Medical Notes: Week of September 23, 2018
Unplanned pregnancy associations to attachment insecurity, the ideal amount of hours you should spend sleep, and what's the safest level of alcohol consumption?
Imposter Syndrome (2018)
Many people who are smart, talented and successful still believe they are incompetent on the inside and that others will eventually find out. This “imposter syndrome” can undermine careers and lead to psychological distress. Two noted experts in the field discuss origins and how to deal with the phenomenon.
The Coming “Hothouse Earth” (2018)
If the earth’s natural cooling systems start to fail, each could feed failure of the next, resulting in a hothouse with large portions of the planet uninhabitable. Authors of a major report on this phenomenon explain.
Medical Notes: Week of September 16, 2018
Women and heart attack survival rates, the leading cause of death for people with disabilities ages 45 years and younger, and finally free food at the workplace and its cost to your health.
Using Naloxone for Drug Overdoses
The drug Naloxone has been hailed as a lifesaver, as it can reverse the effects of what would otherwise be fatal opioid overdoses. Expert panels recommend that more average citizens carry it, especially those likely to be in contact with drug users. However, obstacles including cost prevent even some first responders from having access. A new study also shows Naloxone may have unintended …
Saving Talk Therapy for Mental Illness
Decades ago, psychiatric treatment meant talk therapy. Now it usually means drugs or cognitive behavioral therapy for an extremely short time. A noted clinical psychologist and author explains why patients are better served when talk therapy is an option for recovery.
Medical Notes: Week of September 9, 2018
A connection between adolescent drinking and adult prostate cancer, a study on music preferences related to income, and finally, matching musical tastes to dating profiles to see who gets more private messages.
Healthcare and the Homeless
Homeless Americans have a life expectancy of only around 50, and often use the ER for primary care at a huge cost. The lack of follow-up care for their illnesses and the mental health or substance abuse disorders common in this population add up to an enormous health burden. Experts discuss how doctors on the street can improve health for the homeless and lower cost for society.
An Online Test for Dementia
If dementia is recognized early, medication and coping strategies are very beneficial. However, dementia is often undiagnosed and untreated until it is far along. A newly developed online test can help assess if someone has mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia.
Medical Notes: Week of September 2, 2018
High blood pressure links to dementia, then osteoporosis genetic screening tests, and finally, is friendship timeless?
Electroshock Therapy Today (2018)
Electroconvulsive therapy still has a stigma, with the reputation of being a painful, disturbing procedure that wipes out memories and, if movies are to be believed, even creates zombies. Experts explain the reality—that ECT is a quiet procedure that provokes a short brain seizure, releasing huge amounts of neurotransmitters to reset the brain in what is the quickest and most dependable treatment …
Lisfranc Injuries (2018)
People who injure their foot often think they have a mere sprained foot or ankle when they actually have an injury that is potentially much more severe and disabling if not treated. Experts explain the Lisfranc joint and injuries that can hurt it.
Medical Notes: Week of August 26, 2018
Germs resistant to hand sanitizers, a new study regarding removing children's tonsils and adult health, a report on biological age vs chronological age, and finally, is calorie free sparkling water sabotaging your diet?
Preventing Bullying of Kids with Disabilities
Many children are bullied, especially in the middle school years, and many parents worry about their kids, especially if the parents have experienced this themselves growing up. But kids with disabilities are about twice as likely to be victims as those without disabilities. Experts discuss the problem and provide specific how-to’s to educate parents and schools to work together to prevent …
Baseball Pitchers and Arm Injuries
Major League Baseball teams spend $1.7 billion annually on pitchers, yet it is an extremely risky investment. Teams haven't figured out how to prevent all-too-frequent arm injuries, which are now filtering down to children as well. A journalist who investigated the science of pitching injuries explains.
Medical Notes: Week of August 19, 2018
A study on how stress changes our genes, research on artificially sweetened drinks being beneficial to colon cancer patients, a report on why study drugs don't work, and finally dogs reading human social cues.
Addiction, Relapse and Criminalization
After criminal convictions, many people with substance use disorder are placed on probation with the condition they remain completely drug free. They are often jailed when they relapse, setting back recovery and removing them from treatment that helps keep them clean. Is that fair, when relapse is a common symptom of their disease (and many others)?
Miscommunication and Personality Type
People have different ways to interpret the world around them, and miscommunication is often a result when we assume we see the world similarly. A noted author discusses an innovative way to classify communication styles to avoid clashes.
Medical Notes: Week of August 12, 2018
A new study about colonoscopies and bacterial infections, then research on how a glass of wine can ward off PMS, and finally how concern about future stress can make the concern become a reality.
Lonely College Students
Studies show that college students are America’s loneliest people—even more so than the elderly—even though they’re surrounded by people and activities. The role of technology is discussed in isolating students, and the role of changing culture toward children and adolescents having a constantly structured schedule with few breaks for downtime or spontaneity. Experts also discuss how parents, …
Trigeminal Neuralgia-Searing Pain in the Face (2018)
A searing, stabbing pain on one side of the face can be so severe it’s sometimes called “the suicide disease,” and may evade diagnosis for some time. The cause of trigeminal neuralgia is often a throbbing artery in contact with nerves at the base of the brain, and while treatment can be difficult it is often ultimately successful. Two experts discuss diagnosis and treatment.
Medical Notes: Week of August 5, 2018
A new drug to help with excessive sweating which impacts 15 millions Americans. The FDA has approved a new epilepsy drug derived from marijuana. And a new study shows having the same doctor for awhile can extend your life.
An Unusual Court Challenge to Obamacare
A number of court cases have challenged the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, and the federal government has always defended the law—until now, and a Federal Court case brought by the State of Texas. With the stakes increased, experts discuss what the government’s reversal means to consumers.
Tick Paralysis (2018)
Summer is tick season, and tick bites are common. However, bites from a couple of types of ticks can produce paralysis and even death if the tick is not removed quickly. An expert discusses.
