Conditions

Unlocking the power of graphic medicine: the key to improving health literacy

Conditions
February 24, 2023

According to the Office of the Surgeon General, only about 12 percent of the U.S. population has suitable health literacy skills. Health literacy is the repertoire of knowledge we fall back on to comprehend medication instructions, understand our risks for certain diseases, and make decisions regarding our own well-being. Wading through a convoluted medical system like the United States is difficult even for those fortunate enough to have access to …

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The ICU experience that changed a young doctor’s perspective forever

Conditions
February 24, 2023

As a healthy 30-year-old intern with an infant, I never expected to land in the ICU on a random Thursday at 10 a.m. As I prepared to start my first precepted thoracentesis at the VA, I suddenly began to experience double vision. Assuming it to be a weird manifestation of anxiety, I politely stepped out to try to gather myself. I ran some cold water and splashed it on my …

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Candy weed: no protection for marijuana child poisoning

Conditions
February 23, 2023

Timmy’s eyes were rolling side to side in his head as his limp body did not respond to his mother’s calling. He was rushed to the hospital and admitted to the ICU. The 4-year-old ate one of his mother’s cannabis-infused, rainbow-sherbet-flavored gummies and ended up with marijuana poisoning and in a coma. There is no antidote to THC, the psychoactive chemical in cannabis, so Timmy had to wait and detoxify …

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Saving lives, one heart at a time: the fight against women’s heart disease

Conditions
February 23, 2023

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease killed 314,186 women in 2021. This means that approximately one out of every five female deaths was due to heart disease, with the worst mortality burden on African American women.

It is abundantly clear that we are not where we need to be in terms of …

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The hormone nomenclature debate: Is a name change the key to patient safety?

Conditions
February 22, 2023

In the latest issue of Clinical Endocrinology News, I found an interesting article reporting a proposal to change the name of a hormone. The rationale for the proposed change was “patient safety.”

In 2009, a patient with known panhypopituitarism was admitted to a U.K. hospital for elective surgery. Diagnosis included panhypopituitarism with diabetes insipidus. The patient developed hypernatremia and volume depletion, tragically leading to pronounced hypotension and death.

The author attributes this …

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The middle road to childhood obesity treatment: Empowering kids with healthy habits

Conditions
February 21, 2023

The new American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for childhood obesity have shifted from a “watchful waiting” method to “early and aggressive treatment.” Coverage of the guidelines in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and other reputable news outlets have readily accepted this new depiction of childhood obesity as a disorder in need of immediate, aggressive intervention and has given little or no attention to what …

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Jimmy Carter brings attention to hospice care: the compassionate side of modern medicine

Conditions
February 20, 2023

The recent decision by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to transition to hospice brings much-needed attention to this crucial part of health care. Hospice care is an essential and compassionate component of modern medicine, providing support and care to patients and families during the most challenging time of their lives. Historically, hospice care has been long stigmatized as giving up on treatment. However, the truth is the opposite. Hospice provides …

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The rise of spiritual science: Uniting the soul and science

Conditions
February 20, 2023

Until recently, mainstream science has not recognized the field of spiritual science because the consensus has been that science and spirit (soul) are like oil and vinegar — they do not mix. Science is all about facts and evidence relative to the hypothesis, theory, and actual proof. At the same time, it is said that the spirit and the soul cannot be proven and are solely based on faith.

However, thanks …

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From toys to tragedy: the threat of button batteries to children’s health

Conditions
February 20, 2023

According to a study published in Pediatrics, it is estimated that between 2010 and 2019, more than 70,000 emergency department (ED) visits in the United States were related to battery ingestion, mouth exposure, and ear or nasal insertion among children under 18 years old. ED visits occurred more frequently among children ages five years and younger. Button-type and lithium coin batteries—typically small, round, flat, or disc-shaped—are found in toys, …

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The regret of leaving an old friend behind

Conditions
February 19, 2023

I once knew a lady who eventually died of pancreatic cancer. She must have been by then in her early seventies. Her name was Marilyn, and I went to grade school with her son Tom. we went back a long way. I guess I was in my early thirties by the time what happened, happened.

Marilyn’s husband, Forrest, had died a few months earlier. I knew him, too. She missed him …

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The hidden illness: Understanding and overcoming depersonalization-derealization disorder

Conditions
February 19, 2023

A strange mental health issue affects millions of people every year. Yet, almost no one in the medical community is aware of it. Many suffer in silence without having the right guidance and support. In this article, I’d like to help you understand what depersonalization-derealization disorder is and how you can overcome it.

Depersonalization-derealization disorder, often referred to as DP/DR, can be a debilitating and scary mental health disorder for the …

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From diagnosis to digital health advocate: Navigating lupus in the era of technology

Conditions
February 17, 2023

It’s been over ten years since my life changed forever. In 2012, I was out to dinner with a friend when I developed a rash across my face. Little did I know, this was an early sign of what would soon be a life-altering discovery; I have lupus. Receiving this diagnosis was both challenging and overwhelming and showed me the importance of being your own advocate. It took a fainting …

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Understanding the memory loss of aging: How to tell normal forgetfulness from brain disorders

Conditions
February 16, 2023

An excerpt from Why We Forget and How To Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory.

“I’m so worried about my memory,” says the 82-year-old accountant and mother of three. “All of my friends are having memory problems. Many of them have dementia, and some even have Alzheimer’s disease. I think I’m …

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Food allergy tragedies: the reality that haunts us

Conditions
February 16, 2023

Food should not kill, but in the last three weeks alone, the food allergy community has grappled with three food-induced anaphylaxis deaths. All were young adults in the prime of their lives; one in middle school, another going to a school dance, and one just engaged to the love of her life.

No one is perfect in how they conduct themselves daily, but for those with food allergies, falling short of …

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Breathing your way out of stress: the simple solution to a growing epidemic

Conditions
February 15, 2023

Stress is ubiquitous, and Americans are struggling to deal with it effectively. The tag #mentalhealth on TikTok has amassed 65.5 billion views and counting.

Still not sure about that?

Answer this question quickly:  What do you do when you’re hungry? Many would respond that they eat; it’s a straightforward answer to a common experience.

But what if you tweak the question with one word: What do you do when you’re stressed? This, …

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A dentist’s journey to improving oral health for special needs patients

Conditions
February 14, 2023

When I was a dental student, a 5-year-old child with special needs started coming to the clinic for dental care. I remember him as inquisitive but lacking the ability to focus or respond correctly to some verbal prompts. He would sit quietly in his mom’s lap on the dental chair, but when we approached him holding any instruments—including a toothbrush—he would fight so much that once he even vomited. Three …

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A look into the safety of children products following baby formula recalls

Conditions
February 12, 2023

We previously reported about the national baby formula shortage that began in February 2022 and lasted for several months, affecting countless infants, parents, and caregivers and intensifying distress amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, these supply chain disruptions were largely exacerbated by the novel coronavirus for numerous industries, including the food and infant care sectors, thereby further compounding the already precarious situation. As a result, these industry-wide shortages …

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Why Black women are dying during pregnancy and what we can do about it

Conditions
February 12, 2023

“Dr. Forna, I’m not going to die this pregnancy, am I?”

“No, ma’am. You’re not going to die this pregnancy. Not on my watch! We are going to do everything we can to keep you safe.”

I’ve had this conversation with pregnant women many times in my over 20-year career as an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN). Still, they have become more frequent in the last few years as more stories of Black women dying …

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CME Spotlights