I know this is supposed to be good news and we should feel good about this, but as a generally healthy person all my life reading this I'm just shocked by the horrible diseases and illnesses that happen to good people just trying to live their lives. Through no fault of their own people end up with pain or disease and their quality of life, their hopes, their dreams, their daily life is affected. There's not a lot I can do to help any one dealing with pain and illness, but I want the best things for those of you who are. It's not your fault, and it doesn't matter if it is, nobody deserves a life of pain and suffering and other bullshit. We need to do the best we can for those affected, including making sure everyone has access to quality medical care.
'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
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Re: 'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
#12The biggest breakthrough for me would also be free medicines and Universal healthcare for everyone.
We have that. Next?
Re: 'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
#13If they find anything that works it will be heavily regulated and too expensive for everyday Joe. Modern medicine is all about power, suffering and money.
Re: 'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
#14I know this is supposed to be good news and we should feel good about this, but as a generally healthy person all my life reading this I'm just shocked by the horrible diseases and illnesses that happen to good people just trying to live their lives. Through no fault of their own people end up with pain or disease and their quality of life, their hopes, their dreams, their daily life is affected. There's not a lot I…
When you think about it for a while is not only illness that can happen, actually everything could truncate your life in a second. So try to enjoy every second you have, I think it’s the best advice.
Re: 'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
#15It's a shame that there's no mention of the migraine related breakthroughs. Two new types of drugs that target CGRP (Calcitonin gene-related peptide) were approved and brought to market. One type is sold as injections and is used to prevent migraines, the other type is a tablet that's used to stop an acute migraine.
About a billion (!) people are affected by migraines, so any new treatment has the potential to be very beneficial.
Re: 'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
#16> But doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital attempted an untested "phage therapy", which uses viruses to infect and kill bacteria. Phage-therapy never became mainstream medicine and the field was eclipsed by the discovery of antibiotics, which are much easier to use. Yes, phage therapy quickly disappeared after antibiotics were discovered. At the time, antibiotics were more convenient as they usually help against a…
> The institute survived through the horrible times of stalin and later it became of strategic importance as the west didn't share antibiotics with the soviet union.
Penicillin and Streptocide were shipped to USSR under Lend-Lease in industrial quantities and saved many hundreds of thousands lives.
Re: 'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
#17If they find anything that works it will be heavily regulated and too expensive for everyday Joe. Modern medicine is all about power, suffering and money.
Some things should be heavily regulated. Antibiotics, for example: not only do we have issues with antibiotic resistance, the "everyday Joe" does no have the tools to know if they have a virus or bacteria nor if they are taking the right type of antibiotic for the sort of infection they have. Different antibiotics and different forms (pill, drops, cremes) are better for different things.
Too expensive? Perhaps fix the health care system. Some things are understandably expensive - autoimmune drugs, for instance. And someone needs to pay for R&D (but not ads). This doesn't mean that the poor sap who lost the genetic lottery should bear the brunt of it all. Not everywhere makes "everyday Joe" pay for all of it.
Some things don't need to be so expensive: Insulins, for example, even after the R&D costs. Epi-pens. And so on. Regulation helps some of this.
Power? Do you think these folks have power everywhere? Everyone needs to make a living, so yeah, like everything it is partially about money. Most folks involved in medicine, however, aren't going down that route. The CNA at the nursing home doesn't get paid much. The nurse gets paid more, but generally is stressed. And so on.
I don't know what makes you think it is all about suffering. The issues in the US healthcare system really boils down to lawmakers not being willing to change things - again, most the folks in health care don't want folks to suffer.
Re: 'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
#18Just once I'd love to see an article that instead of breathlessly promoting ultra-expensive, risky, and unlikely to scale technologies, emphasizes how inexpensive and straightforward processes and procedures are far more effective for global health increase with reduced costs. While some of the concepts in this article may go on to be successful, they will mostly just increase the total cost of care.
Re: 'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
#19Just once I'd love to see an article that instead of breathlessly promoting ultra-expensive, risky, and unlikely to scale technologies, emphasizes how inexpensive and straightforward processes and procedures are far more effective for global health increase with reduced costs. While some of the concepts in this article may go on to be successful, they will mostly just increase the total cost of care.
Would you really want to read it? It’s going to be boring...
- wash you hands often and don’t touch your face unless you just did
- stay out of midday sun, over 45 degree elevation
- no alcohol, simple carbs, or other addictive substances
- no prolonged seating; walk some distance a few times a day.
- modest stretch and exercise (like hipster yoga)
- 8 hours of sleep; observe sleep hygiene.
- prioritize reducing stress over “making a difference” and such
- prioritize fulfilling social interaction
- prefer a job that doesn’t torture you but gives a modest sense of accomplishment
- if you are a doctor follow checklists
- if you’re not a doctor follow checklists anyway
EDIT:
- plan vacations as far in advance as you can and generally sprinkle in your life something unconditional to look forward to
- try dog or cat sitting for your friends; I’ve found that a good cat is a permanent +4 boost to mood every day for $100 per month
Re: 'Man on the Moon' moment – the year's big breakthroughs in medicine
#20> But doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital attempted an untested "phage therapy", which uses viruses to infect and kill bacteria. Phage-therapy never became mainstream medicine and the field was eclipsed by the discovery of antibiotics, which are much easier to use. Yes, phage therapy quickly disappeared after antibiotics were discovered. At the time, antibiotics were more convenient as they usually help against a…
> The institute survived through the horrible times of stalin and later it became of strategic importance as the west didn't share antibiotics with the soviet union. Penicillin and Streptocide were shipped to USSR under Lend-Lease in industrial quantities and saved many hundreds of thousands lives.
That’s true, but Lend-Lease ended well before Stalin’s death.