Category: Conditions

The COVID-19 tragedy in India: a caution to other countries

You have seen those harrowing pictures.  Patients dying outside the hospitals while waiting for a bed.  People on oxygen masks gasping for air-sharing beds. Dead bodies piling up in morgues. Overstretched crematoriums and burial grounds.  COVID has hit…

A pediatrician’s approach to vaccine hesitancy in a pandemic

I feel privileged to have received both of my COVID-19 vaccine doses. Although, despite the COVID-19 pandemic killing over 562,000 Americans, 37% are hesitant about receiving this vaccine themselves. The World Health Organization defines vaccine hesita…

I may be damaging my brain this year, but it’s not from masks

I’ve been limiting my COVID-19 related engagement with social media because this has been a rough year. I like being a resource for my loved ones about COVID-19 stuff, but it feels never-ending. A friend of mine asked me to weigh in on a letter s…

Blood clots and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine: a comic explanation

Emily Watters is a physician who explains the connection between blood clots and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (click to enlarge): Emily Watters is a psychiatrist and can be reached at The Cartoon Shrink. Image credits: Emily Watters
Find jobs at C…

Understanding the link between reflux and cancer can save lives

People who find themselves reaching for antacid several times a month, might consider reaching out to their doctor instead. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the same condition that causes heartburn, is also linked to a deadly form of esophageal …

Type 1 diabetes in transgender children and adults

In the face of genetically engineered therapies for many cancers and the incredibly rapid development of effective vaccines for COVID-19, it’s easy to lose sight of the breadth and depth of unsolved puzzles in medical science. Many of these remaining m…

A medical ethicist asks questions about CPAP

About a year ago, I was referred to a sleep clinic and was diagnosed with “very mild obstructive sleep apnoea” (OSA). A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device was recommended with a litany of disorders that would occur (heart dis…

Why we should prioritize vaccinating young adults. Now.

Reading this title, you’re probably shaking your head in disbelief, disgruntlement, or more than likely a passionate mixture of the two. And for good reason: It’s no secret that seniors are extremely vulnerable to COVID-19, especially when considering …

An organizational solution to lactation support for women physicians

In a previous post, I recognized lactation support for women physicians as an equity issue. Many of the women physicians I’ve interviewed have identified returning to work while breastfeeding as a major challenge and a major source of stress. Providing…

Does your reaction to COVID reveal your political leaning?

COVID-19 is the first-ever “politicized pandemic” in human history. COVID-19 happened in an era of widespread social media which helped the general population to understand the disease better and faster. However, the public also formulated an opinion a…