WARM UP:

One Joke: 

• Q: Did you hear about the guy who lost his whole left side?

• A: He’s all right now!

One Fact: 

We breathe 25,000 times a day and inhale about 11,000 liters of air per day using our lungs!

One Quote:

"Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over."

– F. Scott Fitzgerald

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

• Description: A buildup of minerals (most often calcium oxalate) in the ureter or renal pelvis. Often occurs when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together. Associated with dehydration, diet, medications, and excessive body weight.

• Signs and Symptoms: Typically causes intense pain that radiates from the flank to the inner thigh/groin. Hematuria, nausea, and vomiting can also occur.

• Workup: KUB X-rays, Ultrasound, CT, urinalysis, blood tests.

• Treatment: Typically the focus is on hydration and pain management, usually with the use of NSAIDs and opioids. If necessary, surgery may be needed to resolve the most severe cases.

• Prognosis: Assuming no high-grade obstruction or associated infection is found in the urinary tract, the prognosis is good and full resolution is expected.

HEALTHCARE HEADLINES:

** Monthly Medicare premiums covering physician and outpatient care will rise almost 6% next year. The standard monthly premium for traditional Medicare Part B coverage, which encompasses physician care, outpatient services and medical equipment, will be $174.70 in 2024, up from $164.90 this year. The deductible for Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient hospital care, nursing home stays and other services, will be $1,632 next year — a $32, or 2%, increase from this year.

*** Following the largest US health care strike in history, Kaiser Permanente workers have won a 21% raise over 4 years. The 75,000 unionized health care workers who led a 3 day strike earlier this month have now reached a deal to establish a minimum wage of $25/hour in California and also ensured protections around outsourcing and addressing staffing crisis.

** Starting in 2027, you don’t have to worry about Red Dye No. 3 being in your food if you live in California. California is the first state to ban four harmful additives found in processed foods, paving the way for new standards across the country. As of now, you still have to look out for that Yellow #5.

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

** Record: 23 year old Kelvin Kiptum set a new world record, completing the Chicago Marathon in 2:00:35. That’s a 4:36/mile pace…for 26.2 miles. He didn’t even look tired at the finish line. Unbelievable!

** Photography: Still don’t know how to use pano mode on your iphone? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with these mesmerizing panoramic photos.

** Guide: If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, then you’ve got no shortage of options to avoid your next checkup. Check out this guide to 85 different varieties of apples found in the US. We’re partial to a good McIntosh, but would love to try them all!

** Video: If you think it’s hard to dust your house, check out this video showing the meticulous care that goes into cleaning Michelangelo’s famous sculpture, David.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS:

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has raised the alarm about a national loneliness epidemic. Studies show that across all age groups, people are spending less time with each other in person than two decades ago. In fact, young people aged 15-24 are spending 70% less time interacting with their friends.

Check out this amazing visual of the loneliness epidemic, where you can see what a typical 24 hours looks like from the perspective of people from all walks of life grappling with isolation.

Murthy talks about a framework for change that centers around measures including strengthening social infrastructure with better parks, libraries, and playgrounds; improving paid family leave; critically examining our relationship with technology; and cultivating a culture of connection.

Murthy’s conversation with Andrew Huberman is worth a listen (start at 1:44:20):

THANKS FOR READING!

At The Hyperthalamus, we’re on a mission to educate and entertain health care workers. Because we believe work should be a fun place to hang out with your colleagues and make them feel dumb for not knowing the answers to our trivia questions.

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Disease Answer: Kidney Stones (Nephrolithiasis)