Books on the Art of Diagnosis

Doctors rely on a variety of academic disciplines to practice the art of medicine. Yes, they draw a great deal on the hard sciences.

However, they also use a measure of psychology, sociology, philosophy and rhetoric in order to take patient histories and persuade patients to follow specific treatment regimes.

They also use interpretive skills when diagnosing. This aspect of medicine interests me a great deal. I've wanted to understand the art of interpreting medical data, and I've found a couple of books that help me with this task.

Jerome Groopman, M.D. published How Doctors Think in 2007. Groopman, an oncologist, draws on his experience as both a doctor and a patient and also shares several anecdotes provided by other doctors.

2014 Report on Aging in 2050

Photo by Sam Howzit.

Granted, projections are just educated guesses, but I find them interesting.  Government programs are particularly interested in the future of aging, so various agencies produce reports from time to time.

Here are some highlights from a May 2014 report An Aging Nation: The Older Population in the United States published by the United States Census Bureau.   The report compares 2012 statistics on age, gender, and race and makes projections to 2030 and 2050.

This report interests me because these are years that I was 50, will be 68 and will be 88 (God willing).  And I'm one of the youngest Baby Boomers, so that will tell you how this large cohort will be aging in the next few decades.

But enough about me. Let's look at some of the report's numbers. 

Stroke Survivors: Celebrity Boomers

Detail of Bergen from a photo by Alan Light.

Strokes can happen to people at any age, but they are more common among people as they get older.

The Baby Boomers (b. 1946 to 1964) are at increased risk for strokes now that they are in their 50s and 60s.

Even though stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the United Stats, that is a reduction from the 3rd leading cause just a decade ago.  Great news!

With immediate treatment (within 1 to 3 hours) followed by rehabilitation (physical therapy, speech therapy and/or occupational therapy) people can survive and recover a great deal of function post stroke.

Note: I am not a doctor. If you have any concerns about your risk for stroke, see a licensed medical professional. If you have any signs of stroke, call 911. 

Here are a few Baby Boomers who suffered strokes and survived.

Know the Signs of Stroke

Photo by Trying2.

Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the United States, and it's a significant cause of disability for those who survive.

For more statistics about the prevalence of stroke, see the CDC's page.

Note: I am not a doctor.  Please talk to a licensed medical professional about how to reduce your risk for stroke. 

Risks for stroke include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise, TIAs (sometimes called "mini strokes") and a prior stroke.

In addition to making healthy lifestyle choices, you should be aware of the signs of stroke in order to get medical attention quickly.

Here are some of the common signs of stroke: