Fear sells healthcareIn our predominately for-profit healthcare system, fear sells products.
Every day I read an article or listen to a news story about cancer. Breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, liver cancer, mouth cancer, ovarian cancer…I often feel like a ticking time bomb!
It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by the grim statistics being tossed around by marketers. Then we live in fear, become anxious and … read on
I rarely start my holiday shopping until mid December. But I keep a gift list throughout the year, and when I see an item I think is perfect for a certain friend or family member, I write it down.
Many of the gifts I give are those I’ve used myself: books I’ve read, games I’ve played, or other products I use regularly.
I like giving gifts with a healthy twist … read on
Are we living, or just not dying?I just finished reading Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer by Barbara Ehrenreich.
She’s also the author of Nickel and Dimed, a book about welfare reform and the quest for fair wages. So I was surprised to learn that she has a PhD in cellular biology!
Ehrenreich brings her scientific chops to … read on
Brain on Fire: My Month of MadnessI wrote this post two years ago, but the movie is now available on Netflix. It’s worth watching, although the book goes into much more detail so I definitely recommend you read it, too, if you like medical mysteries. FN
As a twenty-something cub reporter in New York, Ms. Cahalan began experiencing strange, seemingly unconnected symptoms, such as forgetfulness, paranoia and the sensation … read on
When did medicine become “healthcare”?I recently read Slow Medicine: The Way to Healing by Victoria Sweet, MD.
The book’s introduction captured my attention immediately. In it, Dr. Sweet describes the downward spiral her elderly father suffered when he was admitted to a hospital.
At 90-something he was in pretty good health; in an ironic turn, the hospital almost killed him with unnecessary diagnostic tests and prescription drugs.
Even though … read on
Mahjongg for stress reliefFor more than five years, one of my best friends has been battling ovarian cancer. A fierce fighter (and fabulous friend), she has endured surgeries and several rounds of chemotherapy to keep this grim disease at bay. Her oncologist monitors her condition with the blood test CA-125.
Early last summer, her CA-125 began creeping up into the “let’s watch it but not get too excited—yet” territory. … read on
Thank a nurse this week 😊This is National Nurses Week, so I wanted to give a shout out to all my fellow nurses.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to your patients, even though I know it’s often under very difficult circumstances.
There continues to be a nursing shortage in this country, but nursing schools don’t have enough slots for all the young men and women … read on
Reading is my favorite pastime 🙂There are so many great healthcare books! I’m excited to share some of my favorite reads to celebrate World Book Day (which was actually yesterday, but whatever).
Some books are very informative and can help us get better care from our doctors, or guide our health decisions, or keep us safe in the hospital.
Others help us change our lifestyles to sleep better, eat … read on
“Life After the Diagnosis”Last week one of my family members was diagnosed with a serious illness.
My niece, a physician in San Francisco, recommended a book written by one of her colleagues: Life After the Diagnosis: Expert Advice on Living Well with Serious Illness for Patients and Caregivers.
I immediately bought myself a copy, too. (If you’ve followed my blog, you know I’m an advocate of hospice, palliative care … read on
Even doctors have trouble—if they’re the patientIf you like reading books about medical mysteries and hospital disasters, then you’ll love In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope, by Dr. Rana Awdish.
In short, Dr. Awdish, an ICU physician, ends up a patient in her own ICU. Her story is a beautifully written, but horrific, page-turner. We see her as a vulnerable … read on