WHYY
By
Joanne LuDecember 23, 2020
Smoky skies cast a reddish glow to San Francisco skies when the Northern California wildfires were burning earlier this year. (Ray Chavez/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images)
It’s no secret that inhaling smoke is bad for your lungs. But now, scientists are suggesting smoke may also carry and spread infectious diseases.
The theory, published in Science Magazine, is based on research that found wildfire smoke is teeming with thousands of species of microorganisms. Some of these microorganisms, including bacteria and fungal spores, are known to cause disease.
Until now, it’s been widely accepted that the greatest risk to human health from smoke are the tiny particles from burning wood and other materials. Some of those particles are small enough to be inhaled into the lungs, triggering allergic reactions in some people or exacerbating lung diseases such as asthma in others.
email article
Here is a roundup of some of the best medical apps we loved and found useful during the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year in no particular order.
Happy downloading and stay safe!
The Brigham and Women s Hospital released a comprehensive app of all of their COVID-19 protocols. This app joins a growing list of guidelines and protocols from Johns Hopkins (via the Relief Central and Hopkins ABX Guide apps), WHO, Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and others.
MyDirectives.com first launched its companion app for iOS in 2015. Their website and app can be used separately, but ideally, they should be used together. The website discusses the goals of create, update, and share. The app allows the user to digitally sign the plan; make a video of your wishes; use photos and videos to confirm your identity; share the Advance Care plan with others via email, text, and QR reader; and show on the iPhone lock screen!
Ryan Van Wert
Dr. Ryan Van Wert is a co-founder and CEO of Vynca. In addition to his role at Vynca, Dr. Van Wert is a part-time Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University, where he maintains a small clinical practice. Prior to Vynca, Dr. Van Wert co-founded AWAIR, Inc., a medical device company focused on reducing complications for critically ill patients, which was acquired by Cook Medical Technologies in 2015. He is frequently invited to speak about his passion for improving care delivery at the end of life and the process of value-driven healthcare innovation. He is a named inventor on multiple issued and pending health technology patents.
We All Know Smoke Is Bad For Your Health. It Could Be Worse Than You Think By Joanne Lu | NPR
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Smoky skies cast a reddish glow to San Francisco skies when the Northern California wildfires were burning earlier this year.
Ray Chavez / MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images
It s no secret that inhaling smoke is bad for your lungs. But now, scientists are suggesting smoke may also carry and spread infectious diseases.
The theory, published in Science Magazine, is based on research that found wildfire smoke is teeming with thousands of species of microorganisms. Some of these microorganisms, including bacteria and fungal spores, are known to cause disease.
PURI: Medical trainees & other professionals supporting ICUs in the fight against COVID-19
Nitin K. Puri MD, Division Head, Critical Care Medicine, and Co-Medical Director, Center for Critical Care Medicine, Cooper University Health Care
I am not sure if I ever will get used to reading about the capacity of Intensive Care Units on the front page of national newspapers. Part of the travesty of this year is when my specialty made headlines and continues to make the news. Intensivists (someone who cares for the critically ill), are supposed to be invisible, caring for post-operative surgical patients, and those too ill for regular medical floors.