Mom's crabby again? Here's why...
The Quest for RestBy Barbara Kantrowitz
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12334537/site/newsweek/
“The Quest for Rest” is an article that was printed in the April 24, 2006 edition of
Newsweek. The article talks about the troubles that women are having when trying to sleep and how they are just beginning to come forth about their troubles. The article also talks about some of the underlying causes of the sleeplessness that women are experiencing as well as remedies and new drugs that have been designed to help the problem. Potential health complications are also listed that are associated with a lack of sleep.
This article is of interest to me because I work in the allergy and pulmonary departments during the summer at the Dean Medical Center. We see a variety of patients that come in with sleep disorders ranging from young children to older adults. We do not see very many women though, and this article may lead to an increase in the number of women that come to the clinic to be tested for potential sleep disorders. The media has a huge effect in terms of what people worry about in relation to their health as has been the case in the past. Also, college students often suffer from poor sleep habits (if they sleep at all). I felt this article may offer some insight into the problem women have with sleeplessness as well as offer some advice regarding sleeplessness in the population as a whole.
The intended audience for this article is adult women, particularly those that may potentially exhibit some of the symptoms that were listed in the article (lower mood, less energy, more irritability). Women seem to take a more proactive approach to their health than men do and would be more receptive to the article’s suggestions. There is some technical jargon that is used throughout the article, but it is quickly followed by explanations that the average layperson could understand. This makes the author’s message more effective and encourages women to talk to their doctor about these issues.
Throughout the piece, there are several key experts cited providing testimony to what may be causing the problem. Many of them are well-respected in their fields and head societies devoted to sleep. The majority of the experts are women too which shows there are doctors that can empathize with women who suffer from this problem. The quotes are placed effectively throughout the piece, offering insight to the more difficult concepts regarding sleep and its causes. Statistical information such as number of people suffering from sleep problems, the percent of menstruating women reporting that they have problems, and the sales of sleep aids is included as well. This further supports the point that more and more women are admitting they have a problem and that the problem is worth examining.
In addition to expert testimony, the author includes the testimony of real women that have been diagnosed with sleep disorders. The first testimonial, from a mother, is very important in that it raises the question of the origin of the sleepiness, especially when raising a child. The last is a woman that doesn’t appear to have children but also has experienced problems sleeping as well. Both of the testimonials are used to show that sleeplessness can have a variety of etiologies. The author uses both points to show the common belief in sleep medicine that it is important to recognize the cause of the sleeping problem before treating with drugs.
The article is organized into an introduction, problem, and solution format. The author provides cases where women have had trouble sleeping to illustrate the problem. The author then uses the testimony of experts to spell out the problem. In the last portion of the article, the author goes through different diagnoses and remedies to help with the specific problem. The article as a whole is quite technical. It systematically lays out each point and provides analysis and a solution for that point before moving on.
There is no glaring bias in the article. The subtitle of the article clearly states that the subject is women, and the article focuses on the issue of sleeplessness in relation to women’s health. There is no lack of recognition of this in the field of sleep pathology which is evident by the quotes by the leading sleep researchers. Therefore, the author doesn’t focus on the lack of attention. Rather, she focuses on the need for women to recognize this problem and seek medical attention for it and treat the specific underlying cause of sleeplessness.
In summary, the author focuses on illustrating the problem so that women in the general public are better informed and can recognize this disorder in their own lives. The author explores different avenues to relieve sleeplessness. I think she does this in an attempt to offer possible avenues for women that are experiencing these symptoms to try to improve their sleep before seeing a doctor. Through the numerous interviews, suggestions, and remedies, Kantrowitz gives women enough tools to take a more proactive approach to health rather than the passive approach many take when visiting a doctor.
A Promise to Myself
A Promise to Myself
As the May 15 deadline nears for students accepted into medical schools around the country to commit to a school that they want to attend, I find myself considering the possibility of moving to Chicago and attending the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. I am continually impressed with their admissions office, staff, curriculum, and now the students. But I am also reminded of something I promised myself just under a decade ago.
