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by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation The cost of drugs (and healthcare) are far more expensive in the U.S. than in any other country in the world, and they're becoming unaffordable for many patients. Every year, the problem increases — not just a little, but a lot. Why do we have this problem, and why isn't it being addressed? Some of the key reasons for that include:
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by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that our health systems around the world are severely limited by many vulnerabilities. But it also offered valuable lessons that, if heeded, could better prepare us for future outbreaks. Unfortunately, as we emerge from the shadows of the Covid 19 pandemic, signs indicate that we may not be as ready for the next pandemic as we should be.
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation In a recent study published in PLOS Medicine , researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, led by William Feldman, shed light on the tactics used by insulin manufacturers to keep prices high. The analysis reveals how these companies have manipulated patent laws and FDA regulations to extend their market exclusivity, suppressing competition, and keeping insulin prices elevated despite its century-old discovery (Olsen, et al., 2023).1
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation I wonder how many of us have ever heard of John Symes? He owned Beltline Animal Clinic in Mobile Alabama, where he specialized in providing veterinary services for pets, for several decades. He was known online as DogtorJ (his website was dogtorj.com), and years ago, many of us encountered his excellent articles on food intolerances, and associated health issues.
That's obvious in articles written by doctors and published on medically oriented websites, such as an article recently published on Medscape (Mandrola, 2024, February 22).1 Medscape is a website claimed to be read by many doctors, so it's probably safe to assume that the conclusions stated by an article such as this are popular among doctors. Prestigious medical journals and medical websites are loath to publish articles that include unpopular conclusions.
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Stress is not just a daily annoyance; for those with microscopic colitis (MC), it can be a significant trigger for symptom flare-ups and disease exacerbation. Managing stress becomes not just a matter of personal comfort but a critical component of disease management. Yet, as anyone with MC knows, finding effective stress management techniques that fit into our lifestyle is much easier said than done.
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation A review of previously published literature regarding health-related quality of life (HRQL) associated with food allergies, revealed a distinct gender bias. The study, published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy, showed that HRQL associated with food allergies, deteriorated more for females, than for males (Rosser, et al., 2024).1
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation As an online article published on the MedicalNewsToday website points out, 80% of patients who have an autoimmune disease are women (Pratt, 2024, February 1).1 The reason for this gender bias has been unexplained until recently, when researchers discovered a connection with a genetic process unique to women, that occurs because of the DNA configuration that defines the difference between mammalian males and females.
By wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Over the years, how many of us have heard that frustrating advice from our gastroenterologist when we asked him or her what we should do to control our gastrointestinal symptoms? Or our pain? Or our brain fog? Or our difficulty getting enough sleep? Or our persistent fatigue? Or . . .?
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation I've had constipation problems most of my life. I can remember events from my childhood, when typically, several days would pass before I would have a bowel movement, and of course, even then, the event usually wasn't accomplished easily. As I was growing up, I didn't realize that this was an abnormal pattern of bowel movements. But when I was in my early 50s, my bowel movements suddenly became marked by a little fresh blood with each event.
By Wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation With concerns about sleep apnea and a few other sleep issues on the increase these days, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is on the increase. And concerns about a possible association of sleep apnea with issues such as heart failure, cardiovascular risk, hypertension, and various other health issues add a sense of urgency for those who suspect they might have sleep apnea.
by Wayne PerskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Or, why your doctor is forced to prescribe medications Indisputable evidence continues to support the position that making lifestyle behavior changes, when properly done, can be successfully used to prevent, and even reverse common chronic issues such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type II diabetes, for example. And the clinical practice guidelines listed for the treatment of such chronic diseases currently suggest lifestyle interventions as the first line of treatment, whenever possible.
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation *Note that this article is so long that it is being published in two parts. This is part two. Continuing Doctor Magnuson's description of her experiences with EMR
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation *Note that this article is so long that it is being published in two parts. This is part one. Burnout among medical professionals is an increasing problem, while patient dissatisfaction is growing. Doctors and nurses are understaffed, and overworked at most institutions. They're increasingly frustrated by how their job description has changed over the past couple of decades. Patients are losing faith in the healthcare system because of increasing wait times for appointments, and dissatisfaction with the way their appointments (and often their treatments) are handled. Is a crisis looming? You be the judge.
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation According to an online article titled The History of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), electronic health records date back to the mid-1960s, when Lockheed developed an electronic system known as a clinical information system (Rajaee, 2022, June 4).1 This inspired other technology and engineering companies to begin developing electronic health record systems for hospitals and universities. During the 1970s, the federal government began using EHR in the Department of Veterans affairs.
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation *Note that this article is so long that it is being published in two parts. This is part two. Our immune system was fine-tuned over a million years, as our paleo ancestors evolved. During that time period, our ancestor's immune system was exposed to most types of threat to which it is exposed today, and more, and it evolved with the capability to protect human life without the benefit of any medical intervention. Consequently, there's no logical reason why it should malfunction now, as long as it's properly nourished.
By Wayne PerskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation *Note that this article is so long that it is being published in two parts. This is part one. Because the practice of medicine is based on the concept that every disease is diagnosed and treated as if it were independent of all other diseases, medical researchers rarely consider the interdependence of various diseases. Consequently, they tend to overlook common connections that might be primarily responsible for the development of an entire class of diseases, such as autoimmune (AI) diseases, for example.
By Wayne PerskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation According to a recent online Medical Xpress article, having a cat more than doubles the risk of kids developing schizophrenia later in life (Jackson, 2023, December 11).1 Research published back in 2012, titled, "Toxoplasma gondii and Other Risk Factors for Schizophrenia", and published in "Schizophrenia Bulletin" showed that schizophrenia patients were nearly 3 times more likely to have toxoplasma antibodies in their blood (meaning that previous toxoplasma infections were prevalent among schizophrenia patients) (Torrey, Bartko, and Yolken, 2012).2
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Many of us have pets. And many of us are getting old enough, and have accumulated enough health issues, that we're inclined to be more cautious about health threats than we were when we were young, and lived as though we were invincible.
by wayne perskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Ultra-processed foods have received a lot of bad press, lately.
Over the past few years, we've seen the publication of numerous research articles concluding that ultra-processed foods in general, are-harmful for our health. Some countries have already modified their dietary guidelines to recommend eating less ultra-processed foods and they have policies in place regarding the use of ultra-processed foods in school lunch programs, but to date, the US has made precious few changes in their policies regarding the use of ultra-processed foods (Pomeranz, Mande, and Mozaffarian, 2023).1 by Wayne PerskyFounder and President of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Regulating the safety of food products on the shelves of grocery stores in the U.S. is the responsibility of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In theory at least, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) overseas the ethical performance of food manufacturing companies, and protects consumers from illegal business practices. Should we, as consumers, even be concerned about the ethics of food companies, as long as their products are FDA and FTC approved? Apparently, according to medical researchers, the correct answer is, "Yes".
by jessica woowardBoard Member of the Microscopic Colitis Foundation A recent article from HealthDay.com stated that only 14% of chronically ill patients use apps to track symptoms and medication effects, despite the potential for improvement of an individual’s chronic illness through using a health tracking app. Health tracking apps can aide both patients and doctors with symptom and medication management, track the progression of the disease, and allow patients to provide accurate detailed information to their healthcare team. Below are several apps to consider using to manage microscopic colitis.
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What is microscopic colitis?
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Patient support
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Ways to SUPPORT MCF
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