Conditions

New strategies are needed for mental health treatment

Conditions
March 1, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has made mental health conditions so pervasive that, in turn, the stigma that once accompanied seeking treatment has been minimized. As a result, public attention towards psychological health has skyrocketed. Other factors such as the collective loneliness brought on by continuous isolation have resulted in a newfound willingness for people to speak more freely about their emotional wellbeing without judgment or ridicule. Individuals feel much more compelled …

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Support groups are life-changing for many patients

Conditions
February 27, 2022

“Gimme five,” the TV doctor said to his little patient as he entered the exam room. As I watched this scene in an evening TV program, I was reminded of one of my pediatric practice’s most gratifying stories, which happened over 20 years ago.

Before the days of cellphones, the internet, and social media, I had become the local expert on support groups. After realizing how what I learned from support …

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Is it time to find a new mental health provider?

Conditions
February 25, 2022

The stress and hardship of the ongoing pandemic caused an increase in the number of adults, teens, and children who have sought mental health care recently. More than 23 million American adults received mental health care last year and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children’s Hospital Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry warned of a mental health crisis among children and adolescents.

Of course, the need …

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A soul that never loses faith

Conditions
February 24, 2022

I am so tired. Not in the usual “hard day at work,” but in a “deep-in-my-soul” tired. I am exhausted.

I am heading into my third year as system medical director, where I lead a system-wide palliative medicine program in rural health.

As in many rural systems, we have issues with broad geographic spread coupled with lower population density and limited resources.

But for those of us working in rural health, there is …

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How do we explain the end-of-life rally?

Conditions
February 24, 2022

Granny Rachel, my husband’s mother, was an old country soul. She was a simple lady who loved the Lord.

She accepted me with open arms when my own parents turned their backs on me.

Granny Rachel made the best sweet tea and the best homemade vegetable soup with cornbread and gave unconditional love to all.

She totaled two of her cars twice. Her son would check on her and found multiple candles lit …

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Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children: a pediatric hospitalist’s conversation

Conditions
February 23, 2022

Them: “I have never heard of this.”

Me: “That’s OK, let me explain what is going on. Your child has a condition called multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children, which we call MIS-C. We see this condition after a COVID infection where the whole body becomes inflamed, causing fevers. You get inflammation in the small blood vessels of your eyes and skin, which is why your son has red eyes and a …

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The orphans of COVID: Who will care for them now?

Conditions
February 23, 2022

The 911 call came too late. Her daughter was 32 years old and usually quite healthy. But she refused the COVID vaccinations. She said she took her vitamins and was healthy and that “God is my pilot” and “I don’t want toxins in my body.”

Her mother knew she was running a high fever. She knew she was short of breath frequently … until…

Her 10-year-old grandson couldn’t wake his momma up …

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COVID-19 and a call for unity

Conditions
February 22, 2022

It’s 2022. COVID-19 is still here, and there is little evidence that it’s going away. Coronaviruses have been here longer than us and will be here after us. For centuries, we have co-existed with viruses, and our God-given immune systems have evolved, perfecting our macrophages which fight the nasty microbes. Cytokines or killer chemicals usually put many viruses at bay during our lifecycle, without us even realizing their magnificent work. …

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Balancing care during COVID

Conditions
February 22, 2022

I started this commentary when the initial COVID spike involving the mass hospitalization of unvaccinated individuals occurred, and non-COVID patients requiring hospitalization were turned away because no beds, especially in intensive care, were available.

Some patients traveled hours to find vacant beds, and a few even died! I put the draft aside as COVID declined and hospital beds became available.

Then, Omicron joined Delta, and cases climbed once again. Hospital beds refilled …

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Kissing disease’s link to multiple sclerosis

Conditions
February 21, 2022

In recent decades, mounting evidence has suggested the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a ubiquitous member of the herpes family that causes infectious mononucleosis (a.k.a. the “kissing disease”), can cause multiple sclerosis (MS). Last month, a study published in the journal Science went even further, citing EBV infection as likely the leading cause of MS. It is a compelling connection that begs many questions. For example, if someone has …

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Viral nomenclature or a sign of our times?

Conditions
February 21, 2022

As Pandora’s box of coronavirus opened in 2020, it engulfed our planet into an abysmal nightmare. As darkness fell, those of us in medicine sought refuge under a lamp called “knowledge” that sparked its flame from scientific evidence. But what if medicine and life itself were being written in real-time on a clean slate?

From the get-go, the medical world switched up its protective parental gear.

Moral responsibility got perceived as heroism. …

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A message to new health care professionals

Conditions
February 17, 2022

The health care environment you are about to enter is very different from the one that existed when you entered school. The COVID pandemic has changed us all, but we, the health care providers, have taken one of the biggest hits.

We are exhausted physically, mentally, emotionally, and professionally. Even before the pandemic, we were often short-staffed and now those of us that are left are thankful for any staff, and …

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Misinformation in transgender health care is harming patient care

Conditions
February 16, 2022

Living in the U.S., chances are you get some regular mail that you never signed up for — a magazine, a journal, a sales flier. As medical professionals, we also get these free journals related to our field. We don’t always have the time to fact-check a publication. And with names that appear to be legitimate, we might take information at face value. This is especially true if we are …

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Recognizing high functioning depression

Conditions
February 15, 2022

High functioning depression (or HFD) is the mental health diagnosis given to an individual who exhibits symptoms of high-level depression but manages to maintain overall functionality in life. An HFD person will often engage in activities that would be considered “normal” and healthy for a typical person, maintaining a job and even social relationships (though they may not appear as close and involved as typically expected). However, they might find …

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A random act of kindness on a plane

Conditions
February 14, 2022

My wife and I were on a short flight from Rome to Brindisi in the region called Puglia in the southern part of Italy last year.

As we were starting to taxi down the runway, I heard a child crying a few rows behind us, but it was very different from a baby’s or a normal child’s crying. It reminded me of when I have experienced autistic children screaming, usually from …

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Eating disorders are mental health illnesses that don’t have a certain “look”

Conditions
February 13, 2022

A few days ago, I talked to a mentor and brought up my anorexia recovery journey. Using my voice after years of suffering in silence has been instrumental in releasing myself from the inner torment while trying to create purpose from the pain. When I mentioned my struggle with anorexia, the mentor responded, “How are you doing, now?” followed by one of my most dreaded comments: “I mean … You …

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Why is the world’s first universal coronavirus vaccine not in the FDA’s toolbox?

Conditions
February 11, 2022

Success in any project is based on using the right tool for the job. No tool would be more effective in the campaign against COVID than Covaxin, which has shown its value in India and other markets during recent months. 

While mRNA vaccines were a promising option in the early stages of the pandemic, a study released by the CDC on January 19, 2022 showed that in two of the most …

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