Diagnostic error is a difficult issue to track in the emergency department (ED). For a good reason, too: The patient population is so transient it’s difficult to detect a “missed” diagnosis. It’s less readily apparent than medic…
Category: Conditions
Wisdom for new nurses: lessons from a 30-year ICU veteran
Dear new nurse graduate, Welcome to a world unlike any other—a world brimming with happiness, sadness, confusion, self-doubt, defeat, and heroism. You’ve just stepped onto the first rung of a ladder that reaches into the unknown. Nursing is not e…
How society forgets the invisible elderly and why their stories matter
Age should not define a person or diminish respect from others. There is a generation of people overlooked every day, and little attention is paid to this growing problem. As people age, they may become less visible within their communities. It can see…
A silent killer in our midst: Tackling hypertension in Ghana
On a seemingly ordinary Sunday evening, a casual conversation with my mother took a terrifying turn. She mentioned a sudden, excruciating headache that had woken her from a nap. My medical training immediately raised red flags. Despite no prior history…
Navigating the uncertainty of food allergies in air travel: a call for compassion and change
Food allergies are a serious, life-threatening medical condition that remains widely misunderstood. For millions of travelers with food allergies, navigating airline policies is an unpredictable challenge, where inconsistent accommodations and societal…
The role generative AI can play in cardiovascular education for patients
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic in health care, capturing headlines for its ability to solve diagnostic mysteries and even outperform trained physicians in specific tasks. While we are still far from going to your local AI “doct…
Super Bowl betting: How America’s favorite game fuels gambling addiction
Gambling as a recreational activity is on the rise. This is Super Bowl weekend, and it is expected to be one of the largest sports betting events in U.S. history, with tens of millions of Americans predicted to wager billions of dollars on this event. …
How drug companies turned “depression” into a billion-dollar industry
Once upon a time, anxiety was anxiety. Maybe you were going for a root canal, taking a flight when you were a nervous flier, or meeting your in-laws for the first time, so you had “nerves.” That was then. Sensing an untapped market, drugmak…
Finding freedom through gratitude and resilience
The sun was out, casting a warm glow over the world as the snow melted into slush. The air was crisp, invigorating, as I leashed up my pups for their morning half-mile walk. Today, I had an extra companion, another pup I was babysitting, turning my duo…
Discover how B.K.S. Iyengar transformed yoga into a holistic healing practice
It is a Tuesday morning in the city of Pune, India. The incessant rain has taken a short break. The first floor of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute is alive with a group of students. In a quiet corner, B.K.S. Iyengar is practicing yoga. His…
