I took a few classes during college that dealt specifically with cancer and I often wondered to myself, "When will researchers find a cure for cancer?" It seems like it is getting so close! This is an interesting article about finding a cure for cancers of the blood.
It seems like most people have definite opinions on the use of marijuana as medicine. Some think it is a great way to relieve chronic pain issues and swear by it. Others feel like it should still be considered illegal because the DEA hasn't found scientific benefits of its use as a medication. What do you think? Check out what the federal government and the DEA have to say on this topic.
About 36 million people were living with HIV in 2015. Will there ever be a cure for this rapidly mutating virus? The United Nations has committed to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Is this possible? See where the AIDS epidemic is at now, and check out the progress researchers are making on a cure.
If my kids ever need surgery, these are definitely the doctors I would want! They are genuinely concerned about their pediatric patients and their experience surrounding surgery. Is this the scariest experience they'll ever have? How can we make this a little less nerve racking?
I have friends who have asked me about my opinion on the flu vaccine and whether or not it works. Many people swear that they get sick after having the vaccine, which should be a dead virus. I always have to get the vaccine (and want it) in order to work in the hospital. We take care of many flu patients so I figure, "Why not?" But does the flu vaccine actually work? This followup to last year's flu vaccine is quite interesting.
I started reading this article and thought, "Oh, another dieting tactic." This is impressive though! It's essentially assisted bulimia. Definitely an article worth reading.
At what age should you be involved in discontinuing your own medical care? After fighting a long medical battle, this little girl and her parents made some tough decisions. This story is heart wrenching and definitely worth the read.
We are always so focused on the different medical issues that contribute to death. Look at smoking, drugs, obesity, etc. These seem to be medical crises that are so often talked about. The CDC has a new issue that they would like to research: gun violence. How exactly does one research this topic? They say that "gun ownership is a serious threat to public health."
How much sleep do your kids actually need? What is the recommendation? Sometimes my kids think they need a lot less sleep than they do. They always complain about how I get to stay up later than they do. I wish I could go back to the days of 10-12 hours of sleep per night!
I have always been very interested in the right-to-die laws. In the ICU, we care for patients that are terminally ill quite often. Should people have a right to determine when they are able to die? I cared for a patient we had terminally extubated who was not dying as quickly as family had expected. The husband complained that even dogs have the right to be put to sleep when they are terminal. What do you think?
