Field Notes: Dr. Vivek Murthy with Krista Tippett on loneliness, Happy Autism Acceptance Month, seasonal allergies, & more
"The ramifications to not being connected could not be more profound" — Dr. Vivek Murthy
Hello, dear friends! Spring has sprung early here, which is gorgeous — and has meant a miserable season for the allergy sufferers in our family. Lots of itchy eyes, scratch throats, sneezing, the whole bit. Alas. If you have tips on how to help people who have allergies, I’d love to hear them.
Here are 6 things related to wellness and illness that I ran across recently and found interesting. I hope you find something useful here, too.
✨ Dr. Vivek Murthy on Krista Tippett’s On Being podcast (Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen) — If you only go to one link in this newsletter, this is the one I’d recommend. It’s a fantastic, illuminating conversation with two of my favorite speakers together, examining a crucial issue of our time. (Side thanks to Rebecca for the tip-off!) As a long-time radio host and now podcast host, Krista Tippett holds beautiful conversations laced with deep and wide-ranging thoughts, and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Murthy is a magnificant, compassionate, and wise speaker. Here’s just one of his quotes: “I think to truly feel whole — it’s not about acquiring something that we don’t have. It’s about remembering who we fundamentally are.” Dr. Murthy is the author of Together: The Healing Power of Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, which focuses on the epidemic of loneliness and its profound implications for our health and happiness. Dr. Murthy has also been honored by the Gold Foundation, a nonprofit that champions the human connection in healthcare (and also where I work, though this newsletter is a separate personal project). This episode is packed with profound truths about the pain of our world today and the need for us all to be more connected, to care for each other, and to come together around moral questions of our responsibilities to each other.
In what could be a 'big shift' for cancer treatment, mRNA vaccine shows promise against melanoma (USA Today) — Early news from an early trial, but its potential is exciting.
About 800,000 nurses planning to leave the profession by 2027, data show (Fierce Healthcare) — A new analysis released this week by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing shows the alarming state of healthcare work environment. Half of nurses surveyed reported feeling emotionally drained, and about a quarter of nurses reponding reported unsafe staffing or work environments.
Artificial Wombs Will Change Abortion Rights Forever (Wired) — A fascinating and surprising examination of ectogenesis, or being able to conceive and have a fetus grow into a baby completely outside of another human body. It could have enormous implications from family life to women’s reproductive rights. “Current philosophical literature and legislation on abortion revolve around three debates: the moral status of the fetus, women’s bodily autonomy, and the fetus’s viability. Ectogenesis means that fetuses at all stages will be viable, so the technology’s development will impact all three of these debates.”
Getting Ahead of Seasonal Allergies (Inside Medicine newsletter with Dr. Jeremy Faust) — I’ve found this advice helpful: “Decontaminating your skin and clothes after being outside really works.”
Happy Autism Acceptance Month (Colin Meloy’s Machine Shop newsletter) — April is Autism Awarness Month. Colin Meloy, a dad to an autistic son and the singer/songwriter for the band The Decemberists, writes: “More and more autism advocacy groups and autistic people, however, are using the month of April to reflect on autism acceptance rather than awareness. The issue facing autistic people is not a lack of awareness — not anymore — but rather a lack of accommodation and recognition.” Colin shares their family’s journey as they learned more about autism and celebrated his son, Hank, for who he is. A lovely and sweet piece worth a read.
If you come across something interesting in the realm of wellness or illness, please feel free to send it my way anytime. You can reply to any Field Notes email or reach me at brianne@odysseyofthebody.com. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!
To our journeys,
Brianne
p.s. One of the links was somehow broken, pointing to a random financial associates account I have never seen before! What happened? I don't know, but the Happy Autism Awareness Month post should have gone here: https://colinmeloy.substack.com/p/happy-autism-acceptance-month
It's fixed now. Many apologies to anyone who clicked on it earlier!
Allergies tips: stop the irritants getting in (if you can) with a mask or nasal filters. Wash face and hands often, esp when you come inside. Moisturisers can create a temporary skin barrier. When I garden (or fly internationally) I use Jungle Brolly lotion, which is basically a liquid glove. FESS saline nasal spray to flush sinuses. Bion Tears lubricant eyedrops to flush eyes. My dr recommended them because they don’t contain the preservatives most other eyedrops have, which ironically some people are allergic to. Pineapple juice because the bromelian is anti-inflammatory and may thin nasal secretions.
Melbourne is the allergy capital of the world, if you were wondering 🤧 https://www.kidsnews.com.au/health/victorian-capital-is-hayfever-hq-but-pollen-unlikely-primary-culprit/news-story/5b6064fbdccc75d2c505eabe62be70b2