I was just in seventh grade around that time, and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. The only thing I was concerned about was when I could go to my lunch break and playing basketball for the school team. It was also the time my grandpa was diagnosed with bladder cancer by his local doctor in Peoria, Illinois.
I was devastated when I first heard the news. I knew that he was in for a long and painful road of doctor’s visits, chemotherapy, and recovery. My grandpa and I were close. He always took me out to lunch when I visited, and he and I would check out the girls. We used to sit on the couch and watch old movies and the history channel together. He even used to let me shoot his guns when I was a lot younger and take the time to teach me how to shoot. However, these memories just barely skim the surface of why he was special to me.
The hospital that he was referred to see a specialist at was Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Every few weeks for 12 months he and my grandma rode the train into downtown Chicago so my grandpa could get his treatment. I followed his progress as closely as possible through my mom because he never wanted to admit there was anything wrong, let alone talk about it with me. When I saw him, I noticed he was more tired than usual but was always in good spirits. He never had any complaints.
After a year of chemotherapy treatments and biopsies, his cancer was declared to be in remission. My family and I were all relieved. More importantly, my grandpa was going to be around for a little while longer. While surviving cancer is becoming more and more commonplace in today’s world, I felt like the luckiest kid in the world.
While I can’t say that this was the sole defining moment in my decision to go to medical school, I will say that I was now strongly considering it. Northwestern University doctors had given my grandpa a new lease on life. The doctors and their treatment of my grandpa impressed me. They were given a problem, and they fixed it and did a marvelous job. I told myself then that if I ever got into Northwestern University’s medical school, I would go their in a heartbeat.
It’s funny what so many years will do to you. I continued my education and eventually attended the University of Wisconsin where I made my decision to apply for medical school a firm one. However, in the midst of classes, tests, applications, and interviews, my promise had taken a backseat to everything else in my life. I was taking my grandpa being alive for granted. I was given a rude awakening though as to how fragile life is. December 2004, my grandpa died from lung cancer after battling it for just one year.
Needless to say, I was deeply saddened. But I was reminded again of a promise that I had made to myself years earlier. I continued on and passed my classes, took the MCAT, and began to apply for medical schools. Near the top of my list was Northwestern University.
As the deadline approaches, I can now see my decision to attend Northwestern is clear. I had made up my mind nearly a decade ago when my grandpa was sick and was cured by the great doctors that work at that school. I owe it to myself, and to others, to be trained by some of the finest doctors in the world so that I can give others another shot at life, just as I was given a second chance with my grandpa.
Psychoanalyze This
Newsweek – March 27, 2006
“Freud in Our Midst” by Jerry Adler
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11904222/site/newsweek/
In Jerry Adler’s article, “Freud in Our Midst,” he writes about one of the most controversial scientists in modern history and how his ideas continue to influence our lives. I found the article while perusing through
Newsweek’s science and technology section. I’ve always been fascinated with Freud’s theories, and sometimes I find myself actually reflecting on my own life and my actions and how past decisions I have made have affected the present. Without Freud, this idea of introspection likely never gains notoriety.
The one thing that I noticed immediately when reading the article is the author’s style. He writes poetically using symbolism, metaphors, and imagery to paint a picture of how Freud has shaped the field of psychology and how others react to his theories. Some examples of the poetic language that jumped out at me included “unleash a torrent of denunciation” and “mountains of Prozac every year have failed to bury it.” The style was appropriate for the subject matter because the author says that Freud’s theories are less in the realm of science and more in the realm of literature. The author argues that Freud’s theories are poetic in themselves.
