THE DAILY WARM UP:

ONE JOKE: 

I accidentally took my cat’s medications last night…

Don’t ask meow. 😺 

ONE FACT: 

Fitness app downloads spike by 36% each January. (Stat)

ONE QUOTE:

“Life is a great adventure … accept it in such a spirit.”

- Theodore Roosevelt

ONE GUESS…NAME THAT DRUG: 

• Description:  Common first-line medication for people with a new diagnosis of diabetes.  Brand name Glucophage.

• Indication:  Prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes.  Can be used to improve fertility in women with PCOS.  Being used by some healthy people to extend lifespan, possibly through improved insulin and carbohydrate regulation.

• Mechanism of Action:  Not completely understood.  Biguanide anti-hyperglycemic agent that lowers glucose production in the liver.  Also makes endogenous insulin more sensitive to circulating glucose.

• Side Effects:  Common side effects include GI upset.  Serious side effects may include hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis.  Contraindicated in people with severe renal impairment.

*DRUG ANSWER: Click here to find out! 💊 

HEALTHCARE HEADLINES…flex your knowledge at work:

• Massive amounts of tiny plastics found in bottled drinking water, study finds (ABC News).  A one-liter bottle of water contains anywhere from 110,000 to 370,000 plastic particle, 90% of which are nanoplastics. Nanoplastics are small enough to enter the bloodstream, breach cell walls, and pass into a fetus. 🚰

• Plastic chemicals linked to $249 billion in US health care costs in 2018 alone (CNN).  The effect of microplastics on chronic disease is immense and only now beginning to be understood. 🛢️

• US Navy building first new hospital ships in 35 years (Nice News).  The improved design includes three operating rooms, a medical laboratory, radiology, blood bank, dental, mental health, OB/GYN, and primary care. 🚢

• Record 20 million Americans signed up for Affordable Care Act coverage in 2024 (CBS News).  Over 3.7 million people who have signed up for the 2024 plans are new enrollees, data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showed.  🏥 

• “A mouse for your mouth”: New device allows users to scroll with their tongues (NBC News).  MouthPad^, a retainer-like trackpad chip that sits on the roof of the mouth, made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show this week.  The device, made by Augmental, is intended mostly for paralyzed patients.  In case you’re wondering, it’s safe to drink with it in but not recommended to use while eating. 🐭 

• FDA finds no immediate link between weight-loss drugs and suicidal thoughts (Axios). 💉

• Is it dangerous to keep getting COVID-19? (Time).  😷

RECOMMENDATION STATION…other newsletters we think you’ll enjoy:

• Planning your next trip to escape the winter freeze? Travel better, cheaper, and smarter with help from the travel expert Nomadic Matt. Never over pay for travel again. Subscribe with 1-click below! 🧳 

POTPOURRI…fun facts and conversation starters:

• Red-wine headache explained - and it is not about volume (BBC). 🍷

• Best and worst states to raise a family - 2024 (Wallet Hub).  👪

• 20 of the world’s best soups (CNN).  Have you tried borscht or banga? 😋

• Hershey sued for $5M over missing ‘cute’ face on Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins (NPR). 🍫

• The Gettysburg Address as a PowerPoint Presentation (Source). 🎩

FOCUS ON WELLNESS…simple tips with outsized impact for you and your patients:

• Foods to eat that are high in protein and low on carbs (Medical News Today).  Add these 14 foods to your diet!  🥚🐟️ 

• 7 common nutrient deficiencies: know the signs (Everyday Health).  Need a refresher about what calcium, vitamin D, potassium, B12, folate, iron, and magnesium deficiency looks like? 🔎

• These 8 habits could add up to 24 years to your life (CBS News).  🏃

• Can 4-7-8 breathing really help you fall asleep faster? (Glamour) 😴

• How often should you wash your nasty bed sheets? (drjaysonisfresh) 🛏️

THANKS FOR READING!

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