Category: Conditions

How vaccine hesitancy is bringing back deadly childhood diseases

Measles was first identified as a virus in the early 20th century. This disease caused significant morbidity and mortality. A measles vaccine was first introduced in 1963, using a live virus strain developed from a child who had measles. In the 1970s a…

How vaccine hesitancy is bringing back deadly childhood diseases

Measles was first identified as a virus in the early 20th century. This disease caused significant morbidity and mortality. A measles vaccine was first introduced in 1963, using a live virus strain developed from a child who had measles. In the 1970s a…

The key to longevity: fitness, mindset, and nutrition

An excerpt from Embracing Fitness as You Age: Maintaining a Healthy and Active Lifestyle Beyond Sixty. We do not often hear that joy, vitality, and physical strength can thrive after age sixty. In a society that idolizes youth, people too often assume …

How self-care makes you a better parent

An excerpt from Lighthouse Parenting: Raising Your Child With Loving Guidance for a Lifelong Bond published by American Academy of Pediatrics. Your well-being allows you to be emotionally available for your child. Full stop. Children demonstrate they c…

From heroes to burnout: How we failed our frontline health workers

An excerpt from Health Care Nation. Of all the lessons learned from fighting a pandemic, none was more frightening or important than discovering how dependent the system is on how we treat our doctors, nurses, and frontline caregivers. They were alread…

Hidden infections: Are bats a missing link in the Countess of Chester tragedy?

As you should know, bats carry Histoplasma capsulatum and shed it in their feces (along with Aspergillus and other fungi, bacteria, and viruses). They evolved to deal with the photophobia and tinnitus it causes by hunting at night using echolocation. B…

The hidden crisis in health care: How corporate greed is destroying patient care

I grew up in a medical family, primary care. I’ve worked in the medical field for 40 years, from the front office to the back, lab to radiology. I’ve been a registered nurse for 33 years and a family nurse practitioner for 30 years. I have …

When protocol kills: a tragic lesson from the ER

My wife once told me, “It was like everyone was your friend.” And she may be right. I connect well with others and take an honest interest in them. In practice, I always ask where they are from. I find that a great opener, and even Alzheime…

The personalization of cancer care in 2025

In the past 50 years, cancer in many cases has morphed from a certain death sentence into a chronic illness. However, cancer is unlike other chronic conditions. There are hundreds of different cancers, classified by where they start in the body and how…

Why patients need a registered dietitian on their health care team

How’s your cholesterol? Are you getting enough protein? Do you even know? Whether you’re a doctor, a patient, or both, you may be missing out on the powerful benefits of a registered dietitian. Recently, I received lab results that were concernin…