THE DAILY WARM UP:

One Joke: 

What’s the difference between a magician and a psychiatrist? (Answer at bottom of email) 

One Fact: 

Humans produce enough saliva in a lifetime to fill two swimming pools!  Saliva plays an important role in digestion, oral health, and maintaining the pH balance in the mouth.

One Quote:

“The kindest people are not born that way, they are made.”

– Bianca Sparacino

One Guess…Name That Disease: 

• Description:  A common mosquito-borne viral disease occurring in tropical climates.

• Signs and Symptoms: Most infections are asymptomatic.  Symptoms usually begin 4-10 days after the mosquito bite.  Mild disease results in fever, rash, muscle and joint pain.  Rash often occurs and can present as flushed skin or with a characteristic measles-like appearance.

• Diagnosis:  Largely based on clinical grounds.  

• Treatment:  No specific antiviral exists.  Treatment includes supportive care with fluids and pain-relievers. Severe cases require hospitalization.

• Prognosis: Those who become infected with the virus a second time are at a significantly greater risk of developing severe disease.  Severe disease results in serious bleeding and shock, which can be life threatening.  

• Prevention: Current vaccine only available to high risk patients who have had confirmed infection in the past

**DISEASE ANSWER: Click here to find out!

HEALTHCARE HEADLINES…flex your knowledge at work:

** Scientists have developed the first new class of antibiotics in decades with the help of artificial intelligence.  The novel compound is able to kill MRSA and could lead to the development of other antibiotics with even more efficacy, a potential breakthrough as antibiotic resistance continues to grow worldwide.

** A new “smart insulin” could help control blood glucose levels for one week at a time.  Current insulin requires multiple doses a day to optimize glucose levels, but early research shows promise for a more responsive type of insulin that would require far less frequent intervention by mimicking the body’s own insulin. 

** A new vaccine could lower LDL cholesterol by up to 30%, based on preliminary results in animal models.

TOGETHER WITH THE MOMMY:

Love your kids but wish parenting could be just a little bit easier? Now it can! The Mommy is your warm cup of coffee before the little ones wake up (pairs well with The Hyperthalamus, of course). Packed with mom-hacks, DIY projects, child development tips, side-hustle ideas, and mom memes that will tickle your funny bone. Subscribe for free below! You'll not only love it, you'll wonder how you ever did without it.

POTPOURRI…fun facts and conversation starters:

** Naming the Months:  Test your knowledge on the origins of each month’s name here.  Did you know that the ancient Roman calendar only named 10 months, since the government was inactive in what we now call January and February, so those months were added later?  

** Leap Year: 2024 will have 366 days.  Find out why the Leap Year takes place in February.

** 2023 Review: Check out 2023’s most-viewed articles on Wikipedia.  For some reason, a lot of people look up “Deaths in 2023.”

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

It’s that time of the year!  Time to make resolutions and think about how to hit the hard reset on your physical and mental health to get 2024 started on the right foot.

For many people, “Dry January” is a month to take a break from the excess of the holidays and give your liver a break.  And one study has shown that a successful January break from alcohol can actually decrease intake six months later.

But what are some strategies to increase your likelihood of achieving the outcome you want?  

• Talk about your goals.  This not only fosters a sense of personal accountability to stick to your word, but it also allows you to tap into a community of support and encouragement.

• Identify your triggers.  What thoughts and situations lead you to want to drink?  How can you successfully navigate those factors to avoid temptation?  Having a well thought out response plan is crucial.

• Find non-alcoholic substitutes.  The next time you’re in a social setting and tempted to drink, consider reaching for sparkling water, soda, mocktails, or non-alcoholic beer/wine instead.

• Create new rituals.  Instead of going for a night cap, think about brewing a cup of non-caffeinated tea or try drinking more water in those situations instead.  It doesn’t take long to program new behavior.

Looking for more resources?  The Try Dry app from the UK helps you track your drinking, set personal goals, and offers motivational information like calories and money saved from not drinking.  The Rethinking Drinking site created by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is also an excellent resource.  

Cheers to a healthier and more intentional 2024!

THANKS FOR READING!

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JOKE ANSWER: A psychiatrist pulls habits out of rats.