Category: health care

  • A Study Shows Mindfulness Is Non-Inferior to SSRI for Anxiety Disorders And What the Heck Does That Mean?

    A Study Shows Mindfulness Is Non-Inferior to SSRI for Anxiety Disorders And What the Heck Does That Mean?

    I ran across this study showing Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is “noninferior” to escitalopram in the treatment of adults with anxiety disorders. I passed my Biostatistics course in medical school—barely. I have been practicing MBSR daily (for the most part) since 2014 when I really needed to address my struggle with burnout. I’m probably…

  • When Should Psychiatrists Retire?

    When Should Psychiatrists Retire?

    In answer to the question in the title, I’ll confess right away I don’t know the answer. The impetus for my writing this post is the Medscape article about an 84-year-old physician who was forced to take a cognitive test required by her employer as a way of gauging her ability to continue working as…

  • New CDC Campaign to Help Health Care Worker Burnout

    New CDC Campaign to Help Health Care Worker Burnout

    The JAMA network published a brief report on the new CDC campaign to help health care workers reduce burnout and encourage well-being. An excerpt: “Rather than focusing on what individual clinicians can do differently to improve their well-being, a new campaign by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the US Centers for…

  • New Step Platform for Climbing Stairs Exercise!

    New Step Platform for Climbing Stairs Exercise!

    Yesterday we got the new aerobic step platform for cardiovascular health enhancement exercise. As I reported in October, climbing stairs can be very helpful in promoting cardiovascular health. This article summarizes the findings. At least 5 flights (around 50 steps of 10 stair steps) is said to be beneficial. I climbed a lot of stairs…

  • Be Kind to Yourself and Your Loved Ones During the Upcoming Holidays

    Be Kind to Yourself and Your Loved Ones During the Upcoming Holidays

    The CDC has recommendations for how to protect you and your loved one this holiday season. And remember this is Kindness Week!

  • University of Iowa Quick Facts About the Flu

    University of Iowa Quick Facts About the Flu

    The University of Iowa has the latest quick facts about the flu and how to protect yourself. Now you’re in the know!

  • Darned Rhinorrhea Interrupting People

    Darned Rhinorrhea Interrupting People

    I’ve been having a runny nose recently that is intermittent and often related to eating hot foods. I have to get up from the dinner table and blow my nose, especially if we’re having hot soups or chili. I’ve been making fun of it, saying it’s caused by the nasal hair condensation index. You could…

  • Food for Thought

    Food for Thought

    I’m giving a shout-out to a couple of child psychiatrists, one I know only from a blog, The Good Enough Psychiatrist. The other is an assistant professor in the University of Iowa Child Psychiatry Dept. I’ve never met her. Since Jenna gives her name in the About Me section of her blog, I’m going to…

  • CDC Educates About Covid-19 Variants

    CDC Educates About Covid-19 Variants

    Sometimes I see news about Covid-19 variants. They typically sound alarming. The CDC has posted an update on Covid-19 variants that is reassuring. There will always be variants. Not all will be serious threats. According to the update: “While new variants like BA.2.86 and JN.1 attract attention, right now, 99 percent of SARS-CoV-2 variants are part…

  • CDC on How to Get Flu, Covid-19, and RSV Vaccines

    CDC on How to Get Flu, Covid-19, and RSV Vaccines

    The latest update on how to get the respiratory viruses vaccines is updated on the CDC website. Highlights: