Category Archives: Health

Grief

Just as loss becomes more acute with aging, grief tags along affecting us all in waves varying over time depending on the circumstances. The New York Times has a worthwhile article stating: “Although many of us are able to speak … Continue reading

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“WeCroak”

I’m somewhat shocked about this one, an app for your phone reminding us 5 times a day that we’re going to die. Wow. I felt like death was my constant companion when I was in Critical Care Medicine where mortality was … Continue reading

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Note from American Society on Aging (ASA)

“ASA cheers last night’s passage in the U.S. Senate of the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act, which aims to examine new strategies for supporting family caregivers throughout the country, where they make it possible for … Continue reading

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Skyline presentation: “Genetic Engineering – from virus to people”

 

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The Family That Built an Empire of Pain

The New Yorker has a lengthy feature article about the Sackler family. You might say, “Who are they?” Staying definitely under the radar, this wealthy dynasty (with fortunes greater than the Rockefellers) own and operate Purdue Pharma, the company largely responsible … Continue reading

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‘Sometimes inspiration for big ideas comes from really unexpected places’

 

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The Ethics of the DNR Tatoo

LINDSEY BEVER, THE WASHINGTON POST 1 DEC 2017 Doctors in Miami faced an unusual ethical dilemma when an unconscious, deteriorating patient was brought into the emergency room with the words “Do Not Resuscitate” across his chest. The 70-year-old man was taken earlier this … Continue reading

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When the cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are complete

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“Alexa – call Skyline”

When my techie son gave me an echo dot (now on sale at Amazon for $29.99), I felt the last thing I needed was another gadget. But this one turns out to do some amazing things. Today I tried something new … Continue reading

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Upcoming media programs on addiction

From Jim Sanders: “Dr. Lynn Hankes, one of our past speakers here at Skyline (Addiction – April 2017) will be appearing on the CBS Sunday Morning show this coming week.  There were a number of residents who attended his presentation and … Continue reading

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Too many skin biopsies? Too many treatments?

A few years ago I had a small basal cell carcinoma scraped off my lower leg, band-aid applied and that was that. This year I had a different dermatologist and a similar lesion. This time it was scraped off and … Continue reading

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“Why We Sleep”

Do you get 8 hours of sleep? Matthew Walker says we should and tells us why. He was recently  interviewed on NPR – click here for the link. Or perhaps you have insomnia or a medical problem which keeps you … Continue reading

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A therapeutic “crapsule?”

My sister ruptured her bowel and almost died while taking antibiotics for Lime Disease. C Difficile was the culprit. It appears that our “intestinal flora” is a lot more complicated than we know. Manipulating it may harmful, but also may … Continue reading

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Progress on cancer survival, but a long way to go

Data: Journal of the National Cancer Institute; Chart: Chris Canipe / Axios Ed note: One thing that might falsely improve survival is the early diagnosis bias. In other words, the earlier a disease is diagnosed the longer the survival. Men still … Continue reading

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Chopin’s heart revisited

Seattle author, pianist and physician Steve Lagerberg has written a book Chopin’s Heart: The Quest to Identify the Mysterious Illness of the World’s Most Beloved Composer. Chopin’s body rests in Paris, but his heart in Poland. The heart was recently secretly exhumed … Continue reading

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Choosing Wisely

Consumer Reports and the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation sponsor a free web site called Choosing Wisely. There is a wealth of information and guidance on a host of medical questions. They use evidence based reasoning in their articles: … Continue reading

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AgeWise King County – November 17 Bulletin

IN THIS ISSUE: The Chair’s Corner Expanded Services for Unpaid Family Caregivers 10 Must-Read Books to Guide and Support the Dementia Family Caregiver Medicare Open Enrollment Has Begun–Review Your Plan Now Survey Says! Seattle’s Older Residents Rank the City on … Continue reading

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No surgery for smokers or the obese: Policy in UK stirs debate

From Dick Dion: “Two issues are the cause of a plethora of diseases and health conditions affecting people worldwide: smoking and obesity.And one local health committee in the UK has announced a controversial policy “to support patients whose health is … Continue reading

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Checklists are boring, but death is worse

Harvard surgeon Atul Gawande wrote The Checklist Manifesto – How to Get Things Right. He also founded Ariadne Labs which is a joint center of the Brigham and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The most widely used checklists are by … Continue reading

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New shingles vaccine approved for adults

Ed Note: “Shingles, which is also called herpes zoster, occurs when the chickenpox virus (varicella zoster), which is dormant in those who’ve had the illness, reawakens later in life. Almost all adults over age 40 carry the chickenpox virus—and the … Continue reading

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Prenatal surgery – a new frontier

Fiber-optics, tiny surgical instruments and skilled neonatal surgeons have pushed the envelope in the timing of surgery for spina bifida. The New York Times has a fascinating article about this new, but experimental surgery, which attempts to do the repairs … Continue reading

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Enlightened Aging: Building Resilience for a Long, Active Life

Eric Larson spoke at Skyline about a year ago. Recently I was able to hear him talk about his new book. Here are the sides he presented: 171019 Larson Enlightened Aging-ARMS_. Based.on a long term population ACT study he gives practical tips … Continue reading

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Timothy Leary revisited in serious research

I’ll be attending a conference on Friday October 27th at the UW Law School: Psychedelic Medicine – New Frontiers in Palliative Care. The use of psilocybin, MDMA, marijuana and others will be discussed particularly in relation to palliative and end-of-life … Continue reading

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Washington Post and 60 minutes – the scandal causing the opioid epidemic

In case you missed it the Washington Post has done a remarkable investigation of the causes of the opioid epidemic – placing much of the blame on the drug companies, the distribution companies and unethical pain clinics and pharmacies. Basically … Continue reading

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Understanding WASHAA – advocacy in health care

  The Washington State Health Advocacy Association (WASHAA), was originally founded in 2012 responding to the community’s interest in health and patient advocacy.  Interest has included gathering people in the state who want to provide professional health advocacy services, academic … Continue reading

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