Medical Notes: September 18, 2022
Gyms may soon be filled with older adults looking to workout their brain; Artificial intelligence could diagnose your next illness; Parental alcoholism may affect your children more than you know.
Homeless Americans: Myth vs. Reality
Around a half million people are homeless in the US on any given night, but the street homeless who are most visible often incorrectly influence our assumptions about the homeless. A noted researcher discusses myths and truths about their addictions, employment, residences, and more, and why people often become homeless.
The Language of Addiction: Why words matter
Addiction specialists are seeking to change the words we use to describe addictive behaviors, as they’ve learned the wrong language creates stigma and drives people away from treatment. Experts discuss the problem and solutions.
Exhaustion on the Covid Front Lines
Healthcare workers in ER’s and ICU’s are in their 11th month of fighting Covid-19 and its exhaustion and depression. Two front line doctors describe how they’re managing to stay optimistic amid so much chaos, and how the vaccine has given them a goal keeping them afloat.
Autism and Substance Abuse (2020)
Studies show that people with autism are twice as likely as others to engage in substance abuse, contrary to previous belief that they are extremely unlikely to use drugs or alcohol. An expert and an author who has used alcohol to cope with his autism discuss the developments and their impact.
Women, Alcohol, And Isolation
The Covid-19 lockdown has triggered increased alcohol use in many people, and an alcohol use disorder in some. Help can be difficult to access, as face-to-face counseling and group sessions have been halted. For women, it can be even more difficult, as they are much more comfortable in more rare single-sex sharing situations. Two experts discuss today’s …
Medical Notes: Week of December 15, 2019
Scientists may someday be able to treat alcoholic liver disease with something short of a liver transplant. Then, if you want to keep the mind alive as you age, play games. And finally, a new study shows giving buses an inexpensive engine retrofit helps not only the health of students who ride them, but also their academic performance.
Fatty Liver Disease: Silently Growing
Most people associate cirrhosis of the liver with heavy alcohol use. But nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which also leads to cirrhosis, is growing rapidly, and may affect a quarter of the population. Experts discuss this silent disease and what people can do to prevent and treat it.
Medical Notes: Week of May 5, 2019
A new cure for infants with Bubble Boy's Disease. Then, a study in the American Journal of Public Health shows that depression, suicide, drug use, and alcohol abuse are rising for people in their late 30s. And finally, does smiling make you happier?
All About Hangovers
On St. Patrick’s Day—one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year—an expert discusses why hangovers occur and what might work to prevent them and recover from them.
Medical Notes: Week of March 3, 2019
Women's brains burn energy in a much more youthful way throughout adulthood. Binge drinking and prolonged heavy drinking may trigger a permanent change in a person's DNA. Finally, more than half of all American workers burned out and not taking time off of work for mental health.
Personality and Drug Abuse
Drug and alcohol addiction and abuse is rising. Researchers have found that “fear mongering” educational efforts to combat it in adolescents doesn’t work. New science has discovered that certain personality types are predictably predisposed to addiction risk, and that educational efforts can be targeted to them effectively. Experts discuss.
