When it comes to migraines, could the heart of the matter be a matter of the heart?
Migraines headaches affect up to 12% of the US population. Identifying effective therapeutics for those who suffer from migraines can be challenging, and no one medication has proven to be a cure-all. Medical researchers are investigating an innovative method of non-medical treatment that, rather than targeting the brain directly, focuses on another vital organ — the heart.
A hole new approach
A physician looks at how our immune systems respond to the Covid vaccine
I received my second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on January 4th of this year. I donated blood on March 19th. The donation center routinely checks for antibodies to Covid-19 in their donors. To my surprise, I was antibody negative. Does that mean my vaccine didn’t work?
The short answer is, “no.” Here are two reasons why I’m not concerned, and if you find yourself in a similar situation, you need not worry either.
1) Antibody tests aren’t perfect
Not all antibody tests are the same. There are a number of different classes of antibodies or immunoglobulins (Ig). For instance, IgM is made by…
Coronavirus
A pediatrician explains how kids can crush the novel coronavirus with the strength of their innate immune system.
Epidemiological data indicates the severity of Covid-19 is strongly correlated with age. However, the reason children typically exhibit milder symptoms than adults remains unclear. A study published earlier this year in Nature Communications by Dr. Melanie Neeland and colleagues shed light on this mystery by analyzing detailed features of the immune response to Covid-19 in a cohort of 48 children compared to 70 adults.
Study design
The study took place in Melbourne, Australia from April to August of 2020 and investigated non-hospitalized patients most of whom experienced mild symptoms of Covid-19 such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and fatigue. Blood…
Yale’s Dr. Grossman challenged dogma to change the outcome for infants
This story starts with a puzzle. Can you think outside the box? If so, try solving the following challenge. Imagine this nine-dot puzzle is printed on a sheet of paper. Now, with a pen, connect all the dots, drawing just four straight lines without taking your pen off the paper.
Here’s what might work better when it’s another state’s turn to mask down
On February 12, Montana became the third state to rescind its statewide mask directive. While it would be unreasonable to expect such an effort to be coordinated to perfection or to the satisfaction of everyone, I believe in this case there was significant opportunity for improvement. Here’s why:
Timing is everything. Gov. Greg Gianforte’s lifting of Montana’s mask mandate was not contingent on the state meeting a specific target in the number of cases, the reproductive number (also referred to as R₀), or a portion of individuals being vaccinated. …
Coronavirus
A pediatrician unpacks the latest research
Until recently, little was understood about how to treat multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Considered among the most serious complications of Covid-19 in kids, MIS-C was first described about nine months ago. For more on the characteristics and diagnosis of MIS-C check out this story:
Because MIS-C is similar to another inflammatory syndrome seen in children called Kawasaki disease, pediatric providers have treated the condition similarly. Let’s take a look at what’s been discovered.
Design and setting
An article published at the beginning of February in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Naïm Ouldali, MD, PhD, and colleagues compared the…
‘I don’t want to jinx us, but this may turn out to be the mildest flu season on record’
It’s nearly halfway through the 2020–2021 flu season, and as I walk the halls of the hospital where I work, I realize none of the patients are here with influenza. In fact, only 925 cases of flu have been confirmed in the United States thus far this season, and none in my home state of Montana. This compares to 63,975 confirmed cases in the United States at the same time last year.
It’s important to note that the true number of flu cases is always larger than the number reported, because many individuals with flu symptoms do not seek testing…
Coronavirus
The same reason views of this story will eventually peter out
I have immediate family living in California, Tennessee, and Georgia. These areas of the country, along with many others, are suffering. Cases of Covid-19 are rising. Hospitals and health care providers are overwhelmed. Some patients are unable to receive the care they need. So, for my family’s sake and the sake of others living in hotspot areas, I don’t want to come across as tone-deaf or out of touch, but elsewhere, there is actually some good news about the pandemic.
In mid-November, my home state of Montana was hurting. We converted two additional units in our hospital to negative pressure…
A Healthy New Year
A physician and a dietitian explain how the ketogenic diet works and who can benefit from it.
I’m looking forward to a few changes come January 1st, and I suspect I’m not the only one. While many seek to modify their diet each new year, some see the hope of 2021 as the perfect kickstart to a radical departure from the status quo. Among hundreds of dietary regimens, the ketogenic diet has exploded in popularity, but scientists and health experts are only beginning to understand its physiologic impact and how it can be used to treat certain medical conditions.
Recently I had the opportunity to interview Tara Finnerty, a board-certified ketogenic nutrition specialist. …
Coronavirus
It’s more than a sore shoulder
I can’t believe the day came this soon. This is not hyperbole: It was a joyful experience to receive this vaccine. There was a buzz and excitement at the hospital. Camera crews descended. Local media reporters interviewed hospital administrators and providers. Even the governor showed up. Why? Because this marks the beginning of the end.
As I waited in line with my colleagues on Tuesday, we shared a feeling that didn’t need to be verbalized, though it often was — the mutual understanding that it was an absolute privilege to receive this vaccine. I can’t express enough how thankful I…
Bo Stapler, MD
Husband, Father, Health and science writer, Interpreter of medical jargon, Hospitalist physician, Board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics
