The world is in a panic over a coronavirus, specifically COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). The stock market has dropped precipitously, airport travel has plummeted, vacations are being cancelled and students are returning early from foreign countries. There is a lot of misinformation about COVID-19, and perhaps reviewing some basic concepts will allay readers’ fears or at least enhance an understanding of the situation. 1. What is a virus? Viruses are microscopic organisms that do not have the ability to reproduce. Thus, they survive by becoming parasites, invading the cells of host organisms, hijacking the cells’ functions, replicating, and then invading other cells. 2. How are viruses classified? Viruses may be classified according to their microscopic appearance, how they reproduce or what diseases they cause. For example, the AIDS virus (also called HIV), rabies virus and polio virus are named after their respective diseases. The coronavirus, on the other hand, is named after its microscopic appearance, … [Read more...]
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The Insurance Companies Don’t Care if my Patients Go Blind
One of the proudest accomplishments of my profession, ophthalmology, is the reduction in blindness from glaucoma. Decades ago, it was common to hear “Uncle John went blind from glaucoma.” Now such tragedies are rare. But now the insurance companies are refusing to pay for the most effective glaucoma medicines while increasing the patients’ deductibles. The result will be that more patients go blind. Unlike many diseases, glaucoma has few symptoms in its initial stages. In most cases, the pressure in the eye is elevated causing damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that transfers visual images from the eye to the brain. Usually, glaucoma affects the peripheral vision first. But many patients don’t notice this as it occurs gradually. This is why ophthalmologists advise all patients to have their eyes checked, even if they have no visual complaints. A simple eye pressure check along with examination of the optic nerve can identify patients at risk for glaucoma. Over the past generation, the pharmaceutical companies … [Read more...]
The Ruling Class Goes After Bernie Sanders
America’s incompetent Ruling Class has struggled without success to remove President Trump from office, whether it be by recounts, harassing electors, charging him with being a Russian agent or impeaching him. While there may be another soporific “bombshell” in the next few months, it appears that the only way the President will leave office is if he is defeated this November. However, an unforeseen problem has occurred: the popularity of Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. A self-described socialist, Sanders launched a populist campaign against Hillary Clinton in 2016 and may have been the nominee had the system not been rigged by superdelegates and a fawning Clinton-loving media. Furthermore, polls consistently showed that Sanders was a stronger candidate against Trump than Clinton. With Sanders, what you see is what you get. Unlike Joe Biden, who has flip-flopped on virtually every issue, Sanders consistently favored Medicare-for-All, free college, forgiveness of all student debt, amnesty for illegal … [Read more...]
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