Author Archives: Zuzanna Walter

Forecasted Physician Shortfall

May 6, 2019

In April, the Association of American Medical Colleges released a report suggestive of an oncoming physician shortfall in the United States in The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections from 2017 to 2032. According to data from the study, the U.S. could face a shortage of nearly 122,000 physicians by 2031, as the demand for doctors increases faster than supply. Projected shortfall estimates range from 47,000 to 122,000 physicians however, that number could be even higher.

As the national population continues to grow and age, the need for a larger number of doctors available to meet the rising demand increases. While the industry continues to address and reduce population health factors such as smoking, heart disease, and obesity, it also extends American life expectancy, thereby creating an increased demand for doctors. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the nation’s population to grow by more than 10% by the year 2032, with the number of people over the age of 65 increasing by nearly 50%.

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Weighted Blankets for Insomnia and Anxiety

May 2, 2019

In an era of continuous over-stimulation and high stress, a good night’s sleep is becoming increasingly hard to come by. More and more individuals are developing sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, and other sleep disorders, creating a “sleep market” — worth $28.6 billion in 2017 — focused on curing sleepless Americans. Over-the-counter and non-prescription drugs are on the rise, while sedatives such as Ambien and Lunesta remain as the most commonly prescribed drugs for insomnia.

As the side effects of sleep medications can be debilitating, insomniacs are increasingly turning to more natural solutions. A new, drug-free approach to targeting insomnia and other anxiety-related sleep disorders has been growing in popularity over the past two years.  Weighted blankets, or gravity blankets, are being marketed as the latest solution for insomnia, nighttime anxiety, and stress. Filled with plastic beads or pellets, these blankets tend to range in weight from 3 to 20 pounds and are meant to mimic a comforting hug, lulling users to sleep naturally.

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Could a Cognoscopy Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease Development?

April 22, 2019

Alzheimer’s disease is a complex, multi-faceted condition affecting nearly 47 million people worldwide, with 5.8 million Americans currently living with dementia in 2019. Already one of the leading causes of death in the United Kingdom, the disease is expected to rise to the forefront in the U.S. as heart disease and cancer treatments continue to improve. According to the 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, there has been an increase of 145% in Alzheimer’s related deaths between 2000 and 2017.

An estimated 75 million Americans are predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s disease, and this number is only expected to grow. New research suggests that the development of Alzheimer’s begins 20 or more years before any noticeable symptoms arise, allowing for a substantial window of time for intervention and prevention. With advancing technology and further research, there is potential to decrease the prevalence of Alzheimer’s to a much lower level by interceding at earlier stages than thought possible before.

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