SEPTEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER

Thank you (!)  to everyone who read the inaugural edition of ArcHealth. Here's a recap of the health topics I covered in August. Bronze medalist Stephen Nedoroscik's isn't “horsing” around. He is using his Olympic bronze to bring national awareness to strabismus ("lazy eye") and making it cool to wear glasses. Speaking of staying cool (hot flashes, anyone?), there are safe hormonal and non-hormonal treatments for menopause-related symptoms. And – while we are on the topic of women's health –men may pause (get it?) when a women with breast cancer contemplates removing both breasts. Ultimately, it's a woman's choice and there are important pros and cons to consider when making the best decision for you. When it comes to the shingles vaccine, however, there are (mostly) only pros to getting it. And, finally, an honest and open conversation about depression and suicide. I hope you learn something new and helpful.

Strabismus

Stephen Nedoroscik's pommel horse routine helped the 2024 US Men's Gymnastics team win their first Olympic medal since 2008. But, Stephen doesn't quite “see” the pommel horse when he competes; he feels it. Nedoroscik has strabismus and coloboma, two eye conditions causing limited vision and light sensitivity. He's bringing awareness to the importance of early treatment for strabismus. Here's why: Strabismus starts (often in infancy) as a muscle imbalance issue. The 6 muscles in each eye (12 total) move in sync with each other, but when they don't, you get double vision. The brain doesn't like double vision so it shuts down vision development in the lazy eye. Translation: blindness. Early detection and treatment can address this before it's too late. Learn more about the condition and treatment options in this segment. 

Menopause

No more SHUSHING! That's what women have done for too long when it comes to talking about menopause symptoms. Only 27% of women are treating their symptoms and only 17% share what they're experiencing with their significant other. Tracy Kornet, the evening anchor on WSMV (NBC) in Nashville, experienced symptoms for eight years before getting help. Now, Tracy is committed to talking a lot about menopause and is refreshingly “unfiltered” on Speak Up For Your Health. She shares personal details about having hot flashes while she was on the air, how menopause symptoms impacted the relationship with her husband and how she finally found a combo of treatments that gave her relief.

Bilateral MasTectomy

A recent study showed that prophylactic bilateral mastectomy DOES lower the risk of a second breast cancer but DOES NOT increase survival. The news coverage focused on the survival issue alone and seemed to suggest that prophylactic surgery is not worth doing. But, IMHO, survival is not the only consideration. Women facing this decision may choose to have the preventive procedure to avoid the pain and suffering of being treated for another bout of breast cancer. On this segment of Inside Your Health, I laid out all the quality of life considerations women should balance before making this decision. 

shingles vaccine

Remember having chicken pox as a kid? The virus causing it never went away. It's just been hiding out in its favorite nerve root – just waiting to re-appear as shingles, a blistery, very painful rash along the path of that nerve. Shingles symptoms can be miserable and last for 3-5 weeks. In 15-20% of people with shingles, the pain persists for 3 months or longer as a “postherpetic neuralgia." The Shingrix vaccine (2 shots given 2-6 , months apart) provides 90% protection against developing shingles and is recommended for people over age 50. I haven't gotten mine yet (mea culpa!) but when I do, I'll get it on a Friday and I won't combine it with any other vaccines since it can cause some flu-like symptoms. I cover this and more in this segment of Inside Your Health. 

TREATMENT-RESISTANT DEPRESSION

Among people who attempt to take their life by suicide, the vast majority survive. But very few have the courage to talk about their state of mind and the details of that very dark moment. In my conversation with Nora Super, she talks openly about her recurrent episodes of depression, the permanent physical disability she lives with as a result of a suicide attempt, and the treatment she depends on to save her life. 

Thanks for reading. You can find previous editions of ArcHealth on my website. 

This newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.