By now everyone should know that driving while under the influence of alcohol is dangerous and bad for society. A public awareness campaign dating back several decades, along with greater enforcement and beefed-up penalties sought to reduce alcohol-related traffic accidents. Yet, according to a new study 55% of serious road accidents and traffic fatalities involve a driver who tested positive for drugs or alcohol.
Author: Devon Herrick
Only 14% of Cancers Found Through Preventive Screening
I am overdue for a colonoscopy. I’ve been meaning to schedule one for over a year but when the time comes to do so I put it off because it’s not the most pleasant procedure to endure. Colonoscopies for colorectal cancer are one of the few cancer screenings recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the others are breast, cervical and lung cancer. However, I just read that only 14.1% of cancers are caught through screening.
WSJ: Remote Mental Health Counseling Suffers from Growing Pains
The Wall Street Journal ran an article on The Failed Promise of Online Mental-Health Treatment (gated on one device but I was able to read it for free on another). During the pandemic lockdown there were few options available for counseling at a time when many peoples’ mental health was taking a hit.
Ask Your Doctor Four Questions to Avoid Unnecessary Care
I went to a urologist a couple years ago. He examined me and told me he was 85% sure what I had was not serious and would resolve on its own. However, if I wanted to be 100% sure, there was an in-office test ($450) and an MRI ($350) that he could order for me. I got the feeling he was probably really 95% sure I was fine. The urologist likely offered additional tests out of defensive medicine and the fact that some patients desire more care than others. I was cash pay so I opted out of it.