Humans have a long and complex history with plants. Long before civilization and even prior to the Agricultural Revolution, humans had realized that plants have a multitude effects on human physiology including appetite suppression, pain relief, energy supply, and immune system stimulation. It has been hypothesized that the adoption of an omnivorous diet was a… Continue reading Poppy Powered
Tag: healthcare
First Do No Harm
The word iatrogenesis is derived from the Greek language meaning “brought forth by healer.” It is defined as the “inadvertent and preventable induction of disease or complications by the medical treatment or procedures of a physician or surgeon.” Iatrogenesis in medicine has been recognized for as long as Western medical history has been recorded. Approximately… Continue reading First Do No Harm
A Bayesian EHR
As an Emergency physician, my job is to make predictions. Throughout the day (and night), I make predictions related to treatment outcomes, management plans, and patient dispositions. These predictions are often fraught with risk (but mostly uncertainty) and I am constantly aware that every decision I make is inherently probabilistic. The framework that most physicians lean… Continue reading A Bayesian EHR
Between a Carbohydrate and a Fat Place
For the vast majority of human history, survival has been a desperate effort with a mixture of luck and lot of vigor. Energy sources have been scarce, and consequently, traits that optimized energy storage and conservation have gained prominence. In response to this history, we have utilized technology to create an environment where energy sources… Continue reading Between a Carbohydrate and a Fat Place
Fat Outside, Fit Inside
In a recent study in JAMA, nearly 75% of men and 65% of women between the ages of 25-54 were classified as overweight (BMI>25) or obese (BMI>30). These numbers have dramatically increased in the last 40 years. In response to this rising epidemic, a multibillion dollar weight loss industry ranging from diet companies and supplement… Continue reading Fat Outside, Fit Inside
The Art of Medicine
David Sackett was widely known as the “father of the evidence-based medicine” movement recently died. He defined evidence based medicine (EBM) as the “conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.” It is a set of best practices based on rigorous experimental data and seeks to… Continue reading The Art of Medicine
Know thy (evolutionary) history
Human evolutionary history has unfolded over millions of years and has transformed us from one generation to the next to its current state. In fact, the process of evolution continues to occur today and humans will be different in many aspects generations from now. If you look at human beings through the lens of evolution, it… Continue reading Know thy (evolutionary) history
What is health?
This question was recently posed to a group of allopathic trained health care professionals who answered with responses such as, “absence of disease,” “body, mind, and emotional wellness,” and “continuum between disease and total well being.” Although the responses seem vague and generalized, the descriptions were generally in line with the World Health Organization (WHO)… Continue reading What is health?
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