A life-changing illness started with a popcorn kernel and just-in-case treatment

Conditions
November 7, 2023

My decade-long struggle began with a tiny piece of popcorn hull stuck under my gum, which led to a visit to the dentist and an antibiotic, prescribed just in case that persistent irritation behind a tooth was an infection. The antibiotic, clindamycin, cleared my gut of healthy microbes to make way for a dangerous outbreak of Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile, leaving me with severe diarrhea that nearly killed me.

I suffered …

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A life-changing illness started with a popcorn kernel and just-in-case treatment

Social media’s impact on mental health [PODCAST]

Podcast
November 6, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us as we explore the profound impact of social media on mental health, particularly among young people, with our guest, Mohammed Umer Waris. As a family medicine resident, Mohammed brings a unique perspective on the intersection …

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Social media’s impact on mental health [PODCAST]

Encountering a gentle soul amidst stomach cancer

Conditions
November 6, 2023

It was the final hour of my shift, and I was cleaning up for my colleague who would be taking over. Glancing at the clock, I decided I could see one of the “easy” fast-track patients just to help offload the board a bit. I figured he wasn’t going to take long, as his complaint on the board was “sore throat.” What I came to find out was that he …

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Encountering a gentle soul amidst stomach cancer

Antisemitism is at a historic high not just in other countries, but right here in America

Physician
November 6, 2023

October 7, much like Pearl Harbor or September 11, 2001, is a day that will forever be etched in infamy for Israel and Jews worldwide. Not since the Holocaust have so many Jewish people been killed in a single day. This was not a random act; it was a meticulously planned and incentivized scheme aimed at obstructing the progress of peace in the Middle East. Brutality, depravity, and inhumanity were …

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Antisemitism is at a historic high not just in other countries, but right here in America

A surprising acne rosacea remedy

Conditions
November 6, 2023

I have typically managed my mild case of acne rosacea (AR) with affordable over-the-counter (OTC) medications, but there has always been a residual redness that bothered me.

Recently, while reading about Demodex, microscopic mites that live on the faces of many of us in our hair follicles and sebaceous glands, I became interested in their potential connection to AR. I wondered if a topical mitocidal treatment might be helpful. Some research …

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A surprising acne rosacea remedy

Empowering health care professionals through mindfulness [PODCAST]

Podcast
November 5, 2023
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

We delve into the critical issue of physician burnout and the transformative power of mindfulness in health care. Our guest, Seema Desai, a dentist and life coach, shares her expertise on how mindfulness can benefit health care …

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Empowering health care professionals through mindfulness [PODCAST]

The real story behind Woodstock is not the brown acid

Physician
November 5, 2023

In my search for ever-obscure rock music from my generation – not the greatest generation but the flower generation – I came across a CD collection of rare songs titled “Brown Acid: The Seventeenth Trip,” appropriately subtitled: “Heavy Rock from the Underground Comedown.” The record review began as follows: “Lucky number 17? You better believe it. We here at Brown Acid have been scouring the highways and byways of America …

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The real story behind Woodstock is not the brown acid

Expertise about a drug doesn’t make you an expert about the stock

Finance
November 5, 2023

As doctors, we are highly skilled in our respective specialties, but when it comes to managing our finances and investments, we may encounter unique challenges. One common pitfall is the tendency to invest heavily in medical stocks or health care-related assets due to familiarity and overconfidence. Just because we know a disease or drug doesn’t mean we can make a good decision on the stock of a company. Even if …

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Expertise about a drug doesn’t make you an expert about the stock

From compassionate care to corporate medicine: Physicians speak out

Physician
November 5, 2023

Four years ago, I (JEL) had just finished a fellowship and was elated to start my dream job in a physician-owned and operated group practice. The doctors in the group were tight-knit supporters of each other and the local community. Right away, I began building meaningful relationships with the patients and colleagues that I thought would be with me for decades. But without warning, in year two, the group’s senior …

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From compassionate care to corporate medicine: Physicians speak out

