Recently, consumer articles heralded that blood tests for detecting Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) and many cancers were close to clinical availability. Given the narrow window in which AD must be diagnosed for present treatments to be effective, and …
Category: Conditions
Acupuncture helped when nothing else did
The waiting area in Kayla’s (name changed) practice was so peaceful that I felt better just sitting there. I had come to receive acupuncture treatments and didn’t quite know what to expect. While I sat and waited for Kayla to lead me back t…
What 10 minutes reveal about the broken health care system in rural America
A response to “The overwhelming reality of primary care: Why doctors still persevere.” I am a primary care patient in a rural area of a western state, and I have not seen the same physician or other provider more than two or three times in …
The silent epidemic of low testosterone: Why men are suffering in silence and what doctors can do about it
The hidden health crisis Low testosterone (low T) is one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood health conditions facing men today. Studies show that nearly 40 percent of men over age 45 and 50 percent of men over 80 have low testosterone levels….
Navigating sex and intimacy with ME/CFS and long COVID
Living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or long COVID can transform every aspect of life, including one that often feels too delicate or taboo to address: sex and intimacy. These conditions introduce physical limitations…
Taking a break from medicine: a journey to rediscover joy and purpose
Dear medicine, We need to take a break. I’ve finally realized that this relationship isn’t healthy for me—in fact, it’s borderline abusive. For a long time, I didn’t realize I was in an abusive relationship. We’re taught t…
Biomarkers: How to manage your body’s KPIs for longevity
Longevity can be a polarizing topic. For some of us, it conjures images of a grandparent’s final years, filled with chronic diseases and prolonged suffering. Understandably, we would not want any part of that. However, longevity science is not on…
How objective pain management can save lives and prevent addiction
The management of pain in clinical practice often involves navigating the critical tension between compassionate care and ensuring patient safety. While subjective self-reports of pain are essential for understanding a patient’s experience, relyi…
Doctors must rethink “do no harm” to help children with long COVID
As medical students, we all take the Hippocratic oath—a pledge to help patients and, of course, not to cause harm in any treatments we provide. It is a core element in the care of our patients. We would never want to do anything that could make things …
Why talking to families of autistic individuals about brain donation is a priority
Efforts to generate a resource of postmortem brain tissue for research are in their infancy. Autism BrainNet, a program of the Simons Foundation, is trying to jump-start those efforts. Currently, there are fewer than 200 postmortem autistic brains in t…