The audience that Adler targets is quite obviously
Newsweek readers, but I feel that with the poetic language and scholarly subject matter that he is targeting the more educated
Newsweek readers than the whole. Those that have taken a psychology class and have had a chance to study Freud’s theories would be more interested in the subject matter than most. The author cites many sources and quotes many experts throughout the article, something that a more educated reader would note.
Many of the sources that are quoted in the article are doctors that are leaders in the field of psychiatry and psychology. Many of them hold positions at medical schools indicating that they have ongoing research in the field and each is very opinionated in terms of whether they believe Freud’s contribution to the field of psychology was significant or otherwise. Having this testimony not only strengthens the author’s credibility in writing on this topic, but it adds flavor to the debate about whether Freud’s contribution to psychology was indeed lasting and positive.
One thing that bothered me (and it may be a little nit-picky) was the inclusion of a
Newsweek poll to help support a point that Freud’s idea of psychoanalysis is still popular among Americans. The poll only includes Newsweek readers which is a biased and unrepresentative portion of the population. Even if the author was using it merely as an illustration, a statistic from the American Psychological Association concerning this subject would have been more appropriate given the scholarly overtone of this piece.
By crafting the article to mirror a debate, the author sets up the conclusion to be open for interpretation. However, he includes a quote from Freud regarding human conflict. By doing this, the author wants to leave a lasting impression on the reader’s mind saying that Freud’s ideas do have a place in modern clinical psychology and research. It has an anecdotal tone and suggests that there may in fact be some underlying reason to certain human actions. I felt that this statement was the author’s way of praising Freud’s contribution to science and the field of psychology.
Overall, the article is written from a fairly neutral point of view offering commentary from both sides of the fence regarding Freud. I felt it was an interesting and appropriate way to commemorate psychoanalysis’ founding father and is appropriate subject matter for a publication such as
Newsweek.
Cabin Fever
Cabin Fever
As I sit here thinking about what to write, I receive a call from my good friend in Panama City, Florida having the time of his life. I am now a senior and have not gone anywhere for spring break during my undergraduate years for various financial reasons or prior obligations, and I am deeply troubled by that. Therefore, I will write a therapeutic message for myself, and hopefully others that may need it. These are my top five reasons why I can’t wait for spring.
5.) I get to shed clothes and not have to blame this behavior on intoxication. By the time of the first thaw, I’m ready to bust out the shorts and short sleeve shirts in preparation for warmer weather. The only problem is that in Wisconsin the first thaw usually means it gets up to 38 degrees which is hardly shorts weather. I never thought I’d hate the saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Can’t we just skip the lion part?
4.) The days are longer. I don’t know about others, but 16 hours of darkness every day gets a little annoying at times. It is a little depressing at times that I can get up and go to work when it’s dark and come home in the dark. It has always been my belief that people should not be up before the sun rises. My roommate says it best: “Drink when it’s light out, sleep when it’s dark out.” I dig brother. I dig.
3.) The Milwaukee Brewers host spring training and opening day at Miller Park. This will be my first time at Miller Park this year for the opening day festivities, but I’m sure it will not be my last. I firmly believe that it is more difficult to be a Milwaukee Brewers fan than any other fan in baseball. But spring gives me hope that this will be the Brewers year that they finally have a winning season no matter how many stars and contributors they trade away for “prospects.” I think this may be the Brewers year, so bring on the Cubs and their fair-weather fans.
2.) The golf clubs come out. Quite possible the only game that I can dub “the greatest game ever invented” and “the game that I hate the most” simultaneously, golf provides an escape to whatever ails me. The scenery, the competition, the camaraderie, and the unexplained cases of Turrets (i.e. I wouldn’t say such things around my parents) that go along with golf are unparalleled. If only I could shoot more consistently…
1.) Spring means I’m nearly done with another year of school. After all, what comes after spring? Summer—and summer has even more potential than spring. But… good things come to those who wait, so I’m willing to put up with spring in the meantime. However, I find that studying for exams becomes immensely more difficult when you look out the window and see others enjoying the weather. In spring you just have to study harder in order to party harder.
