WARM UP:

One Joke: 

Why did the doctor laugh at the X-ray? (Answer at bottom)

One Fact: 

Your taste buds have a lifespan of about 10 to 14 days. This renewal process helps ensure that your sense of taste remains sharp and responsive to different flavors throughout your life!

One Quote:

"We suffer more in imagination than in reality." - Seneca

One Guess…Name That Disease: (Answer at bottom)

• Signs and symptoms: Typically asymptomatic in the early stages. In later stages the patient may feel a pulsating sensation in the abdomen or pain in the chest or lower back. Can be quickly fatal if not caught until the latest stage, which is why it is called a “silent killer.”

• Pathophysiology: Degradation of the tunica media. Risk factors include smoking, hypertension, age, male gender, high cholesterol, Marfan syndrome.

• Diagnoses: Physical exam, ultrasound, CT scan. More than 5.5cm is considered large.

• Treatment: Watchful waiting, lifestyle modification, medication management in earlier stages. Immediate surgery can be required for late stage, symptomatic disease.

HEALTHCARE HEADLINES:

** 75,000 unionized Kaiser Permanente employees returned to work after a three day strike, the largest health care strike in US history. More strikes could happen soon if an agreement isn’t reached. Workers are demanding safer staffing levels and higher wages, including a $25/hour minimum for certain positions.

** Scared to raise your hand during that medical emergency on a flight? Us too. Soon you may not have to because telehealth visits 40,000 feet in the air may be coming soon to an airplane near you as in-flight high speed internet improves. About 11 of every 100,000 flights are diverted for in-flight medical emergencies.

TOGETHER WITH VERB:

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WATER COOLER WONDERS…the stuff we found interesting this week:

* Picture: You have to see these weather photography awards to believe them. The winner is a “perfect cloud” above a snow covered volcano in Chile.

* Culture: Merriam-Webster added 690 new words to its dictionaries. Courtesy of high school kids everywhere, bussin’, thirst trap, and mid are now bona fide Scrabble words. Ngl, we didn’t know what ngl meant before reading it in the dictionary.

* History: This perfectly preserved dinosaur fossil, found in western Canada, is unbelievably real!

* Drink: Always AI-Cola? Coke used AI to create its mystery cola flavor, dubbed Y3000. At least we know what the computer will be drinking when it takes over everything.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS:

There is so much we could learn from those who are living life to the fullest (and longest). To that end, check out Netflix’ great series, “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.”

In one episode, they feature the people of Okinawa, Japan. Okinawans practice what they call, “Hara hachi bun”, which means to eat to 80% fullness.⁣ They also practice several mindfulness habits at the dinner table. They eat slowly and chew thoroughly, allowing their body to respond to natural cues as they focus on the food to savor its flavors.

So, the next time you sit down for a meal, try to eat to 80% fullness. It’s no surprise that Okinawa has been dubbed the land of immortals!

THANKS FOR READING!

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Joke Answer: Because it was humerus.

Disease Answer: AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm)