Mind shift

In the world of stroke care, every minute counts. Lee Birnbaum, MD, professor in the departments of neurology and neurosurgery in the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, sheds light on the latest developments in emergency treatments, post-stroke therapies and community education aimed at enhancing patient outcomes.

Throbbing. Stabbing. Fiery. Electric. Like being in a vice. There are many ways that migraine sufferers describe their pain, but no matter the word to describe it, having migraines is a debilitating condition that often causes significant disruption to a person’s quality of life.

For some people struggling with their mental health, available treatments can be ineffective, effective for only a short time or cause insufferable side effects. About 30% of people with depression are treatment resistant, meaning they have tried two or more medications or therapies and are still experiencing significant symptoms.

It can manifest as a low- or high-pitched tone — a squeal, buzz, roar, chirp or click seemingly coming from one or both ears or in the head. It can dissipate within seconds or be continually present; barely discernable or as loud as a freight train.

Drug overdoses happen every day, every hour. Yet, few Food and Drug Administration-approved medications are available for opioid use disorder. Methocinnamox, a novel compound for opioid use disorder treatment, advances toward clinical trials.

For a health condition as complex as substance use disorder, there are no simple solutions. But the possibilities for addressing the vexing health crisis stemming from substance use and addiction substantially increase when an intentional strategic model for a system of care is applied to create a scaffold of interlinking functional practices.