You’ve undoubtedly heard the buzzwords: ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting. I don’t have much of an opinion about what that all does for your waistline, but I venture to say that ketones may benefit your brain. Some doctors have recommend…
Category: Conditions
What’s trying to start the next pandemic? AI drug discovery and the quest for a pan-antiviral drug
As the world continues to navigate the challenges posed by respiratory viruses, recent developments have highlighted the urgency of advancing our therapeutic arsenal, particularly in the realm of broad-spectrum antivirals. 1. Winter is here. It is wint…
Beyond the myths: ADHD explained in powerful comics
An illustrated overview of ADHD, addressing common misconceptions and illustrating the real challenges faced by those with the condition. Through comic strips, the narrative explains the impact of ADHD on executive function and daily life, debunking th…
Uncovering the real story behind opioid prescriptions and deaths
As a non-clinician patient advocate and health care writer, I am frequently reminded of a quotation attributed to Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain): “Figures don’t lie. But liars figure.” I am also aware of a second quotation from economist…
Unlocking the mystery of the “wanting mind”: Transform your yearnings into fulfillment
I remember Christmas Eve as a child. I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to be awake every second until the morning came. I didn’t want to miss anything! But inevitably, I’d arrive at the Christmas tree the next morning, …
The journey to internal balance and self-fulfillment
An excerpt from The Fix Your Depression Handbook. Most of us strive to be happy loving people. Our tendency to look outside ourselves to find acceptance, safety, love, and completion can misdirect our energies, and have us searching for the pathway to …
From Bollywood dreams to bipolar reality: a doctor’s journey
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou Since my teenage years, I have been watching Bollywood movies of all sorts. Maybe people from the subcontinent like them because no one can relate to …
Caring at a cost: workplace violence and my exit from nursing
In 2013, I graduated with a BSN, drawn to nursing by a love for science and a passion for helping others. The promise of good pay, job security, and growth opportunities was a marketing pitch so convincing I never thought to question it. Before my firs…
Prostate cancer privacy vs. public right to know: Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s dilemma
First, a disclaimer. I do not know Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and I am not involved in his medical care. As an academic infectious disease physician, I am ignorant of the internecine hierarchy of the Defense Department. However, I listen to the…
Chicken farming undergoes a radical shift: the rise of cell-cultivated meat
Following in his father’s footsteps, my son is a third-year medical student and by the time he completes his training, cell-cultivated chicken meat may be replacing meat from slaughtered birds. My home state of Alabama is one of the top chicken-p…
