Pertussis, once a bygone menace, has made a comeback. It poses significant risks to infants, with a 1% mortality rate and 20% of cases requiring hospitalization. Make sure to receive your booster shot every decade and practice thorough handwashing, especially when in contact with

Next-gen weight loss drug, eloralintide, has fewer GI side effects than GLP-1's like Wygovy and Ozempic. 10-20% total body weight loss. We expect fewer discontinuations with it if it passes phase 3 trials. Expected market approval is 2027 or 2028. https://t.co/qeq6t4tZcf

From a population health perspective, GLP-1's have potential to change health outcomes for entire zip codes. Bring on more GLP-1 access. https://t.co/wg0827jarP

The dreaded norovirus - aka nausea, vomiting, diarrhea - is making its annual winter march into your life. What it means for you . . . please avoid handling or preparing food if you are sick. Every person infects 3 to 5 others. Stay hydrated, call your physician for nausea

Fascinating (surprising?) hard data on vigorous physical activity versus moderate activity like brisk walking. We used to say that 1 minute of running has the same health benefit as walking for 2 minutes. According to this data derived from thousands of accelerometer-derived

The CDC website now says that "Studies supporting a link (between autism and vaccines) have been ignored by health authorities." As a physician, I've conducted multiple searches for evidence that supports a causal link between vaccines and autism. I haven't found any. Since

Always wash your hands after handling birds, especially backyard chickens. Stay away from waterfoul at the duck pong that look sick. Bird flu spreads through bird droppings . . . from our hands to our eyes and mouths. The flu vaccine will give you some protection against

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet December 4 and vote on whether to eliminate the brith hepatitis B vaccine dose. Between 16k and 23k people were infected with hep B annually pre-vaccine. In 2022 it was estimated the 800 infants were infected,

Cold and flu season is off to a slow start. That's good news as we head to the airport and gather around dining room tables this week. Still, the latest flu mutation is causing trouble in England so we could see a quicker uptick after Thanksgiving. What it means for you . . .

A higher percentage of Americans have had a cancer diagnosis. That's likely due to early diagnosis and better treatment leading to people living longer with cancer. What it means for you . . . get your screenings for colon, breast, prostate, cervical, and lung (if you have a

This flu season could be one of the toughest we've faced in years. The most common flu variant, H3N2, mutated and is evading our immune defenses. See graph showing how it is rising uncharacteristically in England right now. They are already in their uptick season. Ours starts

Whooping cough is making a case to be Tarrant County's bug of the year. It embeds itself into the airways of infants and toddlers causing hospitalizations and death. Boosting your immunity every ten years with the vaccine and washing your hands when interacting with little

Australia just had its worst flu season in years and a new version of H3N2 is circulating in England and Canada. Though this virus has mutated a number of times, the current flu shot covers it. Tarrant County Public Health's wastewater and ER surveillance show that flu is just

Parents should avoid ByHeart infant formula which is associated with a botulism outbreak in 10 states including Texas. Botulinum is a neurotoxin that causes slow feeding, constipation, weakness, and eventually death if untreated. The available antidote is lifesaving.

Clarifying Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for Menopause It has been established for some time that HRT usage in women over 70 can elevate the risk of stroke. However, recent findings indicate that younger women using HRT do not face an increased stroke risk. Instead, it helps

Vaccines have saved over 150 million lives around the world.

New evidence that COVID infection during pregnancy leads to autism in children. The increase was 29%. If the COVID-infected mothers took Tylenol for their fevers, then the autism link could be due to COVID or Tylenol. Unfortunately, the study design did not control for Tylenol

Healthcare spending has increased ten-fold in real dollars since 1970 but life expectancy has increased only by 11%. Politically, there is no path to a solution. Too many of us are receiving too much from the system and not putting enough back in. Public servants are guaranteed

Obesity is down as GLP-1's are up. On a population level, recommending a healthy diet and exercise is a strategy has been tried and hasn't worked. GLP-1's are the little electric motor on a bicycle that makes climbing the hill doable. It's ok to get some help.

Semaglutide (Ozempic) reduced stroke and heart attack by about 20% in obese patients with pre-existing heart disease. That is a 2023 study that used the higher dose of Ozempic. But be careful, GLP-1's have nausea and other GI side effects. And people who stop them gain most of