As COVID-19 vaccinations start, we hear a great deal in the press about allergic reactions. Serious reactions to the vaccine are very rare, despite what we hear in the news, but because this is all new, serious monitoring is being performed. It is necessary to remember that the risk of becoming gravely ill from COVID-19…
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Let’s face it. Staying at home is no picnic for most of us. For many people, irritability, boredom, and lethargy ensue so that you’re annoyed most of the time. It’s hard to get out of the slump to do anything except lay around. I myself was shamed into going outside to walk with my family…
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I was excited to read this personal account of race in the medical profession, and it did not disappoint. Dr.Tweedy, a Duke-trained psychiatrist, discusses his experiences from medical school through his training in a white-dominated system. He discusses both his class- and race-based insecurities, being less financially advantaged than his peers. He reviews the disparities…
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Falling is a significant cause of injury and death in older individuals. This article elaborates on risk factors for falls and steps that should be taken to reduce those risks. Between thirty to forty percent of people over 65 and more than fifty percent over the age of 80 fall each year. [i] Many factors contribute…
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Should you have your carotid arteries screened for plaque just because the test is available? The carotid arteries are the large vessels in the neck that carry blood directly from the heart to the brain. Atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup, causes the narrowing of arteries (stenosis) and leads to reduced blood flow. Think of a pipe…
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Many of our common illnesses are viral. What’s the difference between the common cold and “the flu”? First, “the flu” is not one disease. You can get “flu-like” illnesses anytime, but the REAL flu is influenza virus, the very same one you get a “flu shot” for every fall. The influenza vaccine components are determined…
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Recently, concerns have been raised about the potential for calcium supplements to increase the risk for heart disease. On the other hand, we know that calcium intake is important for prevention of osteoporosis, and very few of us have adequate amounts in our diets. Calcium is important for bone health and for many other bodily…
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