Many kids benefit from GLP-1s. What happens when they have to stop taking them?
At the November 2022 Obesity Week in San Diego, it was clear something big was happening. A late-breaking session released results of the STEP TEENS phase IIIa trial, showing 16 percent weight loss in adolescents with obesity treated with once-weekly semaglutide (Wegovy) for 68 weeks. The side effects were manageable and similar to those experienced in adults: nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
A month later, semaglutide received FDA approval for weight management …
Clinicians should not overlook the benefits of botanicals and dietary supplements
A patient recently came to my office seeking antibiotics for her viral URI symptoms. After a shared decision-making discussion on using Echinacea (an immunostimulant with antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects) instead, we were able to forgo the unnecessary antibiotic. Approximately 25 percent of U.S. adults report concurrently taking a dietary supplement with a prescription medicine. As a resident physician in primary care, I regularly receive questions from patients regarding …
A doctor’s reflection: 25 years of mentoring and pride in medicine
“I want you to be proud of me,” my intern replied when I asked what he wanted to get out of the rest of his year. We were wrapping up the first two weeks of July—his first two weeks of being a doctor—and having our end-of-rotation feedback session. However, he had just flipped the tables on me. His comment was the type of jolting response that made me rethink my …
An inspirational journey through chemotherapy and immunotherapy [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
Join Deborah C. Smith, a nurse who shares her courageous battle with T-cell lymphocytic leukemia and aplastic anemia. Diagnosed in 2017, Deborah navigated extreme fatigue, frequent transfusions, and challenging chemotherapy regimens before finding …
How a doctor transformed grief into personal growth
This season, I’m living even more fully into who I am behind the scrubs and stethoscope. I’m deepening my understanding of whether I’m operating in my highest energy versus operating from stress and fear.
When my mother passed away months ago, I was thrust into unbelievable grief. I looked to family and friends who had lost a parent and wondered how they got through it. I wanted the pain to stop. …
From plant milk to human milk: the untapped climate solution
Did you know? August 22nd marks World Plant Milk Day. Get ready for a creamy, non-dairy cheers! Once just reserved for soy, the list of alternate milk options now includes everything from macadamia to hemp to flax to rice milk.
But has anyone stopped to wonder why our milk craze, first ignited with the glass bottle deliveries of 1878 and now perpetuated with the bougiest …
How embracing vulnerability transforms pain into power
Regret. We often think about it because of an action or lack of action. We regret having done something or perhaps not doing enough. Regret is filled with “shoulds,” which soon spiral down into guilt, remorse, self-judgment, anger, and depression.
To me, I think about the actions often. Do I regret having trusted or opened my heart to others?
The thing is, I don’t have ANY regrets. I have experienced many circumstances …
How medical school curricula perpetuate inequality
An excerpt from Curricular Injustice: How U.S. Medical Schools Reproduce Inequality. Copyright (c) 2024 Lauren D. Olsen. Used by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.
In Curricular Injustice: How U.S. Medical Schools Reproduce Inequalities, I describe how the medical profession, in its attempt to integrate the humanities and social sciences to develop humane and equitable future physicians, often failed to do so. Clinical faculty members, in their capacity as …
Tax-free income with the Augusta rule [PODCAST]
A life of purpose: free from societal pressures that lead us astray
When you allow yourself to truly see and sit with the fact that we are only here for a short period of time, it can feel scary and also freeing.
My world became small when I started developing profound anxiety about dying. It was a good sign, actually, as I came from a place of apathy to wanting to live. Truly live. …
The hidden impact of pharmacy benefit companies on fertility treatments
Fertility treatments are a challenging journey filled with emotional highs and lows. For many, these treatments represent the hope of starting or growing a family. However, one of the less obvious but critical aspects of this journey involves pharmacy benefit companies (PBCs). These companies play a significant role in determining access to fertility medications, and their influence can create unexpected barriers for patients and health care providers alike.
Pharmacy benefit companies …
Renal denervation: a solution for hypertension patients worldwide
Hypertension, known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a global epidemic. It impacts a staggering 1.28 billion people, more than a third of the adult population, and is the leading cause of death globally.
The most frightening part?
More than 75 percent of people with HBP don’t have it under control – current treatments, like lifestyle changes and medications, aren’t working for many patients. Millions of Americans, including many of …
A game-changer in methamphetamine treatment
The standard treatment for methamphetamine poisoning is “sedate and wait.” There is no antidote to methamphetamine; instead, we typically aim to cover up the unwanted symptoms. We prescribe our favorite sedative, Ketamine or a B52 cocktail (Haldol 5, Ativan 2, Benadryl 50), and often multiple dosages are required to control the agitation and ensure the safety of both the patient and …
The resilience of international medical graduates
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that count.”
– Winston Churchill
In this vast world of hopes and dreams, few would shine as brightly as the dream of becoming a physician and saving lives. Each year, amidst tough competition, millions of young, eager minds compete for the limited spots in medical schools in their respective countries. After this first stepping stone, they continue to …
President Biden: a closer look at leadership, dignity, and aging
The fatal blow to President Biden’s reelection bid came during the debate when he appeared to have a stroke. The insult of being “too old” haunted and hounded him ever since. How quickly did Biden need to end his campaign to save face?
Dignity grants the certainty of whether three seconds, three minutes, three hours, three days, three weeks, or three months is reasonable to pull the plug on sustainability and …
The practice of delayed gratification in medical training: a double-edged sword
As I led small group sessions during our medical school’s recent orientation, I was struck by the nervous excitement and hope radiating from our new first-year students. Their enthusiasm was palpable yet tinged with apprehension about the challenging journey ahead. Two themes emerged from our discussions. The first was a desire to dive in and tackle challenges ahead. As one student stated, “Enough talking, let’s start doing.” The second was …
Spinal revolution: Navigating a digital future in surgical precision
With an expected 80 percent increase in demand for spinal surgery by 2060, particularly among older patients, the need for advanced technology driving personalized treatment is clear. Achieving optimal spine outcomes while deriving critical data that facilitates continuous improvement is limited in the current state by operating room technology narrowly focused on optimizing safe screw placement. While this is a valuable capability, integrating more advanced surgical navigation and artificial intelligence …
From marathoner to heart health advocate [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
We dive into the intriguing world of endurance exercise and cardiovascular health with our guest, John C. Hagan III, an ophthalmologist and veteran endurance athlete. John shares his personal journey with long-distance running …
Compassion in medicine: How palliative care changes lives
Health care providers dedicate years to rigorous education and training to optimize medical care, aiming to heal and treat illness. However, historically, there has been a significant gap in training regarding the transition from a treatment-focused approach to focusing on providing comfort in the face of serious illness and death. This leaves health care professionals unprepared to navigate the complexities of end-of-life care. Despite their good intentions, health are providers …
Past Week
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Should transgender athletes compete in women’s sports?
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Medicare’s cobra effect: How a well-intentioned policy spiraled into a health care crisis
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Time to get digital in your practice
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Doctors under fire: Is the DEA turning them into drug dealers?
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Why diversity in sports medicine is the key to better patient care
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What my patients taught me about faith
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Past 6 Months
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The truth behind opioid use disorder
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How medical school curricula perpetuate inequality
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From conviction to appeal: a doctor’s opioid case sparks debate
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Stop physician burnout: the hidden danger of AI note-writing software
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President Biden: a closer look at leadership, dignity, and aging
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A doctor’s eye-opening journey as a patient
-
Recent Posts
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What my patients taught me about faith
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How seniors can reverse muscle loss and belly fat
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What medicine never taught me about parenting a child with ADHD
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Has COVID-19 changed the way oncologists talk about cancer?
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Is big business controlling your surgeon’s decisions? [PODCAST]
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Why diversity in sports medicine is the key to better patient care
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Past Week
-
Should transgender athletes compete in women’s sports?
-
Medicare’s cobra effect: How a well-intentioned policy spiraled into a health care crisis
-
Time to get digital in your practice
-
Doctors under fire: Is the DEA turning them into drug dealers?
-
Why diversity in sports medicine is the key to better patient care
-
What my patients taught me about faith
-
Past 6 Months
-
The truth behind opioid use disorder
-
How medical school curricula perpetuate inequality
-
From conviction to appeal: a doctor’s opioid case sparks debate
-
Stop physician burnout: the hidden danger of AI note-writing software
-
President Biden: a closer look at leadership, dignity, and aging
-
A doctor’s eye-opening journey as a patient
-
Recent Posts
-
What my patients taught me about faith
-
How seniors can reverse muscle loss and belly fat
-
What medicine never taught me about parenting a child with ADHD
-
Has COVID-19 changed the way oncologists talk about cancer?
-
Is big business controlling your surgeon’s decisions? [PODCAST]
-
Why diversity in sports medicine is the key to better patient care
-
