WARM UP:

One Joke: 

• Doctor: The liver is the only organ that can regrow if damaged.

• Patient: I'll drink to that.

One Fact: 

Most heart attacks occur on a Monday. (Happy Monday!)

One Quote:

“Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”​

— Maya Angelou

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

• Description: This autoimmune disease is ten times more prevalent in women and primarily attacks moisture producing glands, namely the lacrimal and salivary glands. In more severe cases, the lungs, kidneys, and nervous system can also be affected. Can be triggered by viral infection or by other autoimmune conditions.

• Signs and Symptoms: Dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin, fatigue, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes or glands.

• Diagnosis: There is no single test to confirm the diagnosis. Schirmer’s test to measure tear production, blood tests SS-A and SS-B looking for antibody markers, and salivary flow tests are objective tests that may be helpful.

• Treatment: No single medication has been conclusively proven to slow the progression. Certain medications may help control symptoms. Lifestyle changes such as dietary changes and stress management to deal with fatigue and systemic inflammation are encouraged.

• Prognosis: Those affected generally find that their symptoms become less intense over time, as they learn to manage them. In moderate to severe cases, the patient can have a very poor quality of life.

HEALTHCARE HEADLINES:

** It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s an Amazon Prime Air delivery of my inhaler! Amazon has been conducting a pilot in Texas, allowing customers to choose from 500 drugs delivered for free by drones within 60 minutes of ordering to facilitate faster treatment and better adherence. Medications for common conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, and the flu are being tested.

** A new pet to avoid a cat-astrophe? A Virginia doctor prescribed her patient a cat to help with her feelings of depression.

** Employers are paying big bucks to maintain employee health benefits. The average cost of family coverage for employer based health plans reached nearly $24,000 this year, up 7% from 2022. Workers on average contributed $6,575 toward the cost of family coverage, while employers contributed an average of $17,393.

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

** Movies: Taylor Swift Eras movie not your thing? Look forward to upcoming films including Timothée Chalamet in Wonka and Joaquin Phoenix as the little conqueror himself, Napoleon.

** Cribs: Want a different view from your dining room table for lunch and dinner? No problem if you live in this incredible rotating house in La Mesa, California. It just sold for a cool $5M.

** Article: Has The Man of Steel always been a Man In Spandex? Here’s the full rundown of the history of superheroes wearing the stretchy fabric. Fun fact: spandex is an anagram for expands!

** Graphic: Wondering if our politicians have always been status post hip replacement? Times have changed:

MONEY MONDAYS:

Thinking about getting a new car, but intimidated by stubbornly high car prices? This great article reminds us of the critical questions to ask when considering whether to buy or lease your new vehicle:

1. How much do you want to spend on monthly payments?

2. How long are you willing to make payments?

3. How much can you want to pay upfront?

4. How far do you drive?

5. How important is driving the newest model to you?

6. How clean do you keep your car?

7. Do you use your car for business?

Want more details? Check out this in depth discussion on YouTube about whether to lease or buy, with Peter Lazaroff of The Long Term Investor:

THANKS FOR READING!

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Disease Answer: Sjogren's Syndrome