Category: health care

  • Thoughts on Long Covid

    Thoughts on Long Covid

    I read Dr. Ron Pies, MD’s essay today, “What Long COVID Can Teach Psychiatry—and Its Critics.” As usual, he made thought- provoking points about the disease concept in psychiatry. What I also found interesting was the connection he made with Long Covid, a debilitating illness. He cited someone else I know who was involved with…

  • Sena + Prune Juice = Space Trip?

    Sena + Prune Juice = Space Trip?

    Sena has been drinking her prune juice and I presume she’s regular. Besides that, she could be an excellent astronaut.  There was a small study by scientists that seemed to show that mice who ate prunes could be protected from space radiation. I think you’d have to eat a lot of prunes for that. Being…

  • Svengoolie Movie Next Saturday “Invaders from Mars” Triggers Memories!

    Svengoolie Movie Next Saturday “Invaders from Mars” Triggers Memories!

    The Svengoolie TV show movie next Saturday will be “Invaders from Mars” released in 1953 and it triggered some memories. One of them is when I was a little kid. I think I saw parts of it on TV while I was supposed to be down for a nap. I recall seeing these burly guys…

  • CDC ACIP Meeting Today on Covid-19 Vaccine

    CDC ACIP Meeting Today on Covid-19 Vaccine

    We watched the Covid-19 vaccine part of today’s meeting this morning. I thought it got off to sort of a rough start, mainly with technical difficulties. I can’t recall any other meetings in which the camera flipped back and forth oddly between speakers and their slides. I thought that was distracting. The question-and-answer periods ran…

  • Sena Gets her Measles Vaccine-and Will Not Be Defeated!

    Sena Gets her Measles Vaccine-and Will Not Be Defeated!

    Sena got a measles vaccine booster today just to be on the safe side given the increase in the number of measles cases all over the country, including Iowa. The history of the measles vaccine is fascinating by the way. It can make it challenging to figure out who might need a booster. Despite the…

  • CDC Advisory Committee Meeting on Vaccines Starts Tomorrow

    CDC Advisory Committee Meeting on Vaccines Starts Tomorrow

    The CDC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES (ACIP) is scheduled to begin their meeting tomorrow at 10:00 AM ET despite US Senator Bill Cassidy’s recommendation that it be postponed due to concerns about the lack of experience of the committee members and because there is not yet confirmation of a new CDC Director. In fact,…

  • More Mall Walking for Everyone!

    More Mall Walking for Everyone!

    I don’t get out often to the mall to do mall walking, but I did today. I put on a little over 2.5 miles on my step counter. Mall walking is OK for exercise although I have to drive over there. Right next door to the entrance to the mall is the outdoor entrance to…

  • University of Minnesota CIDRAP Story on CDC ACIP Meeting Next Week

    University of Minnesota CIDRAP Story on CDC ACIP Meeting Next Week

    The University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) posted a news report about the upcoming CDC ACIP meeting next Wednesday. Apparently, so far the new advisory committee draft agenda does not include a vote on the Covid-19 vaccine.

  • Extreme Heat Watch in Eastern Iowa This Weekend!

    Extreme Heat Watch in Eastern Iowa This Weekend!

    There is a Heat Advisory forecast for much of Eastern Iowa this weekend. Temperatures could be above 100 degrees with the heat index. Plan accordingly and be aware of National Weather Service alerts.

  • Sit and Rise Exercise Related to Longevity?

    Sit and Rise Exercise Related to Longevity?

    I just read a few news articles and saw a couple of videos on something called the sit and rise or sitting rising exercise. It’s not the same as the sit to stand exercise, which is how many times you stand up from a chair without falling down after drinking several beers. The sit and…