Understanding autoimmune flares: triggers, symptoms, and treatment options

Conditions
June 5, 2024

Just when you think your autoimmune disease(s) are calming down and you feel better, a dramatic worsening of disease signs and symptoms can happen without warning. They are unpredictable and disruptive, and can cause a disturbing influence in your every attempt to feel well.

Taking medications, following a healthy diet and exercise program, and getting enough sleep don’t seem to stop “flares.” These are the markers of autoimmune disease activity, meaning …

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It is time to change the conversation and eliminate the stigma attached to diabetes

Conditions
June 5, 2024

The Canadian federal government’s decision to cover diabetes medication and devices under its new pharmacare plan is a significant step forward in improving the quality of life for the millions of Canadians with diabetes, especially those who struggle to afford treatments.

However, access to medication and devices is not the only factor affecting the well-being of those living with diabetes. That title may be reserved for something we don’t …

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Navigating the challenges of breast cancer-related lymphedema

Conditions
June 5, 2024

As advancements in breast cancer treatments have led to improved patient survival rates, the focus has begun to shift to addressing the significant long-term side effects, particularly lymphedema. This condition, often resulting from cancer therapies, presents substantial health care challenges and negatively impacts patients’ quality of life. With a staggering up to 82 percent of breast cancer patients having a risk factor for developing limb lymphedema due to treatment, …

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Dance, play, heal: a nurse’s guide to processing trauma [PODCAST]

Podcast
June 4, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us as we sit down with Tara Rynders, a nurse, dancer, and choreographer, as she shares her journey of healing and resilience in the face of trauma. From her experiences in nursing …

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Why every picture tells a medical story

Physician
June 4, 2024

The ancient adage, “Every picture paints a story,” is a testament to the power of visual imagery in conveying narratives, emotions, and ideas. This phrase encapsulates the ability of images to tell tales without using a single word, to transport viewers to different realities, and to evoke a myriad of emotions. However, the communicative power of stories should not be underestimated either. In fact, stories can paint pictures just as …

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Costly care vs. cutting-edge treatments: the state of cancer today

Conditions
June 4, 2024

For decades, many patients, their children, and grandkids have strived to answer, “What is cancer?” As a doctor and scientist, over the past 16 months, I have learned the latest cancer information from experts at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and MD Anderson in Houston. With that, I have also become aware some patients are either denied state-of-the-art care or just kept in the dark about potential treatment because it is …

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Resident struggles: How hierarchical health care systems impact IMGs

Physician
June 4, 2024

Residents, particularly international medical graduates (IMGs), often navigate a challenging position within health care institutions, where hierarchical structures overshadow their authority and autonomy. This dynamic can leave residents feeling disempowered and vulnerable, underscoring the importance of understanding their rights and protections within their programs. For IMGs, cultural and systemic differences may further amplify these challenges, making knowledge of their rights especially crucial as they enter residency programs.

As a final-year resident, …

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A doctor’s broken heart: lessons learned from a failed relationship

Physician
June 4, 2024

It was something out of an Indian Bollywood movie. My best friend, Raj, found a girl he liked and was completely captivated by her. We had never seen Raj with such a glow – but for our group of friends, we knew something was different with Raj, and I dare say he was in “love.” For reference, he is the kind of man who is honest, loyal, trustworthy, and …

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AI-powered surveillance in China and the U.S.

Tech
June 4, 2024

Today, in China, if you walk across the street where you are not supposed to, expect a ticket to arrive in the mail.  Somehow. Out of all the faces in China. An AI-monitored camera will see you and report your crime to the authorities. Lately, these fines have been coming almost instantly by text message. This is not just about pedestrian safety, though that will be the …

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An infamous medical malpractice case

Physician
June 4, 2024

Byrom vs. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, a lawsuit tried in Maryland in July 2019, is this infamous case. It concerns the failure to perform a cesarean section and brain damage in a 25-week-old infant. It resulted in the largest malpractice verdict ever recorded in the United States, $229 million.

After the trial, a spokesperson for Johns Hopkins revealed that the discussion of some facts during the trial was limited by …

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Physician burnout: Escape the rat race with unconventional careers [PODCAST]

Podcast
June 3, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us as preventive medicine physician Sylvie Stacy shares insights on why physicians often feel stuck in the relentless pursuit of success and what we can do about it. We’ll delve into the …

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How doctors can use the Augusta Rule to save on taxes

Finance
June 3, 2024

Do you own a home? If so, you have an opportunity to generate tax-free income using the “Augusta Rule.” Named after its original scenario where residents of Augusta, Georgia, rent out their homes during the annual Masters golf tournament, this rule offers a valuable opportunity to earn tax-free income and deductions you don’t have to pay for by renting out your personal residence or vacation home.

Let’s dive into the Augusta …

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Can we afford to lose nurses? The economic argument for change

Policy
June 3, 2024

The medical alert blared over the hospital’s public announcement system. Someone was down in the medical office building. A medical team, including myself and a doctor, rushed with a portable cot to find a man in his early 30s unconscious on the waiting room floor.

The man hadn’t been feeling well and was waiting to see his doctor when he passed out. We whisked him to the ER, and I …

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Can AI save the medical profession?

Tech
June 3, 2024

I was working in a busy GP clinic when I finished seeing my last patient for the day, and I felt a sense of relief that the day was over; however, that relief was quickly overshadowed by the daunting mountain of paperwork I needed to complete before I could go home. In general practice, this work pattern is becoming expected practice throughout the profession. GPs routinely spend 1 to 3 …

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How a physician mom reclaimed her life [PODCAST]

Podcast
June 2, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us in this insightful podcast episode featuring Sarah Wittry, a hospice and palliative care physician, and Kim Downey, a physical therapist. Sarah shares her journey of navigating burnout, finding balance, and embracing …

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The diversity-performance trade-off in academic medicine

Education
June 2, 2024

The Federal Aviation Administration’s “What We Do” webpage describes the FAA’s primary purpose: “We’re responsible for the safety of civil aviation … We issue and enforce regulations and minimum standards … [and] certify airmen.” In addition to those primary goals, the FAA has adopted a secondary objective, which was codified into law by presidential executive order: to increase the racial diversity of its workforce. As early as 2013, …

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Geriatric oncology: challenges and rewards of treating elderly cancer patients

Conditions
June 2, 2024

If anyone asks me, “What part of oncology do you hate the most?” I would definitely answer without much thought, “geriatric oncology.” I think that’s the most difficult specialty because it needs extraordinary skills and patience to deal with elderly patients dealing with cancer. Although cancer is much more prevalent in the elderly, their needs are quite different compared to other adult patients. They are mostly very weak and malnourished, …

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Embracing innovation in the digitized operating room

Tech
June 2, 2024

In modern medicine, the operating room epitomizes precision, expertise, and innovation. While we’ve made incredible advancements in medical science and patient care in recent decades, operating rooms have faced their share of challenges, from inefficiencies to outdated technology. However, the OR is poised for transformation as health care embraces computational care and digitization, revolutionizing surgical practice and patient care.

The traditional challenges in operating rooms encompass various issues, such as technical …

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Why hospitals are losing money on primary care [PODCAST]

Podcast
June 1, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us for an insightful discussion on the current state of primary care in hospitals and the emergence of direct primary care (DPC) as a transformative solution. Our guest, Christopher Habig, co-founder and …

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Why pelvic floor disorders deserve more attention

Conditions
June 1, 2024

She’s the reason I pee when I sneeze. She’s the reason I fart when I walk. And yet, I would give birth to my daughter again, a thousand times over. And that, I think, is the crux of the cross we bear as mothers — bearing children and, specifically, bearing down.

As a resident, I attended the Pelvic Floor Symposiums held by my institution. They were fascinating discussions led by …

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