An excerpt from Huntington’s Disease Heroes: Inspiring Stories of Resilience from the HD Community. These days as my father’s Huntington’s disease progresses and I take on more and more, I have learned how quickly being a caregiver ca…
Category: Conditions
Breaking the silence on mental health: Why understanding past traumas is key
Depression is a complex and multifaceted illness that affects millions of people worldwide. For a long time, the prevailing explanation for depression has been that a chemical imbalance in the brain causes it, and I, like many other clinicians, accepte…
Childhood obesity in the U.S.: a growing health crisis affecting millions and demanding action from pediatric health care practitioners
Childhood obesity has become a health crisis in the U.S. across all socioeconomic levels. CDC statistics from 2017 through 2020 indicate the following for children and adolescents ages two through 19: Obesity prevalence was 19.7 percent and affected ab…
Unlocking the secrets to aging gracefully: How to keep your spine young
An excerpt from The Spine Encyclopedia: Everything You’ve Wanted to Know about Back and Neck Pain but Were Too Afraid to Ask. As we age, our cells become less functional, and bodily tissues lose the ability to replenish and regenerate. The spine …
From uncertainty to certainty: Finding the cause of seizures in a young patient
It was a Tuesday evening when I received a call from the emergency room that a young lady had been brought in after experiencing seizures. I quickly walked over to the ER, preparing myself for what was to come. As I walked through the entrance, I could…
The secret to staying alert during night shifts: coffee naps and more
Working night shifts in health care, particularly emergency medicine, requires maintaining alertness and focus during extended hours. I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges and risks associated with sleep deprivation, including a frightening i…
Surviving infidelity: a story of strength and hope
I was sitting alone in a rundown trailer in the woods, surrounded by five acres of trees that crowded the blue sky. I had 60 aminophylline pills in my hand, hoping they would end my life. As an asthmatic, I believed that this was the best way to escape…
Fighting for life: inside an emergency room during a medical crisis
The emergency room was bustling with activity as the medical staff worked to stabilize the patient, who was lying unconscious on a hospital bed. His wife sat anxiously by his side, tears streaming down her face. It wasn’t the first time 70-year-o…
Why weight loss drugs are not the answer to obesity
Drugs that cause weight to melt away sound more tempting than chocolate cake, but weight loss drugs won’t cure obesity. And that’s OK, because obesity isn’t a disease to be cured. Obesity is just a risk factor for more important risk …
The true value and power of respect is too often undervalued
Everyone recognizes that respect is essential in critical relationships with colleagues, patients, their families, and others. So why should the topic deserve closer scrutiny? Seven Ways to Fix Policing NOW: Building Trust, Authentic Partnerships, and …
