altering impact of psoriasis and dispelling the many myths surrounding it. Beyond the misperception that it may be contagious, another major misunderstanding is that psoriasis… Continue reading Psoriasis Isn’t Contagious…But Awareness Is
Category: Conditions
Living with a health condition? On the PatientsLikeMe blog, find helpful health information and patient stories about being diagnosed, trying different treatments, and living day-to-day with a chronic condition.
Know Your ABC’s on World Hepatitis Day
Did you know that both hepatitis B and hepatitis C can be transmitted through blood-to-blood contact – but hepatitis B is commonly transmitted through unprotected sex as well? Also, there is a vaccine available for only one of these forms of hepatitis. Do you know which one it is? (Answer: hepatitis B) Because these “silent” infections… Continue reading Know Your ABC’s on World Hepatitis Day
Marcia Hirst: Don’t Let Multiple Sclerosis Take the Joy Out of Your Life
“The benefit of sharing on PatientsLikeMe is the support. For me, it doesn’t matter what I’m going through, there are people there that understand. They’re not judgmental. They get it. They’re there too. I get lots of emotional moral support.” – Multiple Sclerosis Patient Marcia Back in June, we shared with you a video interview… Continue reading Marcia Hirst: Don’t Let Multiple Sclerosis Take the Joy Out of Your Life
PatientsLikeMe in the News: A Roundup
Check out some of the media outlets that have highlighted health social networks recently – including PatientsLikeMe and our members. Social Media a Godsend for Patients with Rare Diseases PatientsLikeMe is highlighted as a good example in this Chicago Tribune article. Medical Innovation Needs Silicon Valley Speed, Stat Fast Company cites us for providing “unprecedented… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe in the News: A Roundup
Navigating Healthcare on Twitter
More than five years after founder Jack Dorsey sent the very first “Tweet,” Twitter has exploded into a social media behemoth. Today, billions of real-time Tweets are sent each year about all manner of subjects – including healthcare. But how in the world do you keep up with all of them? That’s exactly the conundrum… Continue reading Navigating Healthcare on Twitter
PatientsLikeMe Researchers Score a Hat Trick
The term “hat trick” originated in 1858 after English cricketer HH Stephenson successfully bowled out three batsmen with consecutive bowls and he was presented with a hat to commemorate his feat. In June, PatientsLikeMe’s research team scored a hat trick of our own by publishing three new studies in scientific journals in just four days,… Continue reading PatientsLikeMe Researchers Score a Hat Trick
The Importance of Open Access: An Interview with Patient Advocate Graham Steel
A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Graham Steel is a longtime “Guest Researcher Member” of PatientsLikeMe. Following the death of his brother Richard at the age of 33 from a rare condition known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), Graham became involved in patient advocacy work, and most recently, in lobbying for open access to published scientific… Continue reading The Importance of Open Access: An Interview with Patient Advocate Graham Steel
Today’s Photo: Walking Warriors for MS
As we get deeper into summer, there are disease-related walk/run events happening almost every weekend. What they all share is an opportunity for patients, friends and family to come together in solidarity and raise money for research and patient services. For inspiration, please meet multiple sclerosis (MS) patient barneyhouse and her “Walking Warriors,” who took… Continue reading Today’s Photo: Walking Warriors for MS
What We’re Reading at PatientsLikeMe
Here are some of the media items that grabbed our attention recently. What Air Traffic Can Teach Us About Kidney Transplants Air traffic rules balance fairness and efficiency. Can organ waitlists do the same? Open Access Is Not for Scientists. It’s for Patients. A guest blog post by our R&D Director, Paul Wicks, for the… Continue reading What We’re Reading at PatientsLikeMe
Take an HIV Test. Take Control.
“CDC estimates that 55 percent of adults – and 28 percent of adults with a risk factor for HIV – have not been tested. Too many people living with HIV are being tested and diagnosed too late to take advantage of effective HIV treatment and prevention options.” – Dr. Kevin A. Fenton, Director, CDC’s National… Continue reading Take an HIV Test. Take Control.