BEYOND SIX MONTHS, WHAT are the POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF COVID-19?
About 20% of adults experience long-term effects from COVID-19 about six months after recovery from the virus. Using a special MRI, radiologists have made this discovery
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WHAT are the RISKS of LONG COVID for LESS SEVERELY ILL PATIENTS?
New data reveals that the risks of long-term symptoms from COVID are quite significant, even for patients who were not hospitalized with more severe forms of the illness. More specifically, 76% of Americans diagnosed with long COVID were not hospitalized
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WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE RISKS of COVID 19 to VISION?
In addition to cardiac and neurological risks of COVID 19 discussed in two recent blogs, new data also reveals risks to vision. The virus can cause some blockage in blood flow in the retina, which threatens vision
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HOW DOES COVID 19 IMPACT the BRAIN – EVEN MILDER VERSIONS of the VIRUS?
Since COVID often invades the body through the nose, the disease may spread via the olfactory pathways related to the sense of smell. It may also be due to inflammation in the brain, or the loss of sensory input since many people experience a loss of the sense of smell.
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HOW can WE STRENGTHEN our IMMUNE SYSTEM?
HOW can WE STRENGTHEN our IMMUNE SYSTEM?By Alan M. Solomon, Ph.D. Our immune system faces many challenges, even more as
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HOW has the PANDEMIC IMPACTED EATING DISORDERS? – PART 2
Though it is usually thought of as a “white girls’” issue, teens of all ethnic groups, and boys, too, can struggle with eating disorders. Heterosexual boys tend to talk about getting fit, lean, or more muscular. LGBTQ kids may also respond to the anxieties of their identity struggles by using, and misusing food.
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HOW has the PANDEMIC IMPACTED EATING DISORDERS? – PART 1
As repeatedly noted in these blogs, as well as in featured articles, on this website, the COVID 19 pandemic has generated substantial increases in anxiety, depression, substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, sleep difficulties, and weight gain for many people.
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WHAT KIND of DIGITAL VACCINATION PROOF is EASILY AVAILABLE?
Los Angeles County now requires proof of vaccination for most indoor venues: restaurants, grocery stores, exercise gyms, salons, large venues for entertainment including movie theaters, and Dodger Stadium, Universal Studios, or Magic Mountain. Other parts of the state have their own regulations and enforcement procedures. Disneyland, however, located in Orange County, does not require a vaccine credential. Some 21 states, including Texas and Florida, have banned vaccine passports completely.
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IS THERE DATA TO SUPPORT the BENEFITS of a BOOSTER VACCINATION for COVID 19?
Ongoing efforts to encourage people to get a booster for their COVID 19 vaccination in recent months has been demonstrated to be effective by some research completed in Israel. Israel has a nationalized health care system, which is highly developed with digital record keeping, with a relatively small population as well. This contributes to reliable data available quickly, as has been cited in this blog over the pandemic period.
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HOW MANY KIDS ARE BEING HOSPITALIZED DUE TO COVID-19?
As of mid-August, a record number of children have been hospitalized for COVID-19: nearly 2,000 across the country. This is one impact of the delta variant of the virus.
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HOW CAN KIDS SAFELY RETURN to SCHOOL CONSIDERING the DELTA VARIANT?
HOW CAN KIDS SAFELY RETURN to SCHOOL CONSIDERING the DELTA VARIANT? By Alan M. Solomon, Ph.D. In mid-June when California
Read moreWHERE are WE NOW AFTER 18 MONTHS of the COVID 19 PANDEMIC?
We are approaching 18 months of living with the COVID 19 pandemic, which started mid-March 2020 in California with the announcement of the first restrictions in daily life.
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WHAT ARE the LONG-TERM RISKS OF COVID 19?
What are the risks of neurological and psychological diagnoses following a COVID 19 episode? Quite significant, according to a study released in a highly regarded journal
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HOW is the PANDEMIC AFFECTING COLLEGE STUDENTS?
College students are feeling more depression, anxiety, and loneliness than ever before. This is based on a survey of 33,000 students from a researcher at Boston University
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WHAT RISK FACTORS for COVID 19 CAN WE CONTROL?
WHAT RISK FACTORS for COVID 19 CAN WE CONTROL? By Alan M. Solomon, Ph.D. COVID 19 became the leading cause
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HOW HAS COVID 19 AFFECTED CHILD MENTAL HEALTH?
