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Moderate Respiratory Illness Activity in Iowa
The CDC tracks respiratory illness and there is moderate activity in Iowa according the data tracker. The weekly snapshot as of December 1, 2023 shows highlights including: “COVID-19 test positivity (percentage of tests conducted that were positive), emergency department visits, and hospitalizations have increased nationally. A group of Omicron variants (XBB and its sublineages) are the…
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Update on CDC Recommendation for Adult RSV Vaccination
I just checked to see if the Iowa Board of Pharmacy rules had changed about the recommendation that a physician and patient shared decision-making discussion should help clarify whether and why a prescription would be necessary to enable a patient over the age of 60 years to get the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. I…
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CDC Update on Covid-19 Variant BA.2.86
I saw a news item headline which mentioned Covid-19 Variant. BA.2.86. The CDC website tracking respiratory variants has a definitive update as of November 27, 2023: “What to know about BA.2.86 The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing over time. Sometimes these changes allow new variants to spread more quickly or effectively. If that occurs, the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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!
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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!
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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…