A surgeon without health care

Physician
November 4, 2023

I’m squished in an unnaturally upright seat. My elbows slowly develop pressure sores atop rigid armrests, with my wife on one side and a semi-uncomfortable stranger on the other. I stare at my lopsided gray tray table, sporting a Styrofoam cup of lukewarm coffee, the chalice special of Sky Chefs. My ears have become one with the perpetual background hum of engines, a prelude to the impending orchestra of jet …

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A surgeon without health care

Not all physicians are nice

Policy
November 4, 2023

I have been representing physicians for over 40 years, and the vast majority of the people I work with are genuinely nice. Overworked, stressed, sometimes distracted – yes, but most physicians entered the profession because they were sincerely concerned about people and wanted to help. Medicine can be a truly thankless job, and the vast majority of physicians don’t pursue it solely for the money.

Unfortunately, this characterization of physicians is …

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Not all physicians are nice

Rising nurse practitioner burnout: charting and work-life balance

Conditions
November 4, 2023

Nurse practitioner (NP) burnout is at an all-time high. Many nurse practitioners (and health care providers in general) are struggling right now, feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. Many are contemplating leaving health care altogether. The factors contributing to nurse practitioner burnout are multifactorial, stemming from various personal and work-related causes. However, for APRNs, there is a leading cause of burnout.

Signs and symptoms of nurse practitioner burnout:

Before we delve into …

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Rising nurse practitioner burnout: charting and work-life balance

Exploring changing definitions of addiction [PODCAST]

Podcast
November 3, 2023
YouTube video

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Join L. Joseph Parker, a research physician, as we delve into the evolving definitions of addiction, particularly in the context of chronic pain management. Explore the historical shifts in diagnostic criteria, the challenges faced by chronic pain …

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Exploring changing definitions of addiction [PODCAST]

We all make mistakes. Don’t let them define you.

Physician
November 3, 2023

We are human and we all make mistakes. It’s an inherent part of our nature. It’s easy to get caught up in the belief that our mistakes define us or determine our worth; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

As physicians, mistakes often serve as the uninvited guests in our otherwise meticulously planned professional lives. Yet, it is crucial to recognize that these errors are not stamps of incompetence …

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We all make mistakes. Don’t let them define you.

Can ketamine and SSRIs offer a complete depression treatment?

Meds
November 3, 2023

We have a problem with current recommendations for depression treatment. Thirty-five percent of patients will not go into remission or get any relief at all from SSRIs and SNRIs. And even when it does work, it takes about six weeks to start having an effect.

The prevailing theory was that serotonin, abbreviated 5-HT, was the “satisfaction” neurotransmitter. Just as dopamine has been considered the pleasure neurotransmitter. Using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors …

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Can ketamine and SSRIs offer a complete depression treatment?

The “little voice” physician burnout survey

Physician
November 3, 2023

If your conscious mind is asking, “Is this what burnout feels like?” your little voice already has the answer.

One of the things physicians ask me on our coaching discovery call is whether or not I think they are burned out.

They want a second opinion from a fellow doctor. That’s a natural instinct, and yet, my opinion is completely irrelevant in the arc of their life as a physician.

What matters is …

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The “little voice” physician burnout survey

The critical link between America’s obesity epidemic and the liver

Conditions
November 3, 2023

Obesity has undeniably become the top health issue of our time, with its prevalence and impact on our bodies making headlines across health care and popular media.

This isn’t merely a matter of carrying extra pounds; it’s about the multitude of serious health complications that come in its wake. The conversation around obesity often gravitates towards heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Still, another critical aspect frequently slips under the radar – …

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The critical link between America’s obesity epidemic and the liver

Communication in health care: lessons from a standardized patient [PODCAST]

Podcast
November 2, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Esther Covington, a professional standardized patient. Esther shares her firsthand experiences, shedding light on the critical role communication, empathy, and assumptions play in medical education. We delve into the impact of assumptions on patient care, the …

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Communication in health care: lessons from a standardized patient [PODCAST]

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