HOW HAS COVID 19 AFFECTED CHILD MENTAL HEALTH? By Alan M. Solomon, Ph.D. In a word, the impact of the
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WHAT HAS BEEN the IMPACT OF COVID 19 on HOMICIDE RATES?
WHAT HAS BEEN the IMPACT OF COVID 19 on HOMICIDE RATES? By Alan M. Solomon, Ph.D. During this COVID 19
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HOW DO WE CHOOSE ACTIVITIES ONCE WE ARE VACCINATED?
HOW DO WE CHOOSE ACTIVITIES ONCE WE ARE VACCINATED? By Alan M. Solomon, Ph.D. Recent blogs have been about vaccination-related
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DO PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IMPACT the EFFECTIVENESS OF COVID 19 VACCINES, as well as SIDE EFFECTS?
Two recent blogs have summarized how effective the two earliest vaccines are against COVID 19, both in terms of the clinical studies to establish their efficacy, as well as using the experience in Israel as a real-world case study. In addition to the biological factors involved in vaccine efficacy, there are also psychological factors that impact the efficacy of the vaccine,
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HOW to OVERCOME the FRUSTRATIONS with SCHEDULING an APPOINTMENT for COVID 19 VACCINATIONS
HOW to OVERCOME the FRUSTRATIONS with SCHEDULING an APPOINTMENT for COVID 19 VACCINATIONS By Alan M. Solomon, Ph.D. In attempting
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WHAT ABOUT A CASE STUDY in VACCINATIONS, SAY ISRAEL?
WHAT ABOUT A CASE STUDY in VACCINATIONS, SAY ISRAEL? By Alan M. Solomon, Ph.D. The last blog on how effective
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HOW EFFECTIVE ARE COVID-19 VACCINES, REALLY?
HOW EFFECTIVE ARE COVID-19 VACCINES, REALLY?
The most basic measure of the effectiveness of the COVID 19 vaccines is simple: thus far, only two people have died after being vaccinated, according to reports available. One death in Florida was due to a rare blood disorder, not COVID. One death in California is of still undetermined causes.
HOW HAS the COVID 19 PANDEMIC IMPACTED MENTAL HEALTH?
A recent Gallup poll reveals that Americans rate their mental health at the lowest level in the prior 20 years. Seventy-six percent rate their mental health as good or excellent, compared to 85% in 2019. Since 2001, ratings of excellent or good ranged from 81% to 89%, as compared to this year’s 76%.
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HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN HOPE in CHALENGING TIMES? – Part 1
Maintaining hope during the recent COVID surge in California and around the country is helpful, even essential, in many ways. Hope reduces anxiety, despair, and of course depression. We have more effective coping skills and recover from disappointments more quickly when we have hope. We are more skilled at problem solving, communicate better, and are more trusting of others.
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CAN WE THRIVE WHEN LIFE FEELS SO TERRIBLE?
CAN WE THRIVE WHEN LIFE FEELS SO TERRIBLE? By Alan M. Solomon, Ph.D. A community website, The Mighty, provides information
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HOW CAN WE LIFT OUR SPIRITS DURING COVID 19? – PART 2
Sacks explores a variety of unusual, and mostly very rare, ways in which music comes to dominate a person’s brain, and life. But he also describes how powerfully therapeutic music can be for patients with Parkinson’s Disease or Dementia
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HOW CAN WE LIFT OUR SPIRITS DURING COVID 19?
The last few months of blogs have focused on the COVID 19 pandemic: how to cope; how to help our kids cope; dealing with grief; dealing with psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence; risks of losing insurance coverage for telehealth; strengthening our immune system; maintaining exercise.
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ONE MORE IMPACT of the COVID 19 CRISIS: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ONE MORE IMPACT of the COVID 19 CRISIS: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
In addition to anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and substance abuse discussed in previous blogs, domestic violence is one more aspect of the COVID 19 pandemic that “lurks in the shadows”.
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ONE MORE CRISIS WITH COVID 19: CHILD ABUSE
Nationwide, child abuse experts are observing a worrisome landscape during the COVID 19 pandemic and lockdown: a likely increase of more severe child abuse and neglect.
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