1. Word you should know…
There is a word… iatrogenic… that everyone should know. The word is defined as… an illness, injury, or adverse effect caused unintentionally by a doctor, medical treatment, or diagnostic procedure. Basically, it means doctor-induced injury or illness. It can include medication side effects, surgical complications, infections picked up in the hospital, and even psychological damage caused by how doctors interact with patients. Why should we know what it is and be aware of it? Because how often it occurs is STAGGERING! The New England Journal of Medicine found that nearly 1 in 4 (24%) of patients admitted to hospitals in the U.S. experience iatrogenic events. Properly prescribed medication accounts for 1.9 MILLION hospital admissions each year. Crazy! What’s even more astonishing is that it is estimated that over 106,000 hospital patients DIE each year as a result of properly prescribed medication. YIKES!!! That study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). That’s almost double the number of Americans that died over the entire span of the Vietnam War. Are your medications, or is your healthcare provider, causing you harm??? Pay attention! Iatrogenic events are extremely common.
2. Book I started reading…
Jim Kwik wrote a very good book, Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life. I read it years ago. I’ve heard him on different podcasts over the years and always loved what he had to say. Kwik is well-spoken, communicates very well, and has great info. He just released a new book… Limitless Daily: 366 Keys to Train Your Brain, Master Your Mind & Win Every Day. I just got it Monday and started reading it on Tuesday. It’s a simple, single page each day read with a great message to get the brain off to a positive and productive start. Lana and I committed to reading a page each morning for the next year. So far, we like it a lot and are looking forward to the upcoming messages, motivation, and exercises. The podcast I just listened to last week, where I heard him introduce this book, was The Model Health Show, with Shawn Stevenson. That podcast is worth listening to. You can listen to that podcast by clicking here. You can get the book on Amazon.
3. Quote that got me thinking…
“If I asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
– Henry Ford
When I read that quote, it reminds me that the questions I ask are super important, my growth may be slower than it should be, and that a lot of the thinking I do is limited. I need to think bigger… and pay attention to the bigger thinkers around me, as they may be asking better and more powerful questions. (Turns out Henry Ford may not have actually said this, but it still provides food for thought.)
*** Today marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Hard to believe that was 25 years ago. Thoughts and prayers to all those who were killed in those attacks, to their family members, and to everyone who was harmed or affected on that day. One thing I do remember about that time was the country coming together as one. I remember noting how powerful it was to have everyone come together… as one nation… as Americans. What a feeling that was! ***