Another spring break has gone down the tubes and I’m left with another case of Cabin Fever. It appears I’ll get no relief either because snow is in the forecast. I guess I’ll just reread my list again.
The Five Stages of Senioritis
The Five Stages of Senioritis
Everyone has had a case of Senioritis at one time or another. Everyone at the University of Wisconsin was once a senior in high school. I am currently in the middle of my final semester at UW, and I have a bad strain of Senioritis.
How do you know when you have developed a case? I have developed a five stage model that you can use to help determine if you or a loved one has Senioritis and identify to which stage the Senioritis has progressed. The stages are presented in the order that they usually present, but there are a few cases that deviate from the norm.
*adapted from the Five Stages of Grief described by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D.
Denial: This stage occurs at the beginning of the student’s senior year. Anxious to get the year started off right, the student chooses not to admit that in the spring, it is likely that he or she will be donning the cap and gown that symbolizes the right of passage into the working world. Ultimately, clinical manifestations of this stage do not differ much from when the student was a junior. They just continue to go on with their business as a student because, after all, they will be here for a while longer.
Anger: This stage can be an absolute ear-sore for those closest to the student that is affected. It is during this stage that the student begins to ask the question, “What is all of this for?” Angry outbursts about classes that they felt were a waste of time are common, and the student is never in a good mood after coming home from class. They develop a carefree attitude about schoolwork, saying it just does not matter anymore. After all, C’s get degrees, right? Or was it B’s? In any case, arguing with a student in this stage is futile and will result in hurt feelings and/or bruises. This stage typically lasts until around the end of the student’s first semester of their senior year.
Bargaining: After surviving the first semester, the student begins to see that mid-May graduation date in the distance. It is during this stage that alternatives to graduating begin to manifest in many clinical cases. A few examples of these include but are not limited to: joining the Peace Corps, deciding on graduate school, or taking a few more classes to pursue that elusive second major, “the victory lap.” Other symptoms the student may display include long conversations with his or her parents convincing them of the logic of their decision and the student incessantly changing their mind about what they will be doing next year. Bargaining typically lasts until about mid-second semester.
Depression: This phase is extremely variable for many students. For some, realizing that they might not see their friends on a daily basis, party until the early hours of the morning consistently, and interact with willing co-eds weekly is as bad as it gets. Others do not have the luxury to worry about such petty things. Students that pay their way through college see the mountain of debt that they have built. Those that aren’t fortunate enough to have a plan for the fall are forced to search for jobs, many of them not quite as illustrious as they had once imagined. The question of moving on to new places or staying put arises. This stage is typically accompanied by nervousness and intermittent stomach butterflies and typically lasts only a few weeks.
Acceptance: This is the final stage where the student realizes graduating may actually be a good thing for them. People in the working world do not get paid to party, and not everyone is capable of pulling off a “Van Wilder.” Moving on to new things, meeting new people, exploring, and self-discovery await. The apprehension that was felt by the student turns from a negative to a positive feeling. The student realizes that it is all right to be nervous about the future. Breaking out of a routine can be a scary but exhilarating experience. Should this stage present clinically, tell the student to savor this moment. He or she will not likely experience this feeling again until retirement, if they are lucky enough to retire.
Rx: Enjoy the company of friends, do things spontaneously, and take lots of pictures. Memories can be as valuable as the experience itself.
Duh Stupid, It's In Your Genes
“The Iceland Experiment – How a Tiny Island Nation Captured the Lead in the Genetic Revolution”
By Michael D. Lemonick
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1158968-1,00.html In Michael D. Lemonick’s “The Ice Experiment,” he examines the advantages a country such as Iceland possesses that facilitate genetic research. The advantages he cites include the fact that Iceland is an island, it was settled by a small number of individuals, there was relatively little immigration to the country, and incredibly detailed genealogies were kept. Each of these factors contributes to and validates the genetic homogeneity of Iceland making genetic research much easier.
