Violent TV Movie Syndrome: Public Health Crisis in Vivo

Did you know that Violent TV Movie Syndrome (VTMS) is a major cause of many health and social problems? Single and repeated images of young children (or anyone) shot laying dead in pools of blood is horrific and unhealthy.  As a medical professional familiar with death first hand as part of my job, I can only hope and pray someone will be responsible and speak up.  This is child abuse. This is mental abuse. This is public health abuse.  Hollywood makes movies with less violence and bloodshed. Any educated person knows that repeated violence harms people in so many ways. It is so unnecessary to show these images to tell a news story or any other type of story. Images such as these depict what is seen in the coroner's office., and should be kept there.

Suicide, homicide, and post traumatic disorder are just a few medical maladies that occur from watching violence.  Surely you can choose to watch something else; however, the curious child with a TV remote may choose otherwise.  Protect yourself and your children.  This type of programming is hard to grasp and confuse with something else - real life! They become real life.  Doctors and health care providers have much more serious conditions to care for instead of illness and death induced by "Violent TV/Movie Syndrome" which can be prevented. For the doctors who take an oath to "do no harm", let us hope our media will do likewise.  Until then we can only counsel our patients to turn it off.

See this reference for more details http://www.parent.net/article/tv-kids-violence.shtml

Is the Doctor Really "In"?

Dear Patient,

It has indeed been a privilege and wonder to take care of you and your family.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, we must vacation indefinitely so we can find the best solutions for cost effective health care.  Our budgets are lean as well and get leaner as more patients drop out to do self care or go to emergency rooms, public health clinics, or stand in "lotto" lines to get get health care from traveling clinics.

We must campaign for your healthcare and our salary.  Routine sequential cuts for reimbursement by Medicare and Medicaid are taking its toll.  Insurance companies demand more time with less pay as well.  Now that the healthcare bill requiring each and every one of you to have insurance has been repealed.  Self pay is an option, but you must have food and shelter first.  Less money in, more money out.

Due to lack of campaign funds and time for raising necessary monies to do so, we are using and pooling our resources.  We wish to provide you with continuity of care, but we must also find ways to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.  Many of my fellowess and fellow physicians are supplementing our income as well through other occupations.

Thank you for allowing me to care for you and the family.  We are true believers that great health is true wealth; however, you must have money to keep it.

Best health,
Dr. Feelgood

P. S. Check out Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide via links in the right column.  Get a heads up and start checking yourself and your family.

Nootropic Neurological Nonsense - Limitless?

Are you looking for mind bending treatment that will make you smarter as well as more mentally and physically efficient?  The neurochemical nootropics, the so-called "smart drugs", are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Though medical evidence is inconclusive, these drugs supposedly improve every aspect of mental cognition including memory, concentration, acuity allowing for smarter, quicker human function.  It sounds like a sure bet for anyone with Alzheimer's disease, ADD, and just pure laziness. They are commonly taken to keep one alert, increase energy, improve memory, and to decrease mental decline in aging.

So why is your doctor failing to offer you such a great "pick-me-up" medication?  Considered both a natruceutical dietary herbal supplement and recreational drug may make it difficult for your doctor to prescribe it for you.  But who needs a prescription? Premium prices for bulk amounts are available for the consumer patient to buy on line, and in specialty stores.  For instance $25 will buy you 120 of Piracetam's mega 800 mg capsules, or 60 tablets of BrainAlert with it's 24 "natural" ingredients (far too many for one pill, some toxic). Designer versions of nootropics are available also.  These are usually more recreationally formulated with less exact ingredients.

Side effects and adverse reactions including drug addiction may occur especially if the drug is withdrawn after long term use.  For this reason alone, doctors may be hesitant to prescribe it; however, it is easily available elsewhere.   The off-label recreational use of nootropics can be especially dangerous if addiction occurs.  You may be and feel "superpowered" until the drug wears off and withdrawal sets in if you lack more pills.

Upgrading your body and mind with smart pills can be productive or destructive. Can this nootropic neurological nonsense be "limitless"?

NOTE: For more context and perspective watch the brilliant film Limitless which shows how a writer achieves success and riches using nootropics.