She walked in with a cane, bent over like a question mark. She was in her seventies and as sweet as people in that age group tend to be. I think most of the cranky ones don’t make it that far. She was something of an emergency because her doctor …
Category: Conditions
Physicians have a hidden addiction treatment superpower
When it comes to addiction treatment, doctors have a superpower. Even if you’re not board certified in addiction (most of us are not), you possess knowledge and skills uniquely suited to caring for patients with addiction. Many professions purpor…
Navigating chronic diseases and menopause: healthier habits for aging
An excerpt from The Menopause Menu. Whether it’s heart disease or cognitive decline, arthritis or diabetes, getting older is linked to an increased incidence of many different chronic diseases. The menopausal journey adds an extra layer of health…
A new approach shifts thought patterns to improve mood
Imagine this … You’re shown a number of words one after another: “lettuce, tomato, green, head, vegetable, cabbage, carrot, food, leaf, salad, hamburger.” Then, you’re shown a different set of words: “thread, needle, shot,…
Insurance struggles in pediatric headache care
Most of the time, I enjoy my job as a pediatric nurse practitioner working with chronic headache and pain patients. I enjoy the relationships with the families, figuring out what can help manage the headaches and life issues best to allow optimal funct…
The complexities of healing and faith
As a physician, there are moments during the day when you must deliver a disheartening diagnosis to your patient: pancreatic cancer, ALS, leukemia, and unfortunately, the list goes on. The patient must face the harsh realities that are now placed befor…
Unveiling the inner dynamics behind high achievers’ success
In the realm of leadership development, an array of groundbreaking initiatives is surfacing, igniting profound transformations on multiple fronts. Resilience programs, in particular, are equipping leaders with the agility to navigate our fast-paced wor…
Support your local plasmapheresis center
Every day, thousands of people lie on a couch and have their arm stabbed with a large needle. Blood from the venipuncture snakes down into a container. In some individuals, this continues until the volume is about a pint – 500 mL; for this, they get a …
Diversified treatments are needed to fight the increasing threat of liver cancer
Since the mid-1970s, rates for liver cancer have been on the rise. A 2017 study found that liver cancer increased by 75 percent worldwide between 1990 and 2015, with the highest rate increases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Worldwi…
A doctor’s genuine approach to medication-assisted therapy patients
This past week, I was speaking with a patient; let’s call her Marcy, during her regular appointment. “You’re just not like other doctors,” she said. “How is that?” I asked. This seems like a good place to discuss the…