Lemonick’s main purpose is to inform an audience about a new approach to genetic research. However, Lemonick subtly includes the element of persuasion in this piece as well. It seems that he incorporates certain details to persuade his audience that this kind of research is worthwhile. The United States has very strict laws regarding patient privacy, and by illuminating the efforts of Iceland’s population towards this research, he is trying to convince the United States populace to do the same. He cites the rise in deCODE’s stock, the localizing of numerous genes involved in the disease process, and the development of drugs from this data as evidence in support of genetic research.
Lemonick uses quotes to support the importance of the research being done in Iceland as well. These include quotations from Dr. Francis Collins, a member of the NIH and leader of the Human Genome Project, and Dr. Kari Stefansson who leads the research being done in Iceland. Both are respected in their field and both have the credentials to back up any testimony given. Also, Stefansson points to the development of a drug from their data by Hoffmann-La Roche which clearly enhances the authenticity of the story, a must given the recent scientific fabrications in the field of genetics.
One thing the article does not give enough attention to is the ethics surrounding the measures that deCODE has taken to obtain confidential health care data. Lemonick does mention a case that went to Iceland’s supreme court where this detail was brought to Iceland’s attention. However, deCODE’s solution was to offer an incentive to all who participate, free drugs. But while they offer free drugs to the participating population from Hoffman-La Roche for any drug that is created from their research, the fact remains that they are exploiting human beings for profit. The company seems to utilize any means possible to help achieve their goal.
Another ethical issue not touched upon is the ramifications of genetic research. Revealing predispositions to certain diseases raises many questions as to the access that insurance companies and employers will have to these records. Disease risk can affect whether or not a person will be insured and can affect the cost of that insurance. Likewise, employers may view those with a higher likelihood of contracting a disease a liability.
Genetic research and genetic engineering will continue to be hot topics for many coming decades. It is an issue that scientists and the medical and health care industries will have to closely examine to determine a policy that will be protective to the patient and beneficial to society. Lemonick focused on the benefits to society in his analysis, but failed to fully analyze the protection that should be afforded to the patient. Future analyses in support of genetic research should include this element.
March Madness: The Cure
March Madness: The Cure
Basketball’s most hallowed of months is almost here. The feeling basketball fans get can be likened to the anticipation of a child waiting for Christmas day. It is a time when grade school, high school, and college basketball players everywhere vie for a shot at the ultimate prize: a season championship. The game, untainted by the temptation of money and rewards, is in its finest form.
Perhaps the greatest aspect of March Madness is that anything is possible. 1985 - #8 seed Villanova upsets the overall #1 seed Georgetown in the NCAA title game. 1954 – The Milan Indians upset top-ranked Muncie Central in the Indiana State High School Championship (popularized by the film
Hoosiers). Numerous game winning shots dot the game’s history including the memorable and recent shots made by Christian Laettner in 1991 and Bryce Drew in 1998 that clinched the game for their respective teams, Duke and Valparaiso. Whatever the year, two things can be guaranteed. There will be suspense, and there will be drama.
Ask anyone why they like the game and dozens of answers will be given. The smell of the varnish on the wood floor after it has been repaired, the squeak of shoes while stopping and sliding, and the pounding and reverberation of the ball on the gym floor are a few that come to mind. It may be that one can completely lose track of time playing a pick-up game at the gym as a team or shooting alone. The game is indiscriminate in terms of who plays. It is a game that anyone can pick up and play, as equipment costs relatively little.
Tonight I will once again lace up my shoes and dust off my ball as my intramural team, the Bombers, will play our first game of the season. While it may seem insignificant to most, this is my only chance to play organized basketball in college. However, the desire to win and outperform my opponent is not lost. There are dozens of others like me though who are not tall enough or talented enough to play college basketball. Good luck to all this season, may the best team win.
