Category Archives: Mental Health

Can Eye Exams Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?

August 23, 2019

Often performed on aging patients at risk of serious eye conditions such as blindness, eye exams may soon prove to be powerful tools in the detection of brain disease. As a practical, preventative measure, eye examinations assist physicians in observing and determining the deterioration of eye health in aging patients, helping to protect against crippling impairment. It is estimated that nearly 50% of blindness cases can be avoided or prevented with routine visits to an eye care professional, according to Harvard Health Publishing Continue reading →

The Connection Between the Gut and Mental Health

July 19, 2019

In the past few years, the connection between the brain, gut, and microbiome has become an increasingly examined topic in the medical research community. As more research continues to prove this bidirectional link, there is a growing awareness of the importance of gut health not just for gastrointestinal health but also for overall physical and mental wellbeing. Studies of the connection between the gut and physical health have revealed the powerful effects of the microbiome on the immune system, mood, energy levels, and a range of other bodily aspects.

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The Real Cost of Physician Burnout

July 1, 2019

In recent years, leading health care organizations have declared physician burnout, or the state of physical and mental exhaustion associated with job stress, a public health crisis. The problem is so pervasive that burnout was added to the list of medical conditions by the World Health Organization in May of this year. Compared to average American workers, physicians are experiencing twice as much burnout, which may lead to high turnover, lower-quality care, and suboptimal patient outcomes. In addition to raising significant ethical concerns, overworked and unhappy physicians are taxing on the U.S. economy, costing the nation $4.6 billion per year, according to new research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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