You might think it’s “just a rash,” but fluid-filled blisters are the mildest of symptoms that can include debilitating, never-ending pain. — Dr. Bill Nichols, a friend of mine, recently went through a horrible, preventable ordeal, suffering a severe case of shingles that left him wishing he had gotten the shingles vaccine. “Anytime I have an opportunity, I tell people to get the Shingrix shot,” Nichols said. “I’ve survived therapy for three…

Reporting progress from the RECOVER study — Dr. Patterson is a RECOVER Consortium author. The good news is that the pandemic is winding down after three long years. The bad news is that many people are still suffering from the aftereffects of Covid-19. More than 40% of U.S. adults have had…

Progress and challenges in mental health care — I’m a medical doctor, and although not a psychiatrist, I’ve observed that there are two kinds of people: those who are affected by mental illness, and those who will be. I’m one of those who is affected. I lost a son to suicide, my brother had a difficult-to-control bipolar disorder…

What does it mean for you? On May 11, 2023, the federal Public Health Emergency will expire. Since December 2020, the U.S. implemented the largest adult vaccination program in U.S. history. Almost 270 million people in the country have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination. Due to widespread vaccination, other…

Some things women should know about uterine cancer — It was only a few weeks since the unexpected death of my 18-year-old son, Will, from suicide. I was still in excruciating pain from this loss. The weekend ahead held his birthday and Easter, the first major holiday since he died. We attended a family gathering, and I remembered how…

Here are 10 things I have learned. — Our son, Will, died at age 18 of mental illness and suicide. I continue to learn how to live with this loss over time, and I share here some things I’ve learned in the first 10 years. 1. People who have not lost a child really don’t understand. The loss…

Her message of unity and love is needed today. In celebrating Women’s History month, I read Barbara Jordan An American Hero (1), the biography by Mary Beth Rogers. I had already considered Barbara Jordan a hero, remembering her impressive address at the Watergate hearings in 1974. …

Here are some tips to relieve insomnia This is Sleep Awareness Week, so it’s a good time to talk about ‘sleep hygiene’, that is, strategies for healthy sleep. About one third of adults suffer from insomnia, and it is more common in older adults and women. Occasional wakefulness at night…

Remembering my mother’s sorrow for her child loss For many, Saint Patrick’s Day is just a day to wear green and drink beer. There are Saint Patrick’s Day parades across the U.S., and where I live, the San Antonio River is dyed green. …