It was November 2014. I was leaving the parking structure of my local children’s hospital when I realized, “They don’t believe us.” I didn’t know it at the time, but it would take seven more months to find the cause of my …
Category: Conditions
The overlooked impact of childbirth: hidden pelvic floor damage
Most women, about 60 percent of us, have a biological child. And while the birth of a child is often eagerly anticipated at the end of pregnancy, there are common concerns about the impact and process of delivery. Women worry about all kinds of things….
Confronting colon cancer: a daughter’s regretful journey
My mother. 63 years old. Colon cancer. She first noticed rectal bleeding. She made excuses. Maybe it’s hemorrhoids. She put her physician on a pedestal. He said, “You’re too young to die,” and there was no need for further tests…
The abuser’s playbook: the weaponization of mental health
I almost didn’t write this piece. Almost. I feared it might be seen as provocative like I was asking for trouble. But that is exactly the attitude that has silenced victims of harassment and stalking for too long. The short version of the story i…
How microplastics harm your health
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a paper titled “Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events,” which detected the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in carotid artery plaque, wi…
Autoimmune disease flares: stress, grief, and management tips
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues in the body. More than 80 recognized autoimmune diseases exist, including alopecia areata, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, celiac …
Fighting for choice in dementia deaths
Last month, the daughters of Wendy Miller, a 68-year-old author of three bestselling books about her experience with dementia, posted online her final words: “In the end, I died simply by deciding not to eat or drink anymore.” Her stark sta…
Breaking through the cobwebs of dementia
“Some memories are unforgettable, remaining ever vivid and heartwarming!” – Joseph B. Wirthlin I love my role as a hospice volunteer mostly because I enjoy meeting the patients and hearing their life stories. I heard a tale from the V…
Why minorities need more representation in breast cancer research
I’ve always been interested in democratizing health care and have tried to incorporate this in my image-guided therapeutics research. As a health care CEO, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to broaden my research scope and examine a personal area of i…
Nurse burnout: causes, symptoms, and solutions by gender and generation
Burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Burnout occurs gradually over time and has three fundamental symptoms: Exhaustion is feeling physically and emotionally exhausted and can be related t